ASP vs DEVEL which do you like?

[Model39]

Here are two custom Model 39's from the late 1970's. An Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) with it's guttersnipe sight system and a Charlie Kelsey Full House DEVEL. These two guns broke ground for the future development of the small concealment autos we have today. I personally like the DEVELS.

 

[MMA10mm]

Great topic!

Probably ought to throw Detonics in there as well, although they never made a chopped S&W that I know of.

I've never handled a Devel S&W, but I've played with a 1911 custom job they did. Their workmanship was fantastic, IMO. Wish they were still around...

The ASP S&W I've shot looked a lot rougher, but that could be because it was a primary carry-piece for an undercover policeman for several years. I also do not like the "guttersnipe" sight system. I think something like the Ashley Big Dot works better and is actually smaller. (Of course, those weren't around back then, either, so ASP was doing what they could think of at the time...)

 

[Raider]

I own an Asp and find that the guttersnipe sight is very hard to use past bedroom distances. I like the finish and the sights on the Devel much better.

Charlie

 

[WildCard ZX6R]

The guns seem practically identical in terms of features with the exception of the sights and finish. I would give the nod to the Devel for its actually having real sights.

Personally i would like an ASP with Novak carry sights myself.

 

[wilshire1412]

My favorite is the basic cut down 39 done by Devel, without the extra lightening cuts in the slide or the hooked guard.

 

[Model39]

Basic DEVEL Model 39

My favorite is the basic cut down 39 done by Devel, without the extra lightening cuts in the slide or the hooked guard.

I have a basic DEVEL 39 as well. This one has the special hard chrome finish offered by the factory as an option. I did not include it with the ASP photo as it is not as similar in appearance as the full house DEVEL.

 

[wilshire1412]

Very nice!

 

[RichCapeCod]

During its manufacture the ASP went through many "hands." I hung out a lot at the Seventrees shop back then, so I sort of heard this as scuttlebutt as Paris Theodore would discuss such matters. I always thought the gun was a little beauty, but agree on the matter of the Guttersnipe sight.

Rich

 

[shawn mccarver]

Here are two custom Model 39's from the late 1970's. An Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) with it's guttersnipe sight system and a Charlie Kelsey Full House DEVEL. These two guns broke ground for the future development of the small concealment autos we have today. I personally like the DEVELS.

Fortunately, we do not have to choose. S&W did them all one better with the 3913!

The M&P 9c is even better. Same basic size or smaller, holds more rounds, not as expensive, just better all the way around.

 

[Texas1941]

I wish I knew more about the ASP. When my lawyer was going through one of his divorces in the late '70s, I had temp custody of most of his guns, and one of them was an ASP. Thought it was uber-cool and shot the heck out of it for the better part of a year.

But I never could get it to run all the way. Some stovepipes, but many failures to feed. Six o'clock jams, twelve o'clock jams, all sorts of feed stoppages. At the time I thought it was a magazine problem, but I never was able to find any other mags except the three he had with the gun, so I could'nt put it to the test. I do remember he paid what I thought was a huge price for that gun, two spare mags, and a really trick holster.

Playing with that gun caused me to buy the first 3913 I saw for sale.

 

[18DAI]

My 3913 is what the ASP aspired to be. Best compact single stack 9mm S&W ever did.

My partner had a Devel 39. Sweet pistol.

IMO the M&P compact is not even in the same league as the 3913. The 3913 is slimmer than the M&P compact, and has a superior trigger. In fact the bottle of Formula 409 in my kitchen has a suerior trigger compared to any M&P I've fired.

In my experience the 3913 is reliable too. No FTE's or dropping mags. The 3913 is a tack driver, the most charitable thing I can say about the M&P is that it is..........combat accurate. Regards 18DAI.

 

[jframe]

Slight drift in topic here, but did anyone ever find out who murdered Charlie Kelsey? I heard his body was found, but I never heard anything else.

 

[cne411]

I have always wanted an ASP for some reason, and I did not know about the Devel guns until I saw this. I think the sights on the Devel would be better for a carry gun. From a price/carry standpoint I will keep my PPS.

 

[koz5614]

I've owned an ASP carry package (the double magnetic mag holder was pretty cool) as well as Model 39 and Model 59 Full House DEVELs. The Guttersnipe was the reason I sold my ASP - It was very difficult to become proficient with. Occasionally you will find an ASP with conventional sights. I was told by a retired gov't agent that the some agencies that utilized the ASP did not like the Guttersnipe and requested conventional sights. If I'm lucky enough to find one of the modified ASPs, I'll hold on to it.
I kept the DEVELs and qualify with them twice a year. The Model 59 is my favorite.
ASP also made a cool Ruger .44 Spl.

My vote is DEVEL hands down.

 

[Model39]

I've owned an ASP carry package (the double magnetic mag holder was pretty cool) as well as Model 39 and Model 59 Full House DEVELs. The Guttersnipe was the reason I sold my ASP - It was very difficult to become proficient with. Occasionally you will find an ASP with conventional sights. I was told by a retired gov't agent that the some agencies that utilized the ASP did not like the Guttersnipe and requested conventional sights. If I'm lucky enough to find one of the modified ASPs, I'll hold on to it.
I kept the DEVELs and qualify with them twice a year. The Model 59 is my favorite.
ASP also made a cool Ruger .44 Spl.

My vote is DEVEL hands down.

Here is my DEVEL 59 which you say you like best, as well as an ASP 44spl conversion revolver I also own.There were less than a hundred ASP converstion revolvers, and out of that bunch only a few 4" special police swat models like this. Most were 2 3/4 " fixed sight models. This 5 shot ASP 44 spl revolver lead the way for the Smith&Wesson production model 696 5 shot 44 spl"L" frames.

 

[Gryff]

My Dad was a big fan of the chopped Smiths for concealed carry in the 70s and early 80s. He has the ASP, Devel 39 and 59, and the Behlert 39 and 59.

ASP

Behlert 59, Devel 39, Devel 59

 

[N4KVE]

I remember going to gunshows back in the 80's, & this guy always had a table full of the ASP guns. Nice guns. GARY

 

[warmoose]

I have no experience with these two custom 39's but did have a stock 39 in the late 70's and it was junk wold not cycle out of the box using FMJ ammo had to ship it back to smith for repairs and it never shot to point of aim.

 

[mag318]

I owned 2 ASPs and from a collectors standpoint I wish I still had them. One was a 39-2 with the black teflon finish and my other was the uber rare stainless 639 that they made only a few of. The sights were the weak point and both were replaced with my PC9 which was a much better pistol. None the less if I had known then what they'd be worth now I would have hung on to both ASPs.

 

[SWTIM255]

I just bought a ASP mag ( brand new in the plastic) off ebay for my Trapper, I am glad I did not buy the other two, while it is very well made, due to the base plate you can insert the mag in the well upside down! I still carry mine and would hate to fumble a mag change and thumb down the slide, driving it into the derlin base plate and locking up the pistol.
Mr Murphy has a way of showing up, so I try and solve as many problems before hand that I can. Any other ASP users noticed this?