Bond's use of a so-called .45 colt
foght71
Posts: 3MI6 Agent
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.
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