My Geoffrey Boothroyd Gun Books
Donald Grant
U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters
Thought I'd post a few pictures of the Geoffrey Boothroyd books in my Fleming and Bondiana collection. Thought it was a good time for this because of another thread currently refreshed and posted by AJB's gun guru 7289 regarding Bond's Colt Police Positive. Enjoy.
DG
DG
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
Not as flamboyant as our US gunwriters, but technically very good. I have two copies of his book on handguns, it's a great reference work. My favorite part is about Ian Fleming, Bond and Boothroyd's "S&W special".... all great reading for the Bond fan.
When I was a kid, I called Glasgow information and actually got Boothroyd's phone number. Sadly I never got up the courage to figure out the time differential and call him up. I would have asked alot of silly questions about Beretta's, Walther's and James Bond, but somehow I think he would have been patient and polite.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
If you are into firearms and Bond firearms, then it is a must have. The second edition of his Handgun tome was also where John Gardner got inspiration for the pistols he issued to Bond including the VP70, P7 and ASP.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
I don't think you could get a better reccomendation than that, 7289
You'll love it!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
My copy of Gun Collecting (the green book), is the 1987 revised copy of the 1961 original. The revision included the most comprehensive list of 19th century gunmakers and gunsmiths to be published at that time. Publisher was The Sportsman's Press, London. My copy of The Handgun was published in 1970 by Bonanza Books, a division or imprint of Crown Publishers, New York.
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 always thought, as I live in Glasgow to try and track down where his old office was and go see it and have a look around if indeed it is still there ? and if its in its original state etc
does anyone have any information as to where abouts in Glasgow his office was ?
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I have copies of all the original correspondence he had with Fleming. I'll find them out as his address is on the letterhead.
I understand that his daughter now runs the business.
Mick - check your PMs.
Hi Mark Hazzard AKA Robbin
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Email sent, and PM re-sent - just to make sure.
I live in Scotland too, I'm an Ayrshire boy, but I'm often in Glasgow.
Whats the address?
PM me if you like
Cheers
0013
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180407846960
Very nice!
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.
let me know what you think. Cheers
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looking at the first photo, I like the idea of Boothroyd advising
Fleming to allow Bond to carry a 12 Bore under his dinner jacket .....
And thanks for the address I will go visit it and take some pictures etc and
include it in my article about him and his daughter etc if I set up a meeting
soon and the whole Bond connection.
can't beleive there is a nice strong Bond connection not far from where I live.
should make for a Good article I hope
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BTW The revolver that IF is holding is Boothroyd's Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
When I first started corresponding with Geoffrey Boothroyd, he kindly sent me a photocopy of his "appointment" from Fleming.
Very kind, man, very kind.
7289.
Love is an understament. It is an excellent book, full of suprises. Very Nice ASP picture too, I might add, and some old favriotes, the Automag and the Wildey.
I just got it yesterday, after a job interview, the Postman left me a pick up at depot slip because it was too big for the letterbox. I am very lucky I live across form the deopt, and got it. It was well packaged, heavy. I quickly tore open the brown paper, and there it was.
I spent most of last night reading it. Wonderful.
I'm in your debt, thanks for convincing me that it was a worthwhile purchase.Plus it can also be an aid when I'm writing my novel.
My only tiny small gripe is that there was no Beretta 418 picture.
That makes me think, do you think GB thought Bond was using the Beretta 950 jetfire? If anything ,That really is a ladies gun, with it's tip up barrel.
There is also a picture on the dustjacket. Boothroyd in the 1980's holding a Mauser broomhandle.
Anyone got any of Boothroyds other articles?
Oh, the sports illustrated article is online. In case anyone didn't know.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1073622/index.htm
Cheers
0013
As the Beretta 950 was introduced in 1950, it is possible Boothroyd thought that Bond was carrying this model and not the 418, however...
The 950 has no "safety catch".
You cannot work the 950 action and pump the "bullets" in the magazine onto the bed in a lonely hotel - the 950 has no mechanical extractor.
The 950 uses wire springs to power the slide, if you remove the grip panels the wires are exposed. It would be impossible to wrap the grip with tape, this would render the pistol inoperative.
So if Boothroyd had examined a 950 he would have quickly understoood that this pistol could not have been Bond's. Only the 418 and it's direct predecessors have all the features Fleming attributes to Bond's .25 Beretta.
I agree that Boothroyd's book should have featured a picture of the 418 and identified it as the Bond pistol. But Bond was never the focus of the book. I do enjoy the story of his S&W K-200, and the description of the modifactions he made to it. Prephaps the 418 is rare in the UK, Fleming could not locate one for Chopping to paint for the cover of From Russia with Love, and so IF turned to Boothroyd for his S&W and it became part of Bond history!
However where Boothroyd failed. I shall not ......
The Bond Beretta,
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Always nice to have you about!!!!
Glad to post the pictures of my "baby", I have always loved the Beretta - it was after all Fleming's first choice for Bond, and if like me, you enjoy all those older Hitchcock spy films the Beretta is very typical of the 1930-50's "Spy Pistol".
I'll try to post some newer photos. I recently "figured out" that oo7 would not have wrapped the butt of his Beretta with modern "nylon" electrical tape. He would have used old fashioned "friction tape". I was lucky and found a roll in an old toolbox that spent the last 50 years laying around in my garage. I immediately set out to replace the tape on my Beretta's handle ... so it is now "period correct"!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond