Beretta 418 - The Original James Bond Pistol

[canisfamilliaris]

Perhaps he was talking relative to the size of the gun. It needs to be concealable. So he perhaps for a small gun.

It was recommended to Ian Fleming by a gun expert after all.

[FailerVision]

I just found a small mistake I made, right around 1:30... Anyone catch it?

[Blahblobify]

@FailerVision

Yeah he says Beretta 948, which was .22.

Anyway in one of Fleming's novels he describes Bond's embarrasing "bubbah" work on his Beretta, removing the grips to make it thinner, using electrical tape to cover the grip and hold down the grip safety, and filing down the firing pin to make it sharper in order to make it's ignition more reliable, which was a lot of claptrap, since a sharp firing pin would puncture primers and make it misfire/jam....Flemming was not a gun nut. 

[FailerVision]

@Blahblobify Yeah. If I remember correctly, I filmed parts of both reviews back to back and said 948 instead of 418.

Most of Fleming's writing on the Beretta is utter hogwash, but there are a few points of accuracy mixed in. He carried a similar weapon during the war, a Baby Browning if I remember correctly. Removing the grips reduces the width of the weapon by nearly a centimeter, making it easier to conceal.  It also allows the operator to see how many rounds remaining in the magazine.

[Blahblobify]

@FailerVision

LOL yes Fleming's most infamous line about guns is the armoror's statement when he hands him his new PPK "Seven Six Five Millimeter....stopping power like a brick through a plate glass window".... like the 32ACP is some incredible manstopper. Jeff Cooper must have laughed for hours.

[FailerVision]

@Blahblobify The funniest part was, if you watch the film version of Dr. No, Bond hands over a Beretta M1934 or M1935, not a 418. The 34/35 came in either .380 or .32, giving it equal or better stopping power to the PPK.

[rahuldoes]

If you take the magazine out and pull the slide back, the ejector pin pulls the round and throws it out. I have done that many many times. Try it.

[FailerVision]

@rahuldoes I've tried that on my weapon, the magazine failed to release in 7+1. The n again, I've taken it apart several times since and cleaned it thoroughly, it might work this time. I won't be testing it again until I visit the range though, just in case.

[LifeSizePotato]

Good to see another 418 review out there! Nice job. :-)