ASP 9mm at the local shop

Mr_Ice · September 2009

The gun, not the guy.
OK, so I went to the local gun shop the other day, looking for a P99, or a Hi-Power in .40.
What I found was an ASP 9MM with 3 mags for $895.00 US. The finish is pretty chipped up on this
particular specimen, and it is obviously well used. Now, I'm not really in the market for this pistol,
and it's a consignment gun, so no haggling. But still, it sure is cool...and has undeniable Bondishness.

I just purchased a very nice vintage '68 PPK. My wife is getting miffed, so I had to buy her a new kitchen
and a 24" iMac! Now I can get another pistol -{

Anyway, I'm not seriously considering getting the ASP: but what do folks think, 900 smackers for a beat up gun?

7289 · September 2009

Not really a bad price if the gun and grips are in one piece.

The teflon finish on the ASP tended to chip, but it is possible to refinish the pistol for a reasonable price.

The ASP has been "out of print" for a long while, and will never be brought back at anywhere near $900, so if you are the least bit interested, grab it.

Besides, if oo7 had an ASP - I'll bet the finish on his was pretty chipped!

thesecretagent · September 2009

Doesn't sound bad for a specialist weapon such as this. I haven't used one myself, but the Smith & Wesson 39 on which it was based was a fine pistol as it was, and was a staple club hire gun at my club in the nineties, along with Browning HP-35's and Beretta 92's. The 200 or so modifications made to become the ASP must have been worthwhile to interest the US government. It looks both simple and unusual, and if it works well, I wouldn't worry about the chips - there must be somebody who can strip it down and give it a refurbishment, teflon isn't a cutting edge material anymore. Besides, the chips might add a little to the character. I used to own a seventies PPK and that was well worn, but I thought it looked pretty cool and never re-blued it.

Mr_Ice · September 2009

I like the ASP as a Bond gun, it make sense especially considering how he modified his weapons himself early on. It's cool looking and it handles nice. I'm not sure how great the sight would work over 15-20 yards, but I've never used one so I don't know. Bond took the front site off of the Beretta, so I guess he'd be comfortable with it.

Anyway, the nice high polish blued NIB Hi-power has won the debate. I pick it up Monday.
It will be interesting to see how long the ASP sits in the shop.
If pistols could talk, I bet that one would have some good stories!

thesecretagent · September 2009

The Browning is a fine weapon and I've used many in the army, private security contracting and in the civilian sports shooting scene. There are many ultra-modern pistols on the scene, and I've used a lot of those too. But if the British government ever lifted the legal ownership pistol ban, I'd get that Browning in a heartbeat...

Asp9mm · September 2009

You had better have bought it!!

Great gun, named after me :v

www.asp9mm.com

thesecretagent · September 2009

Asp9mm wrote:

You had better have bought it!!

Great gun, named after me :v

www.asp9mm.com

Clicked on your site - do you own one? It looks good, what does it compare to?

Asp9mm · September 2009

thesecretagent wrote:

Asp9mm wrote:

You had better have bought it!!

Great gun, named after me :v

www.asp9mm.com

Clicked on your site - do you own one? It looks good, what does it compare to?

Own one

I started it. It compares to nothing else and is by far superior to the original. It's been a long time coming and much blood sweat, tears and death, but it should be available commercially within a year.

Mr_Ice · September 2009

Asp9mm wrote:

You had better have bought it!!

Great gun, named after me :v

www.asp9mm.com

B-b-b-but the Browning was calling to me with its siren song...

So the 2000 is based on the 3913 eh?
I have a S&W 457, kind of a 3913-ish .45 acp.
It's blocky and ugly and goes BOOM!
It's not the most accurate piece in the world, but it has never malfunctioned at all. It would be cool to ASP-ize it.

I shot the hi-power on Monday, that thing is scary accurate!

I'll post pics of it (and the ppk) if there's interest.

-{

Asp9mm · September 2009

The BHP is the pistol closest to my heart. I've put more rounds through that than any other and have 'fond' memories of gripping it with stark fear for at least 10 minutes. Theodore did do an Asp conversion on the BHP in the seventies, would love to have seen that!!!

The 3913 is just like the HP, a dream to shoot and very accurate and fast. Seemed like the perfect platform for the 2000 project after I borowed one from a Gazelle pilot whilst serving in NI. I loved the 669 too and still use it in competition along with the Browning.

0013 · September 2009

Hi all, first time poster.
Have you guys seen the Colt New Agent? It has a guttersnipe, it's a very small 1911 in .45 claiber. Heres where I first saw it.
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/01/colt-new-agent.html
Wouldn't it be great to do an ASP style coversion of this? It already has the Guttersnipe, just add on the transparant grips, modifly the magazine, and the hooked trigger guard and hey pretso, an ASP .45.

Or am I talking baloney here?

Thanks

0013

Asp9mm · September 2009

0013 wrote:

Wouldn't it be great to do an ASP style coversion of this? It already has the Guttersnipe, just add on the transparant grips, modifly the magazine, and the hooked trigger guard and hey pretso, an ASP .45.

Those modifications are only about 10% of the conversion into an ASP. The majority of changes take place wih the internals of the pistol to improve performance, feeding, speed and control. The Colt looks like an interesting little pistol, but they have taken the idea from another 1911 manufacturer who already make a version like this. It's good to see something similar to the Guttersnipe being used again.

Thanks for posting the link, and welcome aboard

0013 · October 2009

Thanks, glad to be here. I've been kind of lurking a bit, but decided to chime in .
Asp, I presume you mean the Kimber RCP? Yeah. I saw that. I also know Terry Tussey does this kind of work, he's a fairly well known gunsmith who had an unfortunate accident that left him paralysed from the waist down I belive. I know this from when I read Guns&Ammo book of the 1911 annual 2007. Of course, I had no idea what a guttersnip was, and had certianly never hear of the ASP.

Actually ASP, I've been meaning to enquire about further modifications on the S&W 39-2 to make it into the ASP, apart from the chopping, the guttersnipe, teflon-s coating, beveling and dehorning,hooked trigger guard, and the transparent grips. Do you have a list of the changes? Can you PM tham to me scince you seem to be the best informed person? And how far did it it take to make the 3913 into the ASP 2000?

Also, whats your thoughts on the Devel 39? Or is that a bad word round these parts?

The only thing Bondish I have touched recently was an Omega Seamaster. Though I may one day get a deactivated PPK. For a conversation piece, if nothing else. Are deact PP's Cheaper? The major downside of living in the UK is I can't own or shoot a pistol. So I'm stuck learning as much as I can.

Anyway, thanks

0013

Was there a list somewhere?

Mr_Ice · October 2009

Please keep us posted on the ASP 2000 progress.
Stop making me want another pistol.

Asp9mm · October 2009

The ASP 2000 project rests in the hands of someone else at the moment. Things are moving though.

I'm not a gunsmith to the degree of not falling asleep everytime someone goes into specific detail of the ASPs internals, but it is a comprehensive list of replacement parts, polishing, machining loosening etc. It's a hugely skilled job which is why many armourers tested for the 2000 project have fallen short. It's like finding a Patek watchmaker.

The Devel 39 was also a good little gun, but it didn't go as far as the original ASPs. The 2000 keeps on getting attributed to Devel also as my name is Deval. Drives me nuts.

The original ASPs that Paris worked on where the best conversions. They became watered down as the popularity increased.

7289 · October 2009

ASP9MM,

You have two course of action,

Change your name, or

Just go ahead and take credit for everything yourself!!!

Asp9mm · October 2009

7289 wrote:

ASP9MM,

You have two course of action,

Change your name, or

Just go ahead and take credit for everything yourself!!!

I like that last option :v

7289 · October 2009

Good Choice!!!!

oramges · May 2010

Hey there, new member. I've been looking for an ASP for a little bit now. Where is this pawn shop? Pick it up and make some extra cash selling it on to me. Cheers

-W

Mark Hazard · May 2010

0013 wrote:

I may one day get a deactivated PPK. For a conversation piece, if nothing else. Are deact PP's Cheaper? The major downside of living in the UK is I can't own or shoot a pistol. So I'm stuck learning as much as I can.

Anyway, thanks

0013

The last time I notice deac PPs and PPKs they were in the £300-400 bracket, depending on condition.

REY1324 · September 2010

. Though I may one day get a deactivated PPK. For a conversation piece, if nothing else. Are deact PP's Cheaper? The major downside of living in the UK is I can't own or shoot a pistol. So I'm stuck learning as much as I can.

Anyway, thanks

0013

Totally agree with you, then again this is one of the downsides of living in the UK. I was looking at getting a gas airsoft version, but unless you belong to a skirmishing group, or UKARA, or you are a licensed armouer, you have no chance. However, you can get a CO2 version of the PPK, made by Umarex (who currently own Walther). I got one and it's not a bad little pistol. My only niggles are that the saftey catch is not on the slide, and the magazine is only a stick magazine. But, for a plinking pistol for shooting at tin cans, it's a good option.

ASP 9mm at the local shop

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