- "Walther PPK. 7.65mm with a delivery like a brick through a plate-glass window. Takes a Brausch silencer, with little reduction in muzzle velocity. The American CIA swear by them."
- ― Major Boothroyd to James Bond
The Walther PPK is a compact semi-automatic pistol that's a iconic staple in all James Bond media, being the titular agent's go-to sidearm in a sweeping number of stories in the franchise. Produced by Carl Walther GmbH, it is a more compact variant of its larger parent weapon, the Walther PP (Walther Polizeipistole), originally introduced in 1929. The Walther PPK (the K appendix standing for either Kriminalpolizei or Kurz (short)) itself was introduced in 1931 and remains in production to this day. Due to its popularity, the gun model and its shape have been widely copied, even into toy guns. The gun is of high quality, and is therefore considered a quality standard in expert circles.
In James Bond media, it was first issued to James Bond in the 1958 Ian Fleming novel, Dr. No, and is used in all subsequent books as his signature weapon. With the transition to the big screen, the PPK became Bond's primary weapon and was featured from 1962 (Dr. No) to 1995 (GoldenEye). In the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies, the transition was made to the Walther P99, which would be used for the rest of Pierce Brosnan's tenure as Bond.
Although the promotional material for Casino Royale (2006) featured the PPK, it was only used during the pre-title fight sequence with Dryden's contact, Fisher. For the rest of the film, Bond would continue to rely on the P99. For 2008's Quantum of Solace, however, the Walther PPK made a welcome return as 007's main sidearm throughout the film. This trend continued in Skyfall (2012), where the spy was provided with a modified Walther PPK/S.
Literary History[]
Ian Fleming-era[]
The PPK makes it literary debut in Dr. No, the sixth book in the series. The reason for this change is found in the previous book, From Russia with Love where Bond's Beretta 418 gets caught in his holster. Taking several months to recover from injuries sustained at the end of the earlier book, Bond is directly ordered to use the new pistol. Although he is initially reluctant to use the weapon, he soon comes to rely on it.
The introduction of the PPK as Bond's favoured weapon came about after firearms expert Geoffrey Boothroyd, a fan of the original novels, fired off several helpful letters to author Ian Fleming making helpful suggestions to improve the accuracy of firearms in the books. Fleming himself had used a Beretta chambered in .25 ACP while serving in Naval Intelligence during World War II, and initially had Bond carry the same weapon. Boothroyd felt the small cartridge was too weak, and suggested Bond carry a larger caliber.
In one extensive letter to Fleming regarding the accuracy of Russian firearms Boothroyd suggested in passing that Bond should carry the German made Walther PPK as his chosen sidearm. Though not as accurate as some other pistols of the same era the PPK had the great advantage of using the 7.65mm (.32 ACP) cartridge which was readily available all over the world, fitting in with Bond's jet set lifestyle. Thus the PPK entered into Bond folklore and popular culture as the preferred weapon of the espionage operative.
Fleming was so grateful for Geoffrey Boothroyd's advice on firearms that he named the "Armourer" in Bond novels "Major Boothroyd" - now known as "Q". In the novel Dr No "M" introduces "Major Boothroyd" to 007 as the "greatest small arms expert in the world".
John Gardner-era[]
By the time John Gardner took over as Bond novelist, he had retired the PPK. The reason for this is due the kidnapping attempt on HRH Princess Anne on March 1974, during which Anne's personal police officer, Inspector James Beaton, had his PPK had jam during the incident, causing the PPK to be withdrawn from use.[1] Gardner tried various sidearm options in his earlier continuation novels, before finally settling for the ASP Pistol for the rest of his writing tenure.[2]
Raymond Benson-era[]
During writer Raymond Benson's tenure, he reinstated the PPK as Bond's sidearm in his first novel Zero Minus Ten. although it would be replaced in his novelisation of Tomorrow Never Dies by the P99. In the following novels Bond uses both guns: the PPK for undercover work as it is smaller and easier to conceal while he used the P99 for jobs that did not require concealment.
Film Appearances[]
Dr. No (film)[]
James Bond being given the Walther PPK
- "You'll carry the Walther. Unless you'd prefer to go back to standard intelligence duties?"
"No, sir. I would not. "
"Then from now on you carry a different gun" - ― M and James Bond
The first film in the EON Bond series is the 1962 adaptation of Dr. No, and translates the scene from the novel where Major Boothroyd supplies James Bond with his Walther PPK in full (although, while identified on-screen as a PPK and presumably intended as such, the weapon used on screen is the larger Walther PP, the pistol that was the main basis for the PPK itself). In a slight, humorous jab, Bond tries to steal back the Beretta he'd surrendered to M but his boss sees through the ruse and orders him to leave it behind.
From Russia with Love (film)[]
The PPK first appears in the hands of SPECTRE's imposter James Bond in the pre-title sequence, before being killed by Red Grant. During the shoot-out at the gypsy camp, both (the real) James Bond and Ali Kerim Bey are seen using their perspective PPK pistols. Bond is seen temporarily holding it towards Tania Romanova when she attempts to seduce him.
Red Grant threatens James Bond's life
During the sequence at the Orient Express, the PPK is first seen in the hands of Kerim Bey, when he holds Benz at gunpoint. Subsequently, Bond finds a PPK in the attaché case of Red Grant (posing as Captain Nash). When Bond gets suspicious of Grant, he finally draws his own PPK, only to get it knocked out of his hands and taken by Grant, who attaches his own suppressor on it.
Goldfinger (film)[]
Capungo fails to use James Bond's PPK
- "Forgive me."
"Why do you always wear that thing?"
"I have a -- slight inferiority complex." - ― James Bond and Bonita
The PPK is first seen on James Bond's shoulder holster during the pre-title sequence when meeting with Bonita. But Bond is forced to remove it when Bonita is perturbed by it, with Bond quipping about his decision to constantly carry it. Capungo then attacks, and after Bond has thrown Capungo in the bathtub that Bonita was washing herself on, Capungo tries to reach Bond's shoulder holster with the PPK in it. Having to make a snap decision, Bond throws a electric-powered table fan to the bath, electrocuting and killing Capungo. Dead Capungo drops the PPK and Bond requires it back, retrieving his shoulder holster and quipping about Capungo's "shocking" death.
Curiously, the PPK is not seen for the rest of the film, with Bond mainly using a Walther P38 in the subsequent firefights.
Thunderball (film)[]
A PPK first appears in the hands of Lippe, who draws it when Angelo Palazzi begins to ask for a higher price for the theft of the atom bombs from Fiona Volpe.
Bond is then later seen using one during the night-time shoot out at Largo's villa. One is also used by Vargas when he attempts to assassinate Bond in the presence of Domino, only for Bond use a spear gun to kill Vargas.
You Only Live Twice (film)[]
James Bond shooting SPECTRE's assassins
- "Do you know what gun this is?
Walther PPK.
Only one person we know uses this sort of gun... James Bond." - ― Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Osato
During his time in Japan, James Bond is occasionally seen with his PPK drawn out. Bond also gets X-ray scanned by Mr. Osato during the meeting where Bond poses as "Mr. Fisher." Later, at the Volcano Lair, Ernst Stavro Blofeld brings the matter up to Osato and Helga Brandt, with SPECTRE now knowing that Bond - who had faked his death to mislead SPECTRE - is in fact alive.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)[]
James Bond shoots at Ersnt Stavro Blofeld
James Bond is seen carrying his trademark PPK through-out the film. It first appears in the Hotel Palacio Estoril sequence, where Tracy has found Bond's PPK and tries to threaten him, only for him to violently disarm it from her. Kleff is later seen with Bond's PPK, as Bond gets escorted to meet with Marc-Ange Draco. During the last parts of the film at Piz Gloria, Bond is seen using the PPK, notably during the sequence where he chases Blofeld on a bobsled.
Diamonds Are Forever (film)[]
While Bond has his PPK during the mission, he is rarely seen with it and never fires it during the entire film.
Live and Let Die (film)[]
James Bond holds Rosie Carver at gunpoint
James Bond is seen couple of times with his trusty PPK. but never fires it during the movie. The PPK first appears when Bond is taken to the hidden room within Fillet of Soul restaurant in Harlem.
After Tee Hee inquires Solitaire whatever Bond is armed and uses Tarot reading to confirm it, Tee Hee reaches Bond's shoulder holster with his hook-hand and takes Bond's PPK. Tee Hee then proceeds to twist the gun's slide in half, with him then returning the pulverized PPK to Bond and walks away laughing, with Bond then quipping about Tee Hee's amusement and dropping the ruined PPK in the nearby trash can.
After Bond defeats the henchmen that Mr. Big ordered to "waste Bond", Harold Strutter of CIA appears, who has his own PPK drawn. At San Monique, when Bond gets suspicious of Rosie Carver's allegiances, he draws a PPK on her and demanding answers from her. Bond is not seen with the PPK afterwards for the rest of the film.
The Man with the Golden Gun (film)[]
Scaramanga and 007 ready for their duel
- "A duel between titans. My Golden Gun against your Walther PPK. Each of us with a 50-50 chance."
"Six bullets to your one?"
"I only need one." - ― Francisco Scaramanga and James Bond
James Bond is seen with his PPK when he tries to find Francisco Scaramanga in Macau. During the finale, Scaramanga pits Bond against himself in a duel, where he allows Bond to use his 6-round PPK (implying that Bond is now carrying a .380 ACP version of it), simply because Scaramanga is confident that he "only needs one" bullet from the his Golden Gun to win. As the duel begins, Bond almost shoots Nick Nack, who snuck up on Bond. Bond ultimately kills Scaramanga with a single shot to the heart after catching him by surprise by posing as the replica puppet of himself.
Besides Bond's use of the PPK, there are promotional photos of Soon-Tek Oh - who plays Hip - posing with a PPK.
The Spy Who Loved Me (film)[]
James Bond is first seen using his PPK in Cairo, after Sandor fumbles his assassination attempt on Bond and gets Felicca shot instead. Bond then chases Sandor with the PPK in hand, until Sandor gets a surprise drop on him, resulting in the fight transitioning to fisticuffs.
007 and Anya Amasova searching for Jaws
Bond is then seen with the PPK when Jaws - who has Bond and Anya Amasova unaware that he knows they snuck aboard his van - brings them to a construction site in the middle of Egyptian desert.
Bond is then later seen using the PPK when he confronts Karl Stromberg at his dining room in the Atlantis. After Stromberg fires the under-table grenade launcher tube, Bond uses the tube to instead shoot Stromberg, killing him.
Anya Amasova threatens James Bond's life
As Bond and Amasova make their escape from Atlantis in an escape pod, Amasova takes the opportunity to take Bond's PPK and threatens to kill him with it, in revenge for Sergei Barsov's death. However, Bond is able to convince her to change her mind and they make love instead.
In one scene at "the Pyramids", Bond is instead seen carrying a Beretta Model 70, with there being some promotional photos where Bond carries it instead of the PPK.
Moonraker (film)[]
Although the PPK appears in Bond's hands in some publicity photos for the movie (including certain home media covers), the PPK itself never appears in the films in any capacity, let alone in Bond's hands.
For Your Eyes Only (film)[]
Hector Gonzales examining 007's PPK.
- "A Walther PPK. Standard issue. British Secret Service. License to kill - or be killed."
- ― Hector Gonzales
The PPK is first seen when James Bond is trying to find Hector Gonzales in Spain, only to get caught. Gonzales observes Bond's PPK and determines from it that Bond is a 00 Agent for the MI6.
Bond is later seen with the PPK during the scene where Locque attacks with the Sand Buggies. After Lisl von Schlaf gets killed during the ambush, Locque draws his own PPK on Bond, only to get distracted by Columbo's appearing, with Bond smacking Locque's PPK away and then picking it up for himself.
At Columbo's yatch, Columbo and Bond point the PPK at each other in a test of character, only to find a mutual understanding. Bond is then seen using the PPK during the shoot-out at Kristatos' warehouse Albania. Afterwards, Bond finds Locque again, trying to flee by car, with Bond getting front of it and shooting at the cars windshield, until one bullet nicks Locque and causes him to hit a cliff, with Bond subsequently kicking it down the cliff.
Octopussy (film)[]
The PPK actually only appears during the opening music titles of the movie. In the movie, Bond actually uses a Walther P5 because of a request by Walther to promote the then-new pistol.
There is bit of a continuity error, as during the Tuk-Tuk chase, Bond already carries the P5, when its apparently supposed to be the PPK, as after Bond loses the gun during the chase, he goes to Q that he needs a new gun since he "mislaid his PPK."
A View to a Kill (film)[]
Bond is first seen drawing his PPK when he chases May Day up the Eiffel Tower. When Bond and Stacey Sutton go investigate the government building, they are found by Max Zorin and May Day, with Zorin taking away Bond's PPK and using it to kill W.G. Howe and framing Bond over it. Subsequently this causes the San Francisco Police Department to chase Bond and Sutton after getting out of the government building that was set ablaze by Zorin.
Although her pistol appears somewhat obscured, it appears that at the Main Strike Mine, Jenny Flex is seen carrying a Walther PPK, before she gets washed away by the flood.
The Living Daylights (film)[]
James Bond threatening Leonid Pushkin
- "I take this is not a social call, 007."
"Correct. You should have brought lilies..." - ― Leonid Pushkin and James Bond, latter holding the former at gunpoint
James Bond is first seen drawing his PPK, after Saunders has been killed by Necros' door trap at the Vienna Funfair. With the "Smert Spionam" message delivered by an balloon, when Bond sees two balloons moving behind a grassy fence, Bond jumps over it and draws his PPK. Instead of Necros, the balloon carriers turn out to be a mother and her son, scaring them both, with Bond forced to hide the PPK back in his shoulder holster and leave the scene without drawing further attention to himself.
At Tangiers, Bond finds Leonid Pushkin and holds him and his mistress Rubavitch at gunpoint with a suppressed PPK. He interrogates Pushkin about the recent killings of 00 agents, and when Pushkin activate the silent alarm on his watch, Bond pistol whips Pushkin with the PPK. After Bond dispatches the guard, Bond continues to interrogate Pushkin, with the latter convincing the former that he is not behind the killings.
During Pushkin's staged death, Bond uses the PPK to shoot one of the spotlights that is being shone on him. When Bond returns to Kara Milovy, he unknowingly drinks the sleeping drug she made, and upon realizing what he has consumed, he tries to draw his PPK, only to collapse and drop it.
After Bond has destroyed Koskov's Afghanistan operations, he infiltrates Whitaker's villa with PPK at hand and confronts Whitaker. Whitaker pulls a fast one and firefight ensues. Bond tries to shoot Whitaker, but his PPK is unable to damage the ballistic shield attached on Whitaker's Colt Commando, with the villain retorting by saying "You've had your eight, now have my eighty!" and opening fire. Bond is instead forced to use the Key Finder to defeat Whitaker.
Licence to Kill (film)[]
James Bond searches Felix Leiter's home
- "It's a wise gambler, who knows when his luck has run out. Why this?"
"In my business you prepare for the unexpected." - ― Franz Sanchez and James Bond
Bond is first seen with his PPK when he goes to investigate Felix Leiter's house, after hearing at the airport that Franz Sanchez had escaped. After Bond discovers deceased Della and maimed Felix, Bond begins his quest of vengeance against the Sanchez Cartel, and dispatching Ed Killifer, he is stopped by DEA and taken to the Hemmingway House. There, M revokes Bond's Licence to Kill and orders him to relinquish his PPK. Bond pretends to comply, only to start attacking the security guards and fleeing the scene.
When meeting Pam Bouvier at the Barrelhead Bar and seeing trouble, she asks Bond if he is carrying a gun. Bond shows his PPK, only for Pam to respond with a belittling gesture and show her Mossberg 500 Cruiser pump-action shotgun. After a fight begins between the good guys and the bad guys lead by Dario, Bond and Pam reach the speedboat, and while driving the boat, Bond fires back at Dario's lackeys.
Franz Sanchez holds James Bond's gun
When Bond gets to Casino de Isthmus, he gets the attention of Sanchez and is asked to meet with him. Bond is searched and they find Bond carrying his PPK. Bond is brought to Sanchez and two have a talk, with Sanchez asking about the PPK. The conversation ends with Bond's PPK confiscated, with Sanchez wryly guaranteeing that Isthmus is safe enough, so that Bond doesn't need a gun.
GoldenEye (film)[]
Alec Trevelyan and James Bond on mission
- "Walther PPK, 7.65mm, only three men I know use such a gun, I believe I've killed two of them."
- ― Valentin Zukovsky to James Bond
During the pre-title sequence at the Arkangel Chemical Weapons Facility, James Bond is seen sneaking around with a suppressed PPK. It would be until the escape sequence where Bond has to catch the STOL plane when he uses it to shoot a the Red Army motorcyclist.
James Bond threatens Valentin Zukovsky
Bond is later seen with it at Valentin Zukovsky's nightclub in St. Petersburg, where Bond draws the gun at Zukovsky's back, who identifies Bond's gun as an Walther PPK chambered in 7.65mm (.32 ACP). Bond again draws the PPK at the spa, when he encounters Xenia, and then seen carrying it at the statue graveyard where he finds "Janus" -- Alec Trevelyan.
General Ourumov shoots Dmitri Mishkin
After Bond and Natalya Simonova escape Trevelyan's trap within Eurocopter Tiger, they are arrested by Russian authorities. Dmitri Mishkin has acquired Bond's PPK and brings it to the interrogation chamber where he questions Bond and Natalya. Subsequently, General Ourumov bursts in and uses the gun to kill Mishkin and his bodyguard, before emptying it of its ammunition and throwing the emptied gun to Bond, attempting to frame him for Mishkin's murder.
Alec Trevelyan takes James Bond's PPK
Bond is then later seen firing the PPK at the Janus Satellite Control Centre, after he and Natalya reach the computer epicenter. After Bond is forced to surrender, his PPK is confiscated by the base security, with final fight against Trevelyan being fought with the latter's new handgun -- the Browning BDM.
Tomorrow Never Dies (film)[]
James Bond holds his PPK to Wai Lin
Bond is first seen with the PPK at his hotel room in Hotel Atlantic Hamburg, after spoiling Elliot Carver's press event. Expecting one of Carver's lackeys to come to him, begins screwing on the suppressor, only for it to be Paris Carver, who ends up revealing secrets about her husband.
At Carver's Hamburg Newspaper Printing Factory, after he has found the American GSP encoder from Henry Gupta's safe, Bond hears that somebody is entering the room and draws his PPK. Wai Lin enters and ends up tripping the alarm. Bond then has to fight his way out of the Printing Factory and in the process, putting his PPK in use.
James Bond attempts to save Paris Carver
After having escaped and driving his BMW 750iL, Carver calls Bond, asking him to go back to his hotel room. Upon arrival, he takes out a PPK from a hidden locker in the 750iL. He goes to his hotel room with the PPK drawn, only to find Paris dead. Upon hearing the pre-recorded broadcast about there being a dead male alongside Paris, Dr. Kaufman reveals himself and orders Bond to lay down his PPK.
After Bond kills Kauffman with latter's own H&K P7 handgun, Bond is not seen using his PPK for the rest of the film. After acquiring the (then) cutting-edge Walther P99 at Wai Lin's safe house, it would serve as Bond's go-to sidearm in the movies - with the PPK being totally absent in The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day - up until Quantum of Solace.
Casino Royale (film)[]
Despite the posters and promotional material featuring the PPK, it was only used by Bond during the pre-title fight sequence with Dryden's contact, Fisher. For the rest of the film, Bond would continue to rely on the Walther P99.
Quantum of Solace (film)[]
James Bond confronting Yusef Kabira
The Walther PPK returns as James Bond's main sidearm and would remain as such for rest of actor Daniel Craig's tenure as the character. He is seen first using it during his fight against Mitchell in Siena. Bond would carry the PPK, up until losing it when he and Camille are forced to free-fall from the Douglas DC3 plane. At the end of the film, Bond is seen brandishing a PPK when confronting Yusef Kabira.
Skyfall (film)[]
During the pre-title sequence, Bond and Agent Eve is seen carrying the Walther PPK while chasing down Patrice in Istanbul. After Bond returns to MI6, he is made to do some fitness tests, one being an shooting proficiency test in which Bond uses a PPK with underwhelming results.
When Bond begins his mission proper, he is a provided a specially modified Walther PPK/S by Q.
After returning to UK and during M's hearing, Bond uses a PPK to fend off Raoul Silva's underlings. When Bond and M go to the Skyfall Lodge, Bond gives his PPK to M to defend herself against Silva's men. When Silva and his men attack, M tries to fire back, but with poor results, with her deeming that she never was a good shot.
Spectre (film)[]
Bond is seen brandishing his PPK when he goes to Mr. White's safe house in Austria. After having a talk together, Mr. White asks for Bond's gun and kills himself with it. During the sequence on the train, Madeleine Swann gets a hold of Bond's PPK.
During the finale sequence where Bond and Madeline use a boat to chase the helicopter that Blofeld is fleeing in, Bond uses a PPK to successfully shoot down Blofeld's helicopter.
No Time to Die (film)[]
Paloma is first seen using a two-tone PPK during the action sequence in Santiago de Cuba. During the Norway sequence, Bond gives Madeleine Swann a PPK to defend herself. Bond is seen using a PPK shortly in Poison Garden, but subsequently uses a SIG-Sauer P226R during the ensuing firefights.
Video Game Appearances[]
The Walther PPK ("PP7 Special Issue") as seen in GoldenEye 007 (1997).
The Walther PPK first appears in the 1997 Nintendo 64 First-Person Shooter video game GoldenEye 007. In the beta version of the game, it was called in its actual name, but in the final release, the name was changed to "PP7 Special Issue" for trademark reasons, as with all real-world guns in the game. Subsequent video games of the franchise kept the tradition. The PP7 also has a version where the suppressor is put on, like in several James Bond movies, called "Silenced PP7". In the original version of said game, with the use of cheats, there are two rare, special variants of this weapon: The Silver PP7, which fires stronger bullets that penetrate as if shot from the Cougar Magnum, and a Gold PP7, that shoots incredibly powerful rounds as if they were being fired from Francisco Scaramanga's Golden Gun (which itself also appears in the game), which always results an instant kill.
"Service Revolver", as seen in the James Bond 007 manual (1998).
Likely modeled after the Walther PPK, the "pistol" in the 1998 Nintendo Game Boy game James Bond 007 is represented by a blocky handgun sprite. Interestingly, the game's instruction manual describes the weapon as the "Service Revolver", despite clearly depicting it as a PPK-esque semi-automatic handgun. The game's most basic weapon, Bond is first equipped with the pistol in London (and can find it in almost any level afterward). He can carry a maximum of 99 rounds of pistol ammunition, which can be replenished by collecting loot boxes from fallen enemies.
The PPK makes another appearance in Nightfire under the name "Wolfram PP7", similar to GoldenEye 007.
In 007 Legends, the Walther PPK can be unlocked through cheat codes or as a pre-order bonus.
Most other James Bond games instead have Bond wielding the Walther PP9 or similar weapons.
Although unrelated to James Bond, the spiritual successor of GoldenEye 007 by Rare, Perfect Dark, features the Walther PPK as the "PP9i" and functions identically.
Trivia[]
From On Her Majesty's Secret Service, in the scene where Bond gets nicked by Blofeld's bullet, the PPK's safety is a downward position, meaning that the safety is actually on rather than off.
- There are few times in James Bond media, most often the movies, where there are errors in how the PPK is depicted and/or used. These include;
- Dr. No: The PPK in the movie is not even the PPK, but rather the larger Walther PP, and the FN Model 1910 are used as substitutes. This can be partly excused, as the film crew was unable to find an actual PPK for the film.
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service: During the bobsled race, it can be seen that the PPK has its safety on, despite having fired shots at Blofeld prior. While this is likely a on-set precaution, it is still a continuity error as it can be clearly spotted.
- GoldenEye: After Ourumov kills Mishkin and his guard and removes the bullets from the magazine of Bond's PPK, he forgets to remove the bullet that was in the chamber of the pistol, meaning he threw a loaded PPK with a one bullet in it to Bond.
- Spectre: It is unrealistic that Bond could have shot down Blofeld's copter with the PPK, as most caliber options do not have such reach, and the bullet strength diminishes the further it travels.
- Throughout the entire film series, the PPK has appeared with its suppressor attached in only six films: From Russia with Love, Thunderball, The Living Daylights, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Spectre. While Bond does technically attach a suppressor to his pistol in Dr. No, the gun seen on-screen, however, is actually a Walther PP.
- While it is a well-known fact the James Bond series popularized the Walther PPK, another famous, seemingly honorable role of the weapon is it also responsible for the death of the notorious Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler, as he committed suicide with his own PPK in 1945, at the end of World War II.
The Walther PPK being James Bond's, a super spy, primary service weapon throughout the long-running franchise, led some fans to believe it is a powerful weapon, when in reality it is weaker than a 9mm
- Contrary to popular belief, in terms of real-life modern combat viability, the census is that while the Walther PPK is still regarded as a viable concealed carry/back-up pistol for self-defense, it doesn't quite measure up against today's standard CCW options and is not recommended as the main carry sidearm with prolonged combat engagements in mind, in spite of being 007's main weapon in most James Bond media.
- The PPK's design remains virtually unchanged from its introduction in 1931. On a positive side; the PPK is small, reliable, accurate, and simple to use with light recoil. However, most versions are made of steel, which can make it somewhat heavy for its size and which some users say feels uncomfortable. In addition, modern subcompact pistols come chambered in 9x19mm - and PPK only comes chambered in either .22 LR, .32, or .380 ACP calibers - all inferior to the 9mm in stopping power. Its magazine is single-stack, meaning it only carries some 6 to 10 rounds, depending on a caliber.
- The PPK is also known for having somewhat random reliability. As noted prior, a member of the Royal Protection Squad had their Walther PPK jam during the attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne in 1974. This caused the PPK itself to be withdrawn from their use, and would ultimately inspire John Gardner to seek a new sidearm for the literary James Bond in his continuation novels.
- In addition, when the PPK and similar guns are attached with a suppressor in various cases, its famous "pew" sound (which is also used in other media) sparked wide misconceptions that firearms become nearly silent when fired. In reality, these accessories only reduce noise by about 7-32dB and still produce around 130dB of noise (therefore still requiring ear protection), as they affect just the muzzle blast, with the supersonic crack of a bullet (sonic boom) continue being heard.
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Gardner, John [1981] (23 June 2011). "Chapter 5: The Road to Ascot", Licence Renewed, James Bond (in En-UK). Orion. ISBN 9780857820457. “By now, however, the PPK had been withdrawn from use, following its nasty habit of jamming at crucial moments. The weapon did this once too often, on the night of March 20th, 1974, when a would-be kidnapper with a history of mental illness attempted to abduct Princess Anne and her husband, Captain Mark Phillips. The royal couple’s bodyguard, Inspector James Beaton, was wounded, and, in attempting to return fire, his Walther jammed.”
- ↑ Simpson, Paul (2020). Bond vs. Bond: The Many Faces of 007 (Revised and Updated) (in En-UK). Race Point Publishing, 71-72. ISBN 9781631066962. “[Bond was issued PPK]... although when writing in 1980s, John Gardner was conscious that a PPK belonging to the Royal Protection Squad had jammed during the attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne in 1974, and therefore changed Bond's gun.[...][Talking about other pistols Bond has used as sidearm] Bond does carry another gun more than one mission: the ASP 9mm, which makes its debut in John Gardner's fourth novel, Role of Honour, after the author had experimented with different firearms prior to that and had sought inspiration from the book "The Handgun" by Geoffrey Boothroyd.”
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