James Bond: Quantum of Solace Movie
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
With Quantum of Solace arriving in theaters nationwide, tomorrow, IGN pays homage to Bond and his gadgets.
James Bond can remedy just about any situation with some smooth talk, an elaborate gadget, or a strong drink, but when the going gets tough and the cards are down, Bond calls upon his trusty sidearm. In the span of Bond’s 46-year cinematic history, Bond’s MI6-issued pistol has been limited to three pistols: the Walther P99, the Walther PPK, and in one instance, the Walther P5. Of the three variants, the Walther PPK has been the most frequently used gun in James Bond’s arsenal. The PPK has been featured in 16 of the 22 films made in the James Bond franchise. The P99, on the other hand, has appeared in 5 films.
The Walther PPK
The Walther PPK was released in 1931 by Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen, a German arms manufacturer that specializes in handguns. The model name, PPK, is short for Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell, which translates to Police Pistol Detective Model. The reasoning behind its detective-centric title is that the gun is easily concealable and ideal for undercover operations. The PPK is a semiautomatic blowback-operated pistol that features a double-action trigger mechanism and an exposed hammer.
The PPK was largely popular in both police enforcement and the civilian sector. The popularity and prominence of the gun throughout Europe is believed to be the main reason Ian Fleming assigned the weapon to James Bond. Prior to the success of the James Bond series, the gun was primarily associated with the Nazi military. During World War II, the PPK was a standard issue pistol for the Nazi police, pilots, and party officials.
Click on the link below to read the entire article:
