The Bond Armory

BCFDRay

So, with the birth of my daughter, I've decided to condense my movie prop, Bond, and firearms into a single collection. I could use the space and we all know how expensive our passion can be. Aside from the occasional piece of 007 clothing, I'll be focusing my collection on movie firearms, particularly those seen and used by our beloved hero, James Bond. I'm starting this thread in hopes the Mods may deem it worthy of a Sticky and we'll have a catchall to discuss and showcase our Bond related weapons, firearms, and the like.

BCFDRay

To kick things off, the postman dropped off something special at my door yesterday. I was lucky enough to win an online auction at what I believe to be an amazing deal. And the end result was in much better shape than the photos appeared to be



The Walther LP53, serial number 052XXX, made between 1962-63

BCFDRay

3 years ago I visited a local pawn shop on the hunt for a new watch at a bargain and ended up leaving with a new EDC (every day carry) knife. Being a career firefighter I was able to legally purchase the knife because it was fully automatic and I've carried it every day since. Last year while browsing TheJamesBondLifestyle, I happened upon an article about the Gerber S30V, wouldn't you know it. I'd been carrying a Bond knife and hadn't a clue!

BCFDRay

This piece I recieved in a trade a while back and I don't believe it to be a true Bond gun, but several variants have appeared in Bond films such as the 70, Jetfire, Tomcat, etc.


The Beretta 21A in 25acp

BCFDRay

I had recently acquired a FAB Defense KPOS Gen1 carbine kit in the hopes to reproduce the firearm from the opening of Spectre, because of local and federal laws regarding the overall length, I was unable to accurately continue the project but not before purchasing the frame to a Glock 17 to add custom internals and build the firearm from the ground up. The Glock 17 has been in several Bond movies and this frame's serial number ending with xxx007. I'll complete the pistol but have abandoned the KPOS build

BCFDRay

For some reason I've found it very difficult to locate PPK's in Maryland. There are plenty of PPK/S, mostly Smith & Wesson, and more so in 22lr. I happened across a gun shop that I hadn't visited before and there it was, from what the shop owner told me, it had just been put on consignment that morning.

Walther PPK, in 9mm kurz, dated to 1968

BCFDRay

A gentleman I work with overheard me talking about my borderline obsession and informed he had a Walther that had been in his safe for years and didn't have much information on it, but he'd bring it in for me to look at. I was blown away and after a " If you ever decide to sell it.." conversation, we agreed on a number.

Walther PPK in 7,65mm, dated to 1939.

Enjoying Death

Very nice collection!

Charmed & Dangerous

Fantastic collection! -{ Love the Walthers.

Dirty Punker

You should absolutely consider a First Gen P99 or a P5. A happy selection, if I may say so myself -{ .

BCFDRay

Thank you guys! There are a few more that aren't posted just yet, but I'd like to see what everyone else has as well.
I'm absolutely looking to add both a P99 and P5 to my collection, just waiting for a proper opportunity.
Im currently waiting for the mailman to show up with a new addition today, stay tuned!

BCFDRay

The newest addition to the collection! Bond's favorite before he recieves his PPK. I plan on doing Bond's customizations accurate to the novels.


Beretta 418 in 25, dated 1959

DBS

Great collection so far, BCFDRay! And very cool new addition!! But forgive me, this was delivered via the mailman and not through an FFL?? How is that legal?

BCFDRay

DBS wrote:

Great collection so far, BCFDRay! And very cool new addition!! But forgive me, this was delivered via the mailman and not through an FFL?? How is that legal?

Great question! I am in fact a type of FFL, a C&R FFL (Curio & Relic) which allows me to directly purchase, have firearms sent to my home, as long as they meet the definitions set forth by the ATF.

To be recognized as C&R items, 478.11 specifies that firearms must fall within one of the following categories:

Firearms which were manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date, but not including replicas of such firearms;

Firearms which are certified by the curator of a municipal, State, or Federal museum which exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest; and

Any other firearms which derive a substantial part of their monetary value from the fact that they are novel, rare, bizarre, or because of their association with some historical figure, period, or event.

All it costs you is $30 and 2 stamps to apply, you must keep an acquisition/disposition log

Commandant

I have learned something today

Bond Collectors' Weekends

BCFDRay wrote:

The newest addition to the collection! Bond's favorite before he recieves his PPK. I plan on doing Bond's customizations accurate to the novels.


Beretta 418 in 25, dated 1959

I LOVE shooting this one. Good deal!

BCFDRay

I had the chance to do so today and I have to admit, it really is alot of fun! Definitely an up close and personal weapon. I also blued the slide to look a little less aged but with "mission" wear.


I'm currently debating what type of tape to use when I remove the grip panels. Something along the lines of hockey stick or baseball bat grip tape? I haven't the slightest idea what Bond would have used

Dirty Punker

BCFDRay wrote:

I'm currently debating what type of tape to use when I remove the grip panels. Something along the lines of hockey stick or baseball bat grip tape? I haven't the slightest idea what Bond would have used

I haven't read through the novels yet (Only read Casino Royale and Diamonds Are Forever). If anyone can answer me, in which one does he remove the grips? Also, does it "putt" as it did in the Diamonds ) ?

BCFDRay

Dirty Punker wrote:

BCFDRay wrote:

I'm currently debating what type of tape to use when I remove the grip panels. Something along the lines of hockey stick or baseball bat grip tape? I haven't the slightest idea what Bond would have used

I haven't read through the novels yet (Only read Casino Royale and Diamonds Are Forever). If anyone can answer me, in which one does he remove the grips? Also, does it "putt" as it did in the Diamonds ) ?

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

Bond Collectors' Weekends

BCFDRay wrote:

Dirty Punker wrote:

BCFDRay wrote:

I'm currently debating what type of tape to use when I remove the grip panels. Something along the lines of hockey stick or baseball bat grip tape? I haven't the slightest idea what Bond would have used

I haven't read through the novels yet (Only read Casino Royale and Diamonds Are Forever). If anyone can answer me, in which one does he remove the grips? Also, does it "putt" as it did in the Diamonds ) ?

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

It is... all taped up and somewhere to go!

Dirty Punker

Funny, I couldn't remember the skeleton grips on Bond's Beretta in Diamonds. Definitely worth a re-read then.
How long did the bluing process take? It seems to be very well done.

BCFDRay

Chemical bluing is almost instant, but the steps require a little patience. Maybe 15 minutes to achieve the look I was after

7289

BCFDRay wrote:

I had the chance to do so today and I have to admit, it really is alot of fun! Definitely an up close and personal weapon. I also blued the slide to look a little less aged but with "mission" wear.


I'm currently debating what type of tape to use when I remove the grip panels. Something along the lines of hockey stick or baseball bat grip tape? I haven't the slightest idea what Bond would have used

It is noted in that article I wrote about the Beretta, and I think in my video as well, removing the grip panels on the 318/418 Beretta is not a good idea. While it worked for the literary James Bond, it will not work safely for you.

Removing the grip panels on the Beretta exposes the trigger bar and sear. Without the panel the trigger bar will separate from the sear and the pistol will not fire. With the sear exposed it could be pushed inadvertently and the pistol could fire! Bond's customization's do nothing to enhance the pistol. After removing the grip panels and "filing' or sawing off the front sight the major change is the "sawn" barrel. I did cut the barrel on mine back to the front of the slide, then threaded it internally for a "silencer". The threading makes the barrel wall very thin and the loss of about 3/8" of rifling means bullets will "keyhole". In reality Bond ruined his pistol.

I recommend that you leave that nice Beretta alone. Remember that at the end of Moonraker Bond put his shiny new Beretta in his holster before going off on holiday - so for a while at least he carried it unaltered. If you do make the Bond modifications - best to pull the firing pin from the pistol and make it a non-shooter.



BTW: I ended up using baseball bat tape for the grip. Just make sure you put nylon tape on the handle first as the "bat tape" will rust/corrode the metal.

jbholsters

Why can't you have the Fab Defense piece. It's not an SBR. It should be totally legal. It it because of the stock?

BCFDRay

It is in fact an SBR because of the stock, the ATF laws say the overall length must be 26 inches, the state I live in requires 29 inches overall to be considered an SBR if the barrel is under 16".

BCFDRay

Thank you 7289, taking the safety issues into consideration, I'm going to try casting the beretta grips in a clear resin to give the illusion that they have been removed.
Regarding the tape, I'm kicking around the idea of duct tape since it was invented in the 40s and used by soldiers during WWII.

Dirty Punker

Will you have to replace it ever so often?

BCFDRay

)

jbholsters

But it isn't a rifle. its a pistol stock. It has no serial number, right? Did you call ATF? I was just about to order one. I have several SBR's and suppressors. This is the first time hearing it wouldn't be legal.

BCFDRay

Adding a stock to a pistol makes it a short barreled rifle. The KPOS measures 21.65" when fully extended, according to the FAB Defense website. The state of Maryland requires no less than an overall length of 29" if the barrel is less than 16" to make an SBR and you still have to pay the $200 NFA tax stamp. To meet me states requirements, I would need to have a 13.19" barrel on the Glock 17 to make an SBR since 4.5" of the barrel is covered by the KPOS. A company called IGB makes a 16" barrel for the glock so you can make it into a carbine, but the reviews aren't very favorable.

7289

BCFDRay wrote:

Thank you 7289, taking the safety issues into consideration, I'm going to try casting the beretta grips in a clear resin to give the illusion that they have been removed.
Regarding the tape, I'm kicking around the idea of duct tape since it was invented in the 40s and used by soldiers during WWII.

Casting "clear" grip panels is a good idea. Much better than a true "skeleton" grip!

I had no idea that "duct tape" was used by commandos... presumably it was black back then. Are there any references/photographs of tape being used by UK commandos in WW2 to improve the "grip" on personal weapons?