I was at a small gun show several months ago talking S&W with an exhibitor and he mentioned that he had an ASP conversion at home. I told him that I'd love to see it and asked if he would bring it to a future show.

There was another show this weekend at the same venue. I forgot all about our previous conversation, until I looked in his display case and saw this little beauty offered for sale. It came with three ASP magazines, a magnetic magazine pouch and a leather ASP PAK carrying case. He also threw in a 1979 issue of The American Handgunner and a 2000 issue of Guns Magazine, both featuring an ASP 39 on the cover.

I trust you'll enjoy the photos.

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"I also cook."

So you DID buy it? What kind of price did he have on it?

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

the lovely "gutter snipe sight" included for no extra charge?

and yes we do love it, thanks for sharing!

Cool piece of history there. I don't recall ever seeing one in person, but sure remember reading about them in the gun rags back when. Glad you posted that!

Yeah, a big thanks for sharing some great photos of your ASP. I guess I was busy back then because I didn't know about the ASP until now. Can you tell us a bit more? Like how it shoots etc? I like it!

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I'm gonna grow fins.

OMG. G-r-a-i-l!

Yes, I'm the new proud caretaker. I'm thrilled to have it.

I just brought it home today. I didn't buy it to shoot, I bought it to stick in my collection. Having said that, I'm not sure I can resist putting a few magazines through it.

Yes, I feel the same way. I'm not a big fan of aftermarket conversions, but this is a piece of history that paved the way towards the compact carry guns we have today. Thank you!

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"I also cook."

I was at the Pitts , PA gun show looking at stuff and saw that gun and I knew what it was did a double take on the price tag 275 with custom shoulder holster 3 mags guy said he got from an estate sale or something . I got it for 250 bucks he said some one did a lot of work to that gun . I held my breath till I got the paper work done .

Wow... Congratulations!
One magazine is probably worth that.

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"I also cook."

I have really enjoyed this thread. I hope I might come across one someday. But can any of you elaborate on how these were sold? Did you need to send your gun to ASP or could you just buy one? Were they a popular item? Being on the cover of major gun rags must have made the demand for them fairly significant.

I love this forum. I have been a Pre Md 29 owner for 35 years but had no knowledge of the Devel and the ASP until reading on this forum.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

Here is info I got from ASP in the 1980's

https://www.facebook.com/The-ASP-And...05839723008728

Enjoy

Cool beans Dave. Really cool.

Absolutely fantastic.
Congratulations.
Thanks for the photos.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

I'm calling the cops!!

An older Sergeant from my agency owned an ASP and I was fortunate to shoot his weapon several times back I the 80's. I remember it was a smooth weapon but the gutter snipe sights took some getting used to.

What a steal on a very cool pistol. Congratulations!!!
I've got something kinda similar in my Colt New Agent with its trench sight but that predates mine by a bunch of years.
Great to see history in such sweet shape.

The one I got for 250 bucks with fact holster 3 mags was mint . I didnt even look at first because I saw 27 on the tag and figure 2700 cause I knew what it was . I went past it went back it and moved something on his table NOPE 275 bucks got it for 250

Great pistol, what a cool find! Congrats. I think I'd be tempted to put at least one mag through it...

I have to go find me a pack of those Glasers from the ad now- "in excess of .44 mag power"- who knew?

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Because of the metric system?

Congrats. It looks to be in fantastic shape, especially the grips. They frequently have spider cracks around the screw holes. I would definitely think about putting a few mags through it; the Guttersnipe is a trip.

Wow, great educational thread. I had no idea these existed and back in my home state of Wisconsin, who knew.

Great find and thanks for the pics and history.

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Vietnam Veteran, 68-69

My God Man! What was the price? OTD.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I have owned a couple. The first was in the 80's and was bought from a federal agent working undercover overseas. I bought it with all the cool super spy leather with every intention of carrying it. What a huge disappointment it was. Couldn't hit **** with the guttersnipe compared to conventional sights, and it was not as reliable as I would have liked. The guy I got it from flipped it for a then "new" Sig P-226. I flipped it for a P-226 as well within a couple weeks of buying it.
Got another as a collectable a couple years ago. Again, flipped it for a profit. They are neat as a collectable, but even in "their" time not so good.

I have one that's totally unfired since being converted many years ago.

Sweeeeet.......find......... but always wanted a Trapper Scorpion

when I was single younger and with a lot of $$$$, had a smith friend shop a 39 kind of like that, it had regular sights and grips, and a couple years later S&W came out with the 469s

Even though Bill (Robert Culp) Maxwell used a Devel, your's is close enough. You can go play "Greatest American Hero" at the range now with your ASP. Start practicing that grimace!

Love your gun.

Awesome score. Very nice setup.

Here is it's kissing cousin the 39-2 Devel full house conversion.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

You guys have me drooling!!!!!!!!!!!!!


250!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah. You can go play "Greatest American Hero" as well. Did you get the Bill Maxwell shoulder holster?

In all honesty, the original ASP with Novak sights would have been a great gun. I have a 3953 that will eventually get modified into something close.

Not that long ago there was a dealer in Florida who specialized in stocking ASP's, Devels and Bren Tens. It was Elite Specialty Firearms (ESF Sales) and the fellow's name was Erv Friedlander if memory serves. He usually had a fair inventory of pretty interesting things and I bought a thing or two from him.

Bruce

If you do shoot it, I for one would REALLY be interested in finding out how much different a group at say 15 yards differed between the ASP and a regular Model 39. Most of us will NEVER have the opportunity to find this out, but if you do it we'll have the vicarious experience ourselves.

Please, please, pretty please?

He hasn't been to a gun show in a few years. He was looking pretty old the last time I saw him. I did buy an open bolt Mac 10 from him about 25 years ago at the Miami gun show. Still have it. He always had interesting guns. GARY

He also used to advertise in The Gun List back in the 1990s/early 2000s (when it was all classified ads). I bought a set of Jeff Cooper and checkered Herrett's grips for my Bren Ten from him. Around 1999, he had a DEVEL converted .38 Super Colt Commander. I didn't buy it because it had the hooked trigger guard ground off. I wonder where that gun is now.

Fantastic find! Good luck with it.