This metal exploding pen prototype was made for Pierce Brosnan‘s Bond in GoldenEye (1995). Prop Store offered it in its London Winter 2025 live auction, with an estimate of £2,000 to £4,000.
In the film
Q gives Bond an exploding pen. In the climax, Boris Grishenko activates it by accident, and Bond uses the blast to damage the control centre and escape.
The prop
The prototype. Prop Store says this metal pen originally had a working arming indicator: after three clicks, a red light flashed through a transparent window. Internal wires ran to a 9V battery socket. The mechanism no longer works.
Why it is a prototype. It was made when a flashing armed signal was still under consideration. The production later used non flashing pens on screen. Dimensions about 13.25 x 1.5 x 1.25cm (5.25 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches).
Owning it now
Prop Store’s archived lot page shows the pen as sold on 13 March 2026, with the price shown only to registered users. It contains electronics. Our link goes to the archived lot page.
Specifications
| Item | Exploding pen prototype, GoldenEye (1995) |
|---|---|
| Material | Metal, with transparent window and internal wiring |
| Feature | Three click arming indicator with red light (no longer working) |
| Size | About 13.25 x 1.5 x 1.25cm |
| Auction | Prop Store, London Winter 2025 |
| Estimate | £2,000 to £4,000 |
| Stock | 204618 |
Questions
Does Bond’s GoldenEye pen really explode on screen?
In the film, Boris Grishenko triggers the pen and the blast helps Bond wreck the control room. This Prop Store lot is a flashing prototype; non flashing pens were used on screen.
Does the GoldenEye exploding pen prototype still light up?
Prop Store says the 9V powered arming light no longer works.
Is the GoldenEye exploding pen for sale?
Not at present. Prop Store sold this prototype in its London Winter 2025 live auction against an estimate of £2,000 to £4,000.
Sources: Prop Store, James Bond’s (Pierce Brosnan) Exploding Pen Prototype, London Winter 2025.
More from the film is on our GoldenEye page and in our weapons collection.
