James Bond’s first handgun from the opening scenes of 1962’s Dr No is set to be auctioned.
The Walther PPK pistol was owned by actor Bernard Lee, who played M in the first 11 films. He hands over the gun after criticising the spy for carrying a Beretta.
Lee brought it into set after a prop didn’t arrive, and a letter signed by the actor confirms that it was the “first ever to appear in a James Bond film.”
Auctioneer Jonathan Humber described the gun, which was fully-active and unregistered during filming, as a “superlative piece of British film history."
They eventually swapped the pistol for a prop gun, with the provenance notes deeming it “inappropriate” for further use.
The actor later gave the weapon to the parents of the vendor, writing in a letter: "Dear Jane, I know you will not accept anything in return for all your help and the kindness that you and John have shown to me throughout these trying times but my conscience will not let it go unrewarded.
"Enclosed is a small token of my gratitude that I would like your boy to have as and when you see fit.
"This Walther pistol numbered 149894 is a small piece of 007 history."
The gun is predicted to earn as much as £80,000 at auction in Whittlebury, Northamptonshire on 6 December – a price that pales in comparison to Sean Connery’s pistol from the 1963 poster for From Russia With Love, which sold for £277,250 in 2010.
Nick Pope is the Site Director of Esquire, overseeing digital strategy for the brand.
