From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN AIR PISTOL 140059 JAN 10 By Anita Singh, PA News The truth behind the famous image of James Bond clutching his Walther PPK is finally out - the man with the golden gun was really holding an air pistol. Sean Connery struck the pose as publicity for From Russia With Love and the image of a tuxedo-clad 007 holding the gun has endured for almost 40 years. But on the day of the shoot the props department forgot to bring Bond's Walther PPK - and a harmless fake was used instead, reported the Mail on Sunday. The truth has been revealed by photographer David Hurn, who owned the air pistol and has now decided to put it up for sale. Mr Hurn recalled arriving at Shepperton studios in 1963 to take the picture. "We turned up at the studio and I was introduced to Connery. He was all ready to strike his pose when it emerged that the props department had not thought to bring his gun. "By sheer coincidence, I owned a Walther air pistol which I used for target shooting and it was in the boot of my car," he said. Mr Hurn said they took the pictures and advised the film's publicity department to airbrush out the gun's barrel and sight because they looked nothing like a real Walther PPK. But he said: "Somehow the photographs were left untouched. The most remarkable aspect of the story is that not one of the world's thousands of gun experts has ever noticed." Now Mr Hurn, of Tintern, Gwent, is selling the gun and it is expected to fetch at least £5,000 when it is auctioned alongside other Bond memorabilia at Christie's in London on February 14. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well, actually Mr. Hurn I think most of us did notice its just that nobody takes the Bond films seriously enough to comment. Even Fleming couldn't get it right - the PPK would have dropped straight out of the Berns Martin Triple Draw holster as it was only designed to work with revolvers. Anyway what was a skeleton grip on a Beretta .25? Kenneth Pantling -- Er, actually we did notice, Richard Law I think was the first to notice it was an air pistol many years ago. Steve. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
