In the James Bond novella "Dr. No," Bond meets with his boss and the MI6 Armorer, Boothroyd, in M's office. M asks Boothroyd what he thinks of Bond's favored sidearm, the .25 Caliber Beretta 418.
"Lady's gun, sir," says Boothroyd.
Thereafter, Bond is issued the .32 Caliber Walther PPK, and firearms history is made.
There's a lot of machismo in the gun-nut world, to be sure. Dirty Harry Callahan and all.
But this is one of my favorite guns. The Smith & Wesson 3914, aka "Ladysmith."
It was conceived to be a lady's gun. But real gun owners know the ladies can shoot any gun the men can. There is no such thing as a handgun that women can't run. Any handgun a man can run, a woman can run. The handguns that make men wince, like the Smith & Wesson .460 and .500, will make women wince as well, but women can run them.
By the same token, "Lady's Guns," like the Smith 3914 can be completely viable sidearm choices for men. I'm 5'8" and 150 lbs soaking wet. I have small hands. This gun fits them. And it is eminently concealable. It is perhaps most famous as the sidearm carried by actress Stepfanie Kramer - she was really easy on the eyes - as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall in the stupid, but fun, 80s TV show "Hunter."
The real beauty of this gun is its practicality. It is easily concealable, by a man or woman of any size, and it will save your life in a bad situation. It is a fine, fine sidearm.
The fact that I obtained this for about $85 makes it a particularly valued piece in my collection. I'll carry a "Lady's Gun" and be glad of it.
