Found a new in box ASP 9mm...

[5-SHOTS]

You don't have a pistol collection, you do have a pistol museum . Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Still waiting to see what this little dandy is worth, anybody?

 

[RustyShackelford]

Hollywood fun fact....

I read a interesting fact online a few weeks ago about the ASP pistol.
Actor Sly Stallone had a deleted scene from his action film; Cobra(1986) where his LAPD police detective character; Lt Marion "Cobra" Cobretti uses a blank firing ASP 9mm as a BUG(back up gun).
That would have been cool to see a ASP 9mm used by a major action star of that era.

Rusty

 

[9mmepiphany]

Other than the cut out magazine, window grips and fiber optic sight, what other mods were made to this,

The ASP was quite a ground breaking in it's design features...many that are now considered very common...however, it never had a fiber optic sight.

1. Hooked triggerguard. Although it's usefulness is questionable, at the time it became very popular.
2. Lightened slide. While there had been cut down 1911s prior to the ASP, the lightening cuts in the slide were a new design.
3. Beveled exterior. Not even a custom consideration back then.
4. Black Teflon coating. This was the first use of this on a gun that I remember.
5. Removed hammer spur for snagless draw. No one did this back then.
6. All checking removed. The gun was designed to slip into the correct firing grip from recoil, if it wasn't attained o the draw.
7. Magazine finger rest slanting the correct direction to fit finger length
8. Magnetic retention of the magazines in the magazine carrier

and did they ever base a similar model off the double stack 59 series?

ASP never did. But Devel did make one, along with their version of the M39. These were the basis of the S&W M469

 

[9mmepiphany]

Of the many custom changes, the modified trigger guard & the "Gutter-Snipe" target sights are the most interesting. I never understood why more US gun firms didn't R&D any similar combat sights or replicate the clear magazine grips.

The Guttersnipe sights work by allowing the subconscious mind to balance the 3 yellow panels. It splits the difference between folks aiming with the front sight and folks point shooting.

If you can divorce you need to control your sight alignment from the process of just seeing the panels, it is faster than aimed fire and more accurate than point shooting. The problem is giving up the control and the inherent liability concerns.

Many folks have tried the clear magazine concept, the problem is that the plastic is easily scratched and becomes glazed. It also darkens with age and becomes brittle without embedded fibers

 

[RustyShackelford]

True...

The mag points are good.
I'd add that the open cuts or slots in the pistol magazines could draw in lint/grit/dust/etc.
That's the last thing you'd want in any combat or defense sidearm.
Jams or double-feeds due to broken magazines aren't a good thing in a critical incident.

 

[bc1023]

Still waiting to see what this little dandy is worth, anybody?

I paid $3000, but I've seen them go for more in worse condition. I think I did pretty good.

Here's one for sale...

http://www.armslist.com/posts/27952...smith---wesson--model-39-2-asp-3-asp-mags-9mm

 

[9mmepiphany]

That is a good price.

The last one I saw in a shop had been shot, but not abused, and they were asking $4k+...this was back when you could get Norinco 7.62x39mm ammo for $1.99/box of 20

 

[Lucky Derby]

Very cool find.

 

[SIGLBER]

Great find. Inspiration for many of the modern single stacks. 3913 and SIG P239 naming two. Neat to own a piece of history!

 

[Nighthawk0083]

Could you post a pic looking down the sight? I have never seen one like that.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Sight system....

The state of the art pistol sight system had no front sight.
This seems strange but with training or proper methods you can line the sights up under stress.

 

[hdgroundpounder]

Quest, taking offers!!!

Unfired Quest #2X available in a complete package. Send private message. Pictures available.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

There's a blast from the past. I could have gone my whole life without ever thinking of one of those again had you not shown your beauty.

When I was in 10th SFG(A), one of the CI guys had one and let us shoot it a bit one day. Those are funky sights (that is a funky sight) but very intuitive when you open your mind to the concept.

I recall liking the smoothness and "melting" before melting was cool.

Good for you. I didn't catch in the above posts - are you gonna shoot it or keep it pristine?

Both are arguable from a guy who has shot one yet appreciates NIB investments as well.

 

[hdgroundpounder]

Todd

As a dealer/distributor for ASP I have few of them. I have a shooter I will not part with. Over time I have gathered the extras that I need to keep them going for a longtime.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Well, how 'bout that "POUNDER"... Just about puts you square in the cat-bird seat. I've never run across anyone possessing one let alone multiples since that fella back in the 80s.

 

[huntershooter]

THAT is a keeper.
Thank you for the photos.

 

[stressed]

Cool!

 

[mdauben]

I hate you!

I've dreamed of owning an ASP since I first read about them in the contemporary gun magazines of the time. Truly a vertitable "grail gun".

 

[saltydog452]

I am weak and have no resolve. Thats another way of saying that I'd just have to shoot it

sd

 

[fastbolt]

Nice.

I somewhat surprising any of them remain unfired, as they were intended for serious users back in the day.

You DO plan to shoot that one, right? Waste of a specialty working weapon to just end up sitting unused in a box, tucked away in some collection.

If it were something I'd come, I'd feel I'd gained the opportunity to better appreciate the effort that had gone into the careful modification of the original M39, as well as the intention and effort of the maker, by shooting the gun.

Congrats.

 

[hdgroundpounder]

OK I give!

Just trying to buy another motorcycle! As for the Quest I know I will never shoot it! I had a great opportunity from Erv at ESF along time ago since he bought most of the Quest models for his staff, so I found one! I probably sold 30-50 of the standard models in the years I was a dealer/distributor for ASP. So I had a good run with the ASP group from Appleton.

I've downsized and consolidated my shooting collection. Some went for the kids college tuition but the safe still packs a few neat items. How about a .45WM???

Greg

 

[Dr.Rob]

If not for the Gardener Bond books I never would have head of it. Always thought it was an odd choice for Bond.

The real thing is pretty interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Safe queen!....

If it were me, and it is not. , Id keep that NIB ASP as a safe queen on a red silk pillow.

Really, if it was used, Id shoot a few non +P 9x19mm rounds thru it just to see if it functioned then just sock it away.
I'm left handed so it wouldn't be as good for a CCW or deep carry sidearm.
Theodore has been dead for several years too so it's not like new ASPs will come out.
I sent a email to the firm; Coal Creek Armory which put out a ASP 2000 a few years ago. The gunsmiths converted S&W model 3913s with a few of the ASP features. The ASP2000s didn't include the innovative Guttersnipe sight system.
The shop never returned my messages. I read online a few months after that, the company may have shut down or quit doing custom shop work.

 

[il.bill]

Sweet!

Thanks for sharing.