Bond's use of a so-called .45 colt

foght71

It been discussed that Bond's "car gun" was described by Fleming, variously, as a Colt Army Special, .45 with the long barrel. It's never been clear wether this particular weapon was a revolver or a semi-automatic pistol. In different novels this gun has always been a Colt .45 but often the description ended there. In "From a View to a Kill" Bond is nearly killed because the safety was not taken off when using this gun; this one would think, ends the revolver argument IF one believes the Ian Fleming was particularly knowlegeable about firearms, with respect he was not; hence his turning to reknown weapons expert Godfrey Boothroyd and even then Fleming was for several years placing a semi-automatic Walther PPK in a Burns and Martin holster meant for a revolver! Taking history into account; during WWII under Lend/Lease many 1911 .45 autos, not always Colts; Smith & Wesson or Colt revolvers, much of them chambered for the 1911 .45 ACP round, were in the British armory where Fleming at one time or another came into contact with them. So we are left to conclude that Fleming had only rudimentary knowlege of weapons and obviously had some training with them as a Naval Officer but there his expertise ended. The debate will never be settled because of this small error. It's my best guess that a S & W or Colt .45 revolver would have been easier to use but the 1911 more convient to carry & reload, so for an agent in the field, having this weapon in his car might more quickly exit the vehicle and engage an enemy or elude capture being able to take the weapon & perhaps some spare magazines with him in a hurry. Then, I am still a believer that a small automatic in 7.65mm is more than enough for close up and personal defense, quite contrary to my fellow Americans who live by bigger is better.

Thunderpussy

Great read, foght71. It was very interesting for me ( It seems like Fleming,I know nothing about Guns ) -{ Welcome aboard the forum.

Golrush007

Check out this article about the guns of the Fleming novels. It includes a bit on the long barreled .45

http://jamesbond.ajb007.co.uk/handguns-of-james-bond/

thesecretagent

I never thought of Fleming as extremely knowledgable about firearms - the longtime mystery as to which .45 he wrote of highlights this. It's the whole long-barrelled thing - does he mean the Buntline Special? But that's a bit western and single action as well. Or does he mean the police positive style revolvers, or did he get confused and refer to .45 long (the cartridge) instead of .45acp and describe the "long" as the barrel? For a while I have wondered if he actually meant the .455/.45 webley pistols chambered for Colt patented cartridges as it is quite possible that Fleming would have had some sort of rudementary training with such a weapon, but may have been confused about the colt .45 ammunition lecture which no doubt came as standard with handling and firing ...

foght71

Very good point: the "long barrel" bit always confused me as an early reader in the '60's, since my father owned both a Smith & Wesson Revolver in .45 ACP AND a Colt 1911 in the same caliber: war momententos that the U.S.ARMY A.F forgot to ask for when dad left GB at war's end. In the S&W, the barrel is hardly long at 5" but APPEARS long compared to a 1911 which is also 5" in lenght. Please, I do not claim to be an "expert" but I do have some experience based on 30+ years in military & police service so the particulars do concern me. I own most of the described weapons in the Fleming novels which I employ for sport, collecting pleasure & natually for what they're intended, self-defense. I also own an excellent Colt Police Positive with a rediculous 6" barrel that I'm considering cutting to 4", however it's one of the most pratical, small frame revolvers, ever made I think. I understand Ian Fleming was given one by our "Wild Bill" Donovan as a gift: note pics on many Fleming paperbacks that show Mr. Fleming holding a revolver aimed, I assume at an unmanned desk to his left, I believe that is likely HIS personal Colt Police Positive. Thanks for the book reference, I'd never heard of it, I'll check today.