Modern 9mm ASP?

Gabe Suarez has been building what he calls "modern guttersnipe pistols" for awhile now.

His are based on Glocks with red dots on them. A tad salty, but I think more in line with the concept updated.

Now, all we need is to find somone to start teaching the "Quell System again.

I tried some of Theodore's ideas back in the 80's, and still practice/follow some of it today. Im a big fan of the Bruce Lee school of learning, and "took what was useful".

I can remember seeing an ASP along with a couple of Devels, Charlie Kelsey's cut-down version of the S&W Models 39/59. It was at a collectors only gun show many years back and I had a chance to examine both types fairly carefully. Workmanship on both guns was superb with the ASP being a little more "melted down" while the Devel was a bit more conventional in it's features and appearance. Though I couldn't afford them back then (and still can't), I would have been thrilled to have either one (I did prefer the sights on the Devels more so than the "Guttersnipe Sight" on the ASP).

Great Scot said:

View attachment 847567 Saw this Kahr on GB and it struck me that it’s basically a modern version of the ASP developed by Paris Theodore in the 70s. Obviously not a custom gun like the original, but a functional equivalent. Thoughts?

Click to expand...

Paris Theodore would never release a gun with that ugly and snagging magazine floorplate (although ASP had a protruding one, it was smoothed out). Not sure what the sight is on the Kahr. Probably not an actual gutter sight though.

Where's the see-through grip. It ain't an ASP without that!

I still have the S&W response to the ASP and Devel, my 469. And it still works and has 15 round mags.

Those sights are just the Meprolight FT Bullseye sights.

jar said:

I still have the S&W response to the ASP and Devel, my 469. And it still works and has 15 round mags.

View attachment 847602​

Click to expand...

My first gun ever was a used 469 I picked out for carry/home defense when I lived in a bad neighborhood.

Even though it wasn't my cup of tea, I still think it was an exceedingly good choice for the role. It was a running joke amongst my friends that "if you could fit it in the magazine, it'd feed it. Even if it was a pinecone".

Still serving one of my buddies well for HD/ carry.

gotboostvr

Even though it wasn't my cup of tea, I still think it was an exceedingly good choice for the role. It was a running joke amongst my friends that "if you could fit it in the magazine, it'd feed it.

Click to expand...

Very true, my S&W Model 469 would reliably feed just about 9mm. ammo out there. I loved the size and lightweight feel about the gun and the DA/SA trigger was pretty decent. A couple of things I never really cared were the slide mounted safety and those slippery Delrin grips and backstrap.

@bannockburn, yup those were my gripes with it too.

It shot well, but compared to a number of other guns not great. But it was utterly reliable. I much much prefer my CZ P01, even though it's very similar on paper.

If they had just put the safety (instead of a decocker ideally) on the frame, and some serviceable grips were available I might still have it.

Neat S&W Mini-gun. I've shot a few of them.

bannockburn said:

gotboostvr



Very true, my S&W Model 469 would reliably feed just about 9mm. ammo out there. I loved the size and lightweight feel about the gun and the DA/SA trigger was pretty decent. A couple of things I never really cared were the slide mounted safety and those slippery Delrin grips and backstrap.

Click to expand...

It's funny but I have never had an issue with the grips even though they were an issue for many even when it was new. And so many of my semi-automatics have had slide mounted safeties that just never really bothered me either. My Star UltraStar, P38, Beretta 92s, S&W 5905 & 469 and my Makarov all had slide mounted safeties. The Brownings were frame mounted as was the Colt 1903 & 1911, the Savage, the Ortgies and the CZ 50 so I used both formats. The Sigs had no safeties and the decocker was forward of the grip.

In the books, the ASP was another of James Bond’s guns...

I’ve only seen one ASP pistol many years ago, it was in a display case with a LARGE price on it so I left it alone.

Stay safe.

jar

And so many of my semi-automatics have had slide mounted safeties that just never really bothered me either. My Star UltraStar, P38, Beretta 92s, S&W 5905 & 469 and my Makarov all had slide mounted safeties.

Click to expand...

My biggest problem with the slide mounted safety was that with my smaller size hand I had to dhift my grip so I could reach it. It was a somewhat awkward move to make as well so much so that I typically avoided guns that had them and gravitated to those with frame mounted thumb safeties.

On brass-chuckers, I prefer a thumb safety. If it's on the slide, it's not a thumb safety unless you got real weird hands!

I wish my P01 had a safety like it's big brother CZ75BSA, but since it's my only gripe and the DA/SA doesn't bother me too much since I shoot mostly DA wheel guns it gets a pass and serves as my only gun with a decocker.

I remember the ASP/Devel pistols, ahead of their time. S&W paid attention and came out with models like the 469/669. Colt tried a version of the guttersnipe sighting system with their New Colt Agent, it was discontinued awhile back, many did not like the "trench" sight. I agree, the Kahr K9 is a modern version in DAO of the old ASP/Devel guns.

I have stated before that the K9/K40 are about the size of a Walther PPK/s but handle like a full size service pistol, something you can actually run well and hit with 0-25 yards or longer. SIG seems to have ventured into this arena with their P365.

rodinal220 said:

SIG seems to have ventured into this arena with their P365.

Click to expand...

I have a couple of the earlier Sig P290RS, one in 9mm Para and the other in 380. It's the same size as the P365 but a hammer fired DAO version. I'll try to get a picture of the P290RS vs the 469.

I've never seen an ASP or a Devel in the flesh, although I'd like to, even though it would be beyond the current reach of my wallet. I have shot one of the small Kimber 1911s with the melt treatment and the gutter sights; interesting, though I really didn't shoot it well. Maybe more practice?

I do have and do at times carry a S&W 3913, which was definitely a commercial foray into the ASP realm of defensive 9mm pistols.

I've handled (not shot!) an original ASP, in almost unused condition. Very nice, custom gun. Indeed, a lot of stuff like the Kahr off the shelf is that good, and can be made better.

I actually have a P9 with Mepro FT sights, and if I could shoot better, it would be a pretty good thing. Yeah, I'd love a clear frame version!