Licensed Troubleshooter: The Guns of James Bond

Licensed Troubleshooter: The Guns of James Bond by Caleb Daniels is a celebration of the most fascinating small arms wielded by one of the world’s most acclaimed action heroes, 007.

The in-depth analysis spans the entire collection of Bond films and the novels that inspired them, including those written by Ian Fleming and the continuation authors. This visual history thoroughly examines the design and use of Bond’s tools and, of course, their impact on 007.

The book originally came to life as a Kickstarter in a few different editions, but can now be ordered directly from Headstamp Publishing:

Licensed Troubleshooter (Standard Edition)
$110.00

Licensed Troubleshooter (Signature Edition)
$125.00 (Signed)

Licensed Troubleshooter (Collector's Edition)
$255.00 (Signed + Commemorative Clamshell Presentation Case)

About the book

Beyond paying tribute to the fictional hero James Bond, Licensed Troubleshooter shines a spotlight on the real-world operators who use the same firearms, featuring interviews with current and former military and intelligence personnel from agencies and units in the United Kingdom and the United States, including the CIA, MACV-SOG, U.S. Navy SEALs, DSS, and more. These interviews, combined with substantial historical research, give readers a deeper understanding of the often incredible history of these firearms, including their use in combat and clandestine operations. Be prepared to see Bond’s guns in a way you’ve never seen them before.

Notable firearms featured in this book include:

• Walther PPK iconic compact pistol
• Analysis of Ian Fleming’s “skeleton gripped .25 Beretta”
• An exploration and identification of Ian Fleming’s “long-barrelled .45 Colt Army Special”
• ASP 9 mm pistol
• Walther WA2000 precision rifle
• Scaramanga’s famous “Golden Gun”
• Heckler & Koch P7 with squeeze cocker and piston-delayed operation
• Walther P99 polymer-framed pistol
• SVD Dragunov, sniper rifle of the Iron Curtain
• MBA Gyrojet firing rocket-propelled projectiles

Licensed Troubleshooter also offers a number of vignettes detailing other non-incendiary items fundamental to the character of Bond, such as timepieces, tailoring and cocktails.

Though this book provides significant written analysis and commentary, it is also presented in part as a pictorial study to best highlight the varied and unique details of the noteworthy firearms used by Bond. The masterful photography of James Rupley jumps off the page, often showing these small arms at larger-than-life scale.

Equally appealing to firearms collectors and Bond aficionados, Licensed Troubleshooter is the first book to celebrate the small arms of the literary and cinematic Bond in this comprehensive manner.

About the author

Author Caleb Daniels is a well-known weapons expert in the Bond community, follow him on his Instagram page @commandobond or Substack.