LALD Shoulder Holster
Donald Grant
U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters
I have now made just about every iteration of the Connery Bond shoulder holster from the early Bond movies. I have also made the Lazenby version. It was time to tackle the Moore Bond holster. His first film is easily my favorite of the lot. Very much ensconced in the blacksploitation genre of the time. In keeping with Ian Fleming’s novel and riffing off the heroin epidemic caused by the likes of Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas, Live and Let Die was a heady mix of spies, voodoo, sex and dope. Bond’s holster was equally badass with the traditional blue offset by black leather.
The LALD holster appears to be a mix of Connery’s from his early movies and Lazenby’s all black leather affair. It is first seen in LALD on Bond’s bed in his Hotel room in San Monique. For the sharp eyed amongst you, Connery wears a very similar looking holster in Diamond’s Are Forever. Connery grabs it off the bannister of his Whyte House hotel room after coming down the stairs with Felix Leiter before he goes “mountaineering” to see Willard Whyte/Blofed in the penthouse. Nevertheless, you never see Connery’s holster in this movie in great detail and only in a long shot.
Here are some stills of Roger Moore and his holster from thespyboys11 (Ed) archive:
My version:
The LALD holster appears to be a mix of Connery’s from his early movies and Lazenby’s all black leather affair. It is first seen in LALD on Bond’s bed in his Hotel room in San Monique. For the sharp eyed amongst you, Connery wears a very similar looking holster in Diamond’s Are Forever. Connery grabs it off the bannister of his Whyte House hotel room after coming down the stairs with Felix Leiter before he goes “mountaineering” to see Willard Whyte/Blofed in the penthouse. Nevertheless, you never see Connery’s holster in this movie in great detail and only in a long shot.
Here are some stills of Roger Moore and his holster from thespyboys11 (Ed) archive:
My version:
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Comments
But that design has to be the absolutely worst shoulder holster ever devised. I suspect dropping your PPK in the rear pants pocket (a la FRWL) is a better way to carry a pistol.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Ah 7289, our resident Bond gun expert, thank you for liking my holsters! But of course you’re right, Bond’s early holsters were merely a loose pouch that held the gun by gravity. There was/is no retention. The simple design, such as it is/was, would benefit greatly by a retention strap. The addition of thicker boned leather would make it better still. But then we would have a different looking shoulder holster, not Bond’s holster. It is why I sell my Bond style shoulder holsters as props only and not for real world carry.
Furthermore, let’s face it, the best most practical way to carry for CQB is on the hip and that the reason for a hand gun is to fight to get to a long gun
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I’m glad you have rediscovered your passion for making these holsters. Yours really are the most screen accurate I’ve seen. I thought that getting the material for the holster was the real snag. If you are going back into limited production, which versions are you thinking of offering?
I think the holsters in DN, FRWL and GF had the “essence” of the literary Bond’s holster the closest. Fleming described the holster as a “chamois pouch” that hung three inches below Bond’s left armpit ...frankly that sounds rather unsavory.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I pretty much make them all except the Goldfinger version. The only reason that I don’t make the Goldfinger version anymore is because I have not been able to find the correct off side strap material. I had the material at one time, but once it was exhausted I was never able to find the correct material again. I could substitute something, but it would not be accurate. So for that reason I won’t make it. However, I am always on the lookout for the correct stuff, so I f I find it again, I’ll make it.
I don’t make a YOLT version, but that’s because I don’t recall seeing a shoulder holster in that movie.
To be clear I make the following versions of Bond style shoulder holsters:
1. Dr No.
2. From Russia With Love
3. Thunderball
4. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
5. Live and Let Die (similar in appearance to DAF)
D.G.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
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Thanks D.G.
Thank you Christof! I too am proud to have several of your items in my collection! All of them were items that I had wanted for years. You Sir are the maker of rare Bond items. The good stuff but also the stuff not easily made. My hat’s off to you!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
the spyboys Facebook page
Wow Ed, thank you! I’m proud to call both of you my friends as well. I think Christof far outshines me in the giant department. So, by the way, do you. I’m just glad to be mentioned in the same breath with the two of you. You two cast exceedingly long shadows in Bond prop world. Talk about going to the nth degree to get things accurate and right. If people only knew the lengths you guys go to, they would be amazed. Anyway, again, a most humble thank you!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Thank you!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.