The NRA’s National Firearms Museum has recently published some videos on YouTube related to original movie guns obtained from the Stembridge Collection (as sold by Little John’s Auction Service in 2007). The series of installments, called “Curator’s Corner”, feature pieces attributed to Magnum P.I. and James Bond films.
The two videos can be found on the NFMCurator’s Channel on YouTube:
In addition to specifics about the subject pieces in each video is really good information about prop movie guns in general.
Below is the feature on the Colt Series 70 1911A pistol attributed to Magnum P.I. (YouTube LINK):
Below is the feature on the Walther PPK pistol attributed to Licence to Kill / A View To A Kill (YouTube LINK):
Regarding the PPK, I do have some information regarding Stembridge weapons rented to both Licence to Kill and A View To A Kill.
I own one PPK that was rented by Stembridge Gun Rentals to the production for Licence to Kill (see Movie Guns | James Bond Hero Walther PPK) and have the original rental agreements and other collateral listing that weapon by serial number. These agreements only list one PPK, though it is limited in scope to one of the two unit armourers (one was in Key West, the second in Mexico City, Veracruz, and Key West), so it is certain that additional PPKs not listed in the paperwork that I have for the 2nd unit were rented to the 1st unit.
I also have a copy of one page of rental agreements for A View To A Kill. While none of the four PPKs sold by Little John’s Auction Service are found, one of the serial numbers is off by only one number, so there is a possibility that it appears on one of the invoices that I do not have a copy of myself.
Given some of the problematic attribution of pieces in the Little John’s catalog of Stembridge Collection firearms, hopefully the National Firearms Museum has been able to fully authenticate the weapon.
Jason DeBord