James BondÂ’s gun of choice has been targeted for a recall.
Smith & Wesson said yesterday that itÂ’s recalling all Walther PPK and PPK/S guns manufactured between March 2002 and early this month. The Springfield firm said a defect could allow the $605 weapon to go off without anyone pulling the trigger.
Ooooh. Sounds exciting...
“While we have no reason to believe that the condition affects every pistol produced during the designated period, we have chosen in the interest of safety to replace the hammer block in every (weapon) that is returned,” Smith & Wesson said in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In a memo to customers posted on its Web site, the Springfield firm advised owners of the gun to “STOP USING YOUR PISTOL AND RETURN IT TO SMITH & WESSON AT ONCE.”
Anybody have one?
Company Vice President Liz Sharp told the Herald that Smith & Wesson engineers discovered the problem during routine tests, and that the firm “has not reported” any consumer injuries. However, Granite City, Ill., police officer Jeremy Hunter sued the gunmaker last fall over wounds sustained in 2006 when his PPK/S allegedly went off on its own. Smith & Wesson has denied any responsibility for the accident.
Still, the firm plans to fix all PPK and PPK/S guns for free, including covering shipping costs to and from Smith & WessonÂ’s factories. The company estimates the recall will cost a total of $900,000 to $1.3 million.
The Walther PPK is famous the world over as Agent 007Â’s pistol, appearing in most of the 22 James Bond movies released since 1962. Local gun dealers say the German-designed weapon is also popular with real-life consumers, as itÂ’s small, easy to carry and holds seven rounds.
Jim Wallace of the Northboro-based Gun Owners’ Action League said he hadn’t heard any of his group’s members complain about the PPK, “but it sounds like Smith & Wesson is doing the right thing.” |