ASP Quest For Excellence
Donald Grant
U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters
I recently bought this ASP 9mm Quest For Excellence from our very own Kan (texas007). He offered it to me some months back because he knew I had one and was interested in the mystique of the gun. Although I already had a regular ASP, only 100 of the "ASP Quest" were made. ASP's are already a rare gun, but the "Quests" are even more rare and this one is number 11.
For those of you who don't know, the ASP 9mm was carried by Bond in the John Gardner novels starting with the fourth book, Role of Honor, through the remaining books. The ASP also replaced the PPK in Gardner's novel adaptation of Goldeneye. It was also endorsed by the real Geoffrey Boothroyd. The very same Boothroyd who became Fleming's namesake for Q. The ASPs were originally made by Paris Theodore from Smith and Wesson 39-2's, although according to our own Asp9mm, Theodore experimented first with the PPK. Theodore made the ASP for covert types who went into harms way. Perfect for James Bond. In fact James McMahon over at Her Majesty's Secret Servant said:
"If Bond were a gun, he'd be the ASP. Dark, deadly, perfectly suited to his mission. Possessing style, elan and panache."
Enjoy my rather bad pictures:
For those of you who don't know, the ASP 9mm was carried by Bond in the John Gardner novels starting with the fourth book, Role of Honor, through the remaining books. The ASP also replaced the PPK in Gardner's novel adaptation of Goldeneye. It was also endorsed by the real Geoffrey Boothroyd. The very same Boothroyd who became Fleming's namesake for Q. The ASPs were originally made by Paris Theodore from Smith and Wesson 39-2's, although according to our own Asp9mm, Theodore experimented first with the PPK. Theodore made the ASP for covert types who went into harms way. Perfect for James Bond. In fact James McMahon over at Her Majesty's Secret Servant said:
"If Bond were a gun, he'd be the ASP. Dark, deadly, perfectly suited to his mission. Possessing style, elan and panache."
Enjoy my rather bad pictures:
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Comments
Good that you've gotten it from a knowledgeable seller and not from Asp9mm
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Damn right. But does shooting an ASP make you feel a bit girlie?
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
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Pink can be a very masculine colour I'll have you know, and that wicker basket on me pushy is there for practical reasons!
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Didn't it only carry five in the books ?
No, but Gardner got confused towards the end and even described it as a cut-down Browning HP in COLD 8-)
I thought he said it did....my memory is obviously getting worse....maybe that's why I think I look good in a cardigan ?
Cheers -{
Wonder if its available as one of them kiddy BB guns?
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Nope, but someone converted a S&W 39 airsoft and it was cool.
Our new member with no style sense made this one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wDN8vUnA2g
Always thought the ASP was a great looking gun though -{
Me too, a great looking gun indeed. I'm so glad Kan offered it to me. He kept it in excellent condition! Now all I need is a so called "New York" ASP, and then my ASP collection will be complete.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Yes old pal, the pin is there. It's on the black patch that is shaped like a pentagon. Moreover, you are right about Kan, he's a very knowledgeable Bond collector. He's got what I would consider some blue chip pieces. I think the only reason he sold the ASP Quest to me was because he could not take it where he was going. Otherwise he'd still have it.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
That pentagonal patch looks like a patch only, is there a separate pin on it?
I love the logo though have no idea what it represents though
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Yes, the patch pops out allowing you to remove the pin. The pulse is variously referred to as "the use of force pulse" or the "pulse/flat line". If memory serves, I believe ASP referred to it in their brochures as the "use of force pulse". That "pulse" is actually engraved on the slide of the "Quest" version of the ASP. Also the "Quest" is actually based on a Smith and Wesson model 439 while my regular ASP is based on the Smith and Wesson 39-2. They look almost identical except the "Quest" has special engravings and the buffalo horn grips with lexan window.
They are both great pieces that are collectible both in Bond world and gun world. I believe the ASPs are likely to increase in value over time. Now I just have to find a "New York" ASP.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
The gun is very accurate for a barrel of that size. It's the guttersnipe and lack of user familiarity with the sight that leads to the assumption of inaccuracy. The old SF moniker of train hard, fight easy fits the ASP perfectly. A concealed defensive combat handgun should be used and trained with without using the sights but instinct and familiarity only. You don't need sights on a sidearm Bond would use. It slows you down and hinders target acquisition.
Part of the problem, I think, is that if you are used to using a conventional front sight, rear sight sighting picture, it does not automatically translate to being able to use the guttersnipe sight on the ASP. So, as Asp9mm has expressed, you have to train regularly to be proficient. Shooting is a perishable skill anyway, so you have to train regularly to maintain proficiency with any gun. Add in the more instinctual guttersnipe (getting the three triangles to appear equal) and you can see why some shooters might have problems with the ASP.
Lastly, as Asp9mm has also intimated, most combat shooting happens at close range. So, although I have been trained using the traditional front sight/rear sight shooting method, I have also been trained to shoot at close range with less emphasis on sight picture and more emphasis on speed. If you waste time on sight picture at close range, you can die. Being able to put holes in paper is nice, but surviving real world armed combat is another thing entirely.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Congratulations DG on owing some very collectable pistols!!!!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
ASP9mm's hands are a perfect fit and not lady like at all...have you actually met him? or is it just a vague image in your mind around 6am each morning when you discover you've run out of toilet paper and found a new use for one of your dodgy timepieces during the night?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Getting back on subject...stunning presentation ASP pistol. Congrats on your purchase -{