Few things Daniel Craig’s Bond carries are as unshowy as the Vega IB333 holster. It is a soft pouch of suede with a polymer clip, made in Italy, and it has stayed on screen across three films without anyone needing to notice it. Bond uses it for his Walther PPK in Spectre, as in Casino Royale and Skyfall. We think it is the quietest piece of equipment in the Craig era, and that is its appeal.
In the film
In Spectre (2015) the holster is visible when Bond hands his Walther PPK to a guard at Oberhauser’s lair in Morocco, worn with the brown suit. Our records also place it in Casino Royale, where it carries the PPK and the Walther P99, and in Skyfall, where it can be spotted as Bond jumps onto the tube train in the London Underground. Vega still lists the IB3 range, so there is no replica to chase.
The details of the Vega IB333 holster
Cognac suede. Vega lists the colour as cognac, a warm tan that softens and gathers character with use. Suede takes marks more readily than smooth leather, which suits a piece meant to look lived-in rather than new.
A pouch, not a shell. There is no rigid moulding here. The pistol sits in a simple suede envelope and is held by the pressure of the waistband. It is the reason the holster is so thin, and the reason it will not suit every owner.
An ambidextrous polymer clip. The same holster works for left- and right-handed wearers, and the clip fixes it inside the waistband. It is the one visibly modern element, a plain black counterpoint to the suede.
Light and Italian. It is made in Italy and, as one retailer lists it, has a gross weight of 65g. Vega builds holsters for law enforcement, military and security professionals, and the IB3 sits in its concealment range.
One family, many codes. Vega’s IB3 listing covers a long list of pistols, including the Walther PPK and P99, with a different product code for each. The IB333 is the code Bond’s PPK holster carries in our catalogue. Check Vega’s code search against your own pistol before you order.
Owning it now
This is equipment for a man who already carries a pistol lawfully and wants it unannounced. Whether, where and how you may carry is a matter of local law and proper training, and not ours to advise on. For those who own a PPK, or one of its relatives, as a collector or a target shooter, the Vega is the right way to dress it: cognac suede beside blued or stainless steel looks correct in a way that tactical nylon never will.
Know its limits. A soft pouch relies on a belt and the waistband to keep the pistol in place, so it gives you none of the locked-in retention of a kydex rig. If you want that, TH Holsters makes a kydex-and-suede holster, the Spectre MKIII, modelled on the Vega’s shape. We would choose the plain Vega for looks and the TH for daily use.
What it pairs with. Cognac suede sits well with a brown or grey suit, a leather belt in a similar tan and dark trousers. Keep the rest of the outfit quiet.
Specifications
| Model code | IB333 (Walther PPK); Vega lists the family as IB3 |
|---|---|
| Material | Suede leather, cognac |
| Carry | Inside the waistband, ambidextrous (left and right hand) |
| Clip | Polymer |
| Weight | 65g gross, as listed by one retailer |
| Made in | Italy |
| Price | Set by the retailer; see the buy button |
Full details of the range are on Vega’s own page for the IB3.
Questions
Is this the holster Bond wears in Spectre?
Yes. Bond uses a Vega IB333 for his Walther PPK in Spectre, and it is visible when he hands the pistol to a guard in Morocco.
Did Bond wear the Vega holster in other films?
Yes. Our records show Bond using it in Casino Royale, for the PPK and the Walther P99, and in Skyfall, where it is seen on the London Underground.
Will it fit pistols other than the Walther PPK?
Only if Vega lists your pistol, under its own product code. The IB3 family covers a long range of pistols, so use Vega’s code search to find the right one rather than assuming the IB333 will fit.
Is it a good everyday holster?
It suits appearance better than hard daily use. The soft suede pouch has no rigid shell, so it holds the pistol by waistband pressure alone. If retention matters more to you than looks, a moulded holster is the better choice.
More from the Craig years is in our accessories and in the guide to every Bond film.
