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Ian Fleming Colt .357 Magnum To Be Auctioned Off This Month

Originally presented to the author in 1964

Ian Fleming Colt .357 Magnum Sells For $23,000 At Auction

Originally presented to the author in 1964

Lot details - http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/p...5280905-2-1.jpg

A fine Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver by Colt, no. 35459 presented to the famous James Bond author Ian Fleming in 1964
The left side of the action frame engraved 'PRESENTED TO IAN FLEMING BY COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO.', top of frame fitted with Elliason adjustable rear-sight, the barrel with ramp foresight, the butt with chequered walnut grips and Colt medallions, the revolver retaining virtually all of its Colt high polish blue finish
2�in. barrel, London nitro proof
The bore excellent. In the maker's carton with the Colt three bladed flat turn-screw, bore brush and target

Estimate: �10,000 - 15,000
Footnote:
At the request of the vendor this lot is being offered in its original working condition and ownership without the proper authority is only allowed following De-Activation according to the Home Office guidelines and certification from the London Proof House.
Please note that there are specific Import / Export regulations relating to firearms which vary according to the country of destination.

The revolver is accompanied with a letter of authentication from Colt and is also offered with a copy of Ian Fleming's Goldfinger published in 1959

Ian Fleming Colt .357 Magnum Sells For $23,000 At Auction

Originally presented to the author in 1964

What is really a shame is the fact that the gun will have to be decommissioned before Bonham's will release it - meaning the gun will never be able to fire a round again.

What?!? Sacrilege!!!!

Something similar happened to the late Geoffrey Boothroyd's guns when they were sold a few years ago. The S&W .38 (which adorned the cover of the Cape FRWL) and a PPK which he had loaned Fleming, fell foul of the same British "regulations".

They were sold to an American buyer (can't remember who) but the last I heard was that they were still in the UK as the buyer didn't want them to be de-commisioned. Don't know what the current whereabouts of them is though - did the American relent or is his still arguing with the UK officials.

Truly, a great tragedy. I regard this as akin to something similar being done to the first prototype ASP 9mm or AR-10. To me, law or not, it's unjust!!!

The American is noted Bond collector Brad Frank.

He is still arguing and trying to figure out a way of getting them to the US without altering the weapons. One possible method, having an FBI agent fly over for the guns did not work out.

Thanks for the name, I just wonder if he ever regrets buying them.

At least with this auction, they did give a warning of the probability of them being rendered "safe".

Is it stated as to how the gun's would be rendered unfireable? Would they weld them up? Anything less drastic could be "fixed" later.

The earlier version of deactivating pistols, a plug is jammed into the barrel and secured. My PPK then had a grinder (or something similar) used on the internal firing mechanism and also cut into the breech, although the trigger and hammer still work. Cannot remember how they proceeded with revolvers that I saw many years ago, although I remember that something was done to the insides of the cylinder, also the pin was removed from the hammer (easily replaced - so that's probably been changed). Since then I believe they have made deactivation much more severe.