Arms, Armor and Militaria

9mm Para. 3.5" barrel length. SN: A168947. Blackened Teflon finish overall mounting smooth clear lexan grips permitting cartridge counting, and one piece yellow lined guttersnipe sight to rear slide with no front blade. Short-recoil operated DA/SA autoloading pistol heavily customized into a compact model. Left slide is struck ASP 9MM -PATENTED- with no further marks remaining on slide. Left frame shows MODEL 39-2 mark with the right displaying a weak monogram trademark. Barrel bushing is secured in place and continuously finished with the remainder of the slide. Triggerguard is cut down on the right side, indicating it was intended for a right-handed user. Forward gripstrap is smooth with backstrap checkered.

The ASP was one of the first purpose designed concealed carry or backup duty pistols in a real duty caliber to be introduced to the firearms market. Using a Smith & Wesson Model 39 as the base pistol, the modifications to the gun were designed by Paris Theodore of Seventrees Custom Gun Leather and Armament Systems & Procedures, INC, thus the sobriquet "ASP". Theodore had a reputation of being sort of a real life "Q" as in the James Bond books and films and designed and built a variety of items intended for use in spy craft. Some of the primary modifications to the stock guns included shortening the barrel and slide, using a fixed barrel bushing, the addition of the unique "Guttersnipe" rear sight, the elimination of the front sight and bobbing the hammer. Additional improvements included de-horning the gun to remove the sharp edges and even the cocking serrations on the slide. He also installed clear Lexan grips that allowed the cartridges in the special cut-away magazine to be seen and counted. Another feature was the modification of the triggerguard to a hooked profile to provide a purchase for the off-hand index finger when supporting the pistol. Many of these design innovations were subsequently included in other Smith & Wesson handguns and are commonly encountered on current production firearms today. Theodore produced these guns from the 1970s through 1982 when ASP Corporation of Appleton, WI was licensed to produce the design. This appears to be one of the original Paris Theodore ASP pistols and includes a single original magazine as well as the original all Lexan grips, which are not currently on the gun. A rare opportunity to own one of the original compact concealed carry pistols that helped to inspire an entire segment of the modern firearms industry and was famous enough in its day to make appearances in James Bond novels. {MODERN}