ASP “Quest For Excellence” S&W 439 Special Edition

Dparker · Jul 11, 2020

I noticed on a national gun sale site an ASP “Quest For Excellence” S&W 439 Special Edition for sale. Apparently it’s number 17 of 100 manufactured. I am somewhat familiar with ASP’s but not this particular edition.

The ad description is as follows: This pistol is as new in it's original "Quest for Excellence" leather bound book with all accessories as well as its original numbered owners manual. A very rare and complete set, number 017 or 100.
All "Quest" ASP's are fitted with black buffalo horn grips and not the clear Lexan which were produced for the standard production ASP's.

The ad went on to describe the Evolution of the ASP. Very interesting read. Anyway, the gun is listed at $8,000.00

Does anyone have one of these?

Cheers!!
David

koz5614 · Jul 16, 2020

I had a regular ASP 39-2, but always wanted a “Quest” set. The grips were buffalo horn but had viewing windows in them. In addition, there were 3 tritium inserts in the gunttersnipe sight. The set came with 3 mags, a numbered dagger & a cloisonné lapel pin that you could wear to let the other 99 “Quest” owners know that you had one as well.
All in all, a really cool set.

Sevens · Jul 16, 2020

I heard that Wayne Novak has a collection of the DeVel pistols. Not sure if he collects the ASP pistols too.

18DAI · Jul 16, 2020

There is currently an article on the ASP up at the American Handgunner magazine site.

Great little pistol that was way ahead of its time. Paris Theodore led the way for all the small single stack concealment pistols that followed.

I will not ever own one, due to the originals being priced out of my range. But I do satisy myself with and often carry my 3914NL. The "poor mans" ASP.

Regards 18DAI

Dparker · Jul 17, 2020

Sevens said:
I heard that Wayne Novak has a collection of the DeVel pistols. Not sure if he collects the ASP pistols too.

Sevens

In 2014 I came upon skjos S&W 3rd gen model spreadsheet. Based on that spreadsheet I began collecting the rare/low production variants on his list. I became addicted and In 18 months I had purchased 73 different S&W 3rd gen rare/low production variants. The hunt for those rare variants was an adrenaline rush for me. In 2017 I decided to act upon my 5 yr plan to move to the gulf coast and build a beach house. I sold the majority of my collection to help fund the house. Most of the collection I sold through the big GB site. I Received a call one day from someone that had purchased several of my guns from that site. Turns out it was Wayne Novak. We spoke for 30-45 mins. He told me of his amazing S&W 3rd gen collection including the DeVels and “one off” prototypes. Novak was a very humble and pleasant person to speak with.

Cheers!
David

Sevens · Jul 17, 2020

I related a tale in the forum some time back where Mr. Novak appeared at a gun show and I didn’t know who he was (at first until he punked me!) but he was talking about a pistol that “Paul gave me!” And he revealed that it was Paul Liebenberg who had given him the pistol.

He definitely seemed like a character in the 5-10 minutes that I hung around with him.

Sevens · Jul 17, 2020

Dparker said:
I became addicted and In 18 months I had purchased 73 different S&W 3rd gen rare/low production variants. The hunt for those rare variants was an adrenaline rush for me. In 2017 I decided to act upon my 5 yr plan to move to the gulf coast and build a beach house. I sold the majority of my collection to help fund the house.

Did you keep any, still have any? I have only nine of the PC guns but they are absolutely what I love most in firearms, the idea of selling even one of them just isn’t in me.

Dparker · Jul 17, 2020

Sevens said:
Did you keep any, still have any? I have only nine of the PC guns but they are absolutely what I love most in firearms, the idea of selling even one of them just isn’t in me.

Sevens

I still have 10-12 of them but none are the more desirable rare/low production variants. Some days I regret letting them go. I do miss all my 3rd gen 10mm’s! I did keep a couple SSV’s and (2) 3954’s that are in the first 440 production cycle.. I think I “lived” for the hunt for them. Unfortunately, I never purchased a PC (yet!). However, I did take 18DAI’s advice back then and found a 3914NL! (Probably one of the hardest for me to find)

God Bless & Cheers!
David

Here are a couple pics of some my old collection

stansdds · Jul 17, 2020

18DAI said:
There is currently an article on the ASP up at the American Handgunner magazine site.

Great little pistol that was way ahead of its time. Paris Theodore led the way for all the small single stack concealment pistols that followed.

I will not ever own one, due to the originals being priced out of my range. But I do satisy myself with and often carry my 3914NL. The "poor mans" ASP. Regards 18DAI

ASP, DeVel, and Detonics were all well ahead of their time. They pioneered the compact pistols that are so common today.

kraynky · Jul 17, 2020

All of this discussion, and not one single solitary picture! I just can't believe it.........

Murdock · Jul 17, 2020

Here is the poor man's version.

This one is a right-handed gun, built on a M439 in the early 80's in Appleton, WI. The delux version with the buffalo horn grips is way out of my league. Come to think of it, this one would be too if I tried to buy it today. Sorry about the poor quality pix.

Original leather is by The Man himself, Ken Null, who also made a shoulder holster seen in at least one James Bond film.

I don't know how to link the old thread, but I posted an ASP thread 10 years ago to which stfram1 responded with a great view of the Quest for Excellence product and accessories.

Dparker · Jul 17, 2020

kraynky said:
All of this discussion, and not one single solitary picture! I just can't believe it.........

Kraynky

American Handgunner Historically Significant: - American Handgunner

This is the ASP article 18DAI mentioned in the American Handgunner.

Also here is another interesting read on the ASP

The ASP 9: The coolest gun you never heard of :: Guns.com

And if it’s permissible on this forum page here is the the one I originally mentioned in my first post....The read is interesting

ASP - "The Quest For Excellence" - Special Edition Smith & Wesson 439 9mm for sale

Cheers!
David

18DAI · Jul 17, 2020

A word about Ken Null holsters. He makes a VERY high quality product. I got one for my 3913, based on his ASP open top belt slide model, around 10 years ago. Back then, they were a little pricey. But I notice that he hasn't really increased his prices. And today, comparitively, they are very competitively priced.

Finest leather I have ever owned. And I own some nice holsters too.

I need to contact Mr. Null and get him to make me another ASP holster, for my 3914NL. If you want a quality holster for your 9mm or 45 3rd gen, buy with confidence from Mr Null. His product is 18DAI approved. Regards 18DAI

Murdock · Jul 17, 2020

18DAI said:
A word about Ken Null holsters. He makes a VERY high quality product. I got one for my 3913, based on his ASP open top belt slide model, around 10 years ago. Back then, they were a little pricey. But I notice that he hasn't really increased his prices. And today, comparitively, they are very competitively priced.

Finest leather I have ever owned. And I own some nice holsters too.

I need to contact Mr. Null and get him to make me another ASP holster, for my 3914NL. If you want a quality holster for your 9mm or 45 3rd gen, buy with confidence from Mr Null. His product is 18DAI approved. Regards 18DAI

Ken's turn around time is amazing; he returned my order in about two weeks. Answered the phone himself, too.

Crawfish0206 · Jul 25, 2023

I have one quest for excellence and a few asp’s

ASP “Quest For Excellence” S&W 439 Special Edition

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