The Kiss of Death, Lipstick Pistol was a weapon issued by the KGB during the Cold War. It was a single shot 4.5 mm pistol hidden inside a lipstick holder. It was initially discovered in West Berlin at an American checkpoint.
This weapon was issued by the KGB about 1965. The KGB was the security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and its chief functions were foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, guarding the borders and the leadership of the Soviet Government as well as combating anti-Soviet activities. It reached the height of its reputation during the Cold War. After the dissolution of the USSR, the KGB was split into the Federal Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation.
This weapon was designed during the Cold War which was a state of political tension from 1947 to 1991 between the Soviet Union and its satellite states and the United States, its NATO allies. The term “cold” is used because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides, but they each supported regional wars or proxy wars. During this Cold War, both sides conducted long-term Spy operations, and although most spies were unarmed, some missions may have required the use of more lethal weapons for emergencies or assassinations.
Kiss of Death, Lipstick Pistol
- Title: Kiss of Death, Lipstick Pistol
- Year: 1965
- Type: 4.5mm single shot weapon
- Issued by: KGB
- Museum: International Spy Museum
Explore the International Spy Museum
- Scaramanga’s Golden Gun
- Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, S-Site Badge
- Manhattan Project, Service Certificate
- Forged British Bank Note from Operation Bernhard
- Enigma Cipher Machine
- British Special Forces Bobbins
- Sleeve Dagger with Sheath
- British Special Forces Lapel Knife
- Kiss of Death, Lipstick Pistol
- Glove Pistol
- Exhibits of the International Spy Museum
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“It is because politics is more difficult than physics.”
– Einstein
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Photo Credit: 1)JOM