Who's the proud owner of this ASP parts kit?
- Thread starter 82ndpara
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A really nice parts kit, but $576! Would make a neat display if you collect ASP and Devel m-39s. I have only one ASP that functions perfectly. The only part I have seen on guns for sale that need replaced are chipped or cracked clear grips. What site were these offered?
Oh jeez. I have no idea what was behind this group of parts but typically there is most likely one of two reasons a part lot like this comes to be:
1) a frame cracked somewhere and it was deemed unsafe or un-repairable or both
2) everything was good to go until some municipality or court system order it to be destroyed and someone involved is good enough or smart enough or both to at least save as much as possible rather than discard the entirety of things
Option 2 sucks out loud but it's something we seem to be stuck with in many places.
1) a frame cracked somewhere and it was deemed unsafe or un-repairable or both
2) everything was good to go until some municipality or court system order it to be destroyed and someone involved is good enough or smart enough or both to at least save as much as possible rather than discard the entirety of things
Option 2 sucks out loud but it's something we seem to be stuck with in many places.
OP
82ndpara
Member
It was on GB, and yeah, it sucks to see the parting out of guns but the alternative is complete destruction.... it was one of the gunbuster outfits that salvaged this lot....
DB
DB
Sevens, man I hope you are wrong about scenario #1. Even with a cracked frame, the gun had some value as a display piece.
#2 is highly plausible, Thats just what is done with guns after the trial.
Back in the 1970s during those $50 buy backs, a lot of property room guys funded a lot of picnics selling cans of parts to local gunsmiths.
#2 is highly plausible, Thats just what is done with guns after the trial.
Back in the 1970s during those $50 buy backs, a lot of property room guys funded a lot of picnics selling cans of parts to local gunsmiths.
If you look real close at the pic, you will notice the slide is missing
the "Guttersnipe" rear sight. I guess you just go out and buy a new sight.
the "Guttersnipe" rear sight. I guess you just go out and buy a new sight.
Mike, Getting the Guttersnipe sight added another $100!
What is ASP??
OP
82ndpara
Member
From WIKIpedia:
"The ASP is a custom made handgun designed and built by Paris Theodore (owner of Seventrees, Ltd., a custom gun leather shop in New York City) from the early 1970s to 1987. The ASP was based on the Smith & Wesson Model 39 pistol. The ASP featured clear Lexan grips allowing the shooter to see how much ammunition is left, a rounded hammer, hooked trigger guard and no front sight. The ASP was responsible for later innovations made in the development of concealable handguns."
There's more on the website, but that's the gist....
One on auction sold for $4k....
"The ASP is a custom made handgun designed and built by Paris Theodore (owner of Seventrees, Ltd., a custom gun leather shop in New York City) from the early 1970s to 1987. The ASP was based on the Smith & Wesson Model 39 pistol. The ASP featured clear Lexan grips allowing the shooter to see how much ammunition is left, a rounded hammer, hooked trigger guard and no front sight. The ASP was responsible for later innovations made in the development of concealable handguns."
There's more on the website, but that's the gist....
One on auction sold for $4k....
The ASP was the grandpappy of small, very concealable pistols in 9mm Luger. Before the ASP, the only very small pistols were in smaller .22/.25/.32 cal for the most part.
The advertising and the gun press really helped to build a mystique around these as the "preferred" working weapon for spooks, spies and unnamed men in the underground doing jobs that nobody discussed.
The 2nd Gen S&W "minigun" 469 and 669 were almost surely designed around the niche that the ASP and Devel pistols filled.
The advertising and the gun press really helped to build a mystique around these as the "preferred" working weapon for spooks, spies and unnamed men in the underground doing jobs that nobody discussed.
The 2nd Gen S&W "minigun" 469 and 669 were almost surely designed around the niche that the ASP and Devel pistols filled.
With 12 rounds and abundant magazine availability.
But, IMHO S&W hit out of the park in 1989 with the 3rd Gen 3913/14s and 69xx guns.
Icing on the cake was the 3913NL with 7rd flush fit magazine. Everything the Trapper and Devel wanted to be at a price everyone could afford!!!!
Even better but at twice the price were the Performance Center Shorty-9s .... hand built on 6906 frames ..... Factory Wilson Combat grade guns.
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Mr. Bam-Bam, you are correct about all those little S&W autos, had them all. But there is just something about the way an ASP feels and comes up.
Have you tried a 3913NL with checkered Hogue grips [ it has a slightly curved backstrap and palm swell, like a short 39 grip, or one of the chopped Trappers, Devel or ASP using cut down 39 grips] with a 7rd flush fit mag.
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Mr. Bam, I had a gun shop back in the latter part of the last century. I had several ASPs and Devels pass thru for customers. Shot them all and kept a few. Only have one ASP I got recently. Yes, did shoot a friends 3913NL. Nice gun. But I still carry a m-38 from 1970.
What is ASP??
Armament Systems & Procedures Model 39 or ASP semi-Automatic Pistol. Designed and built by Paris Theodore using the S&W Model 39/39-2 during the late 60's and 70's.
