Literary James Bond's Best Pistol: the ASP

[@ForgottenWeapons]

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[@Yoda052]

Have you ever considered a video on the Smith and Wesson 52-2 ? I have a couple, perhaps you’d be interested in using one for a video ?

[@matthewspencer972]

Slide fails to return to battery. To quote Sir Michael Caine rather than Sir Sean Connery: "You didn't maintain your weapon, son."

[@BadgerUKvideo]

Film: Harry Brown. Well worth a watch. Vigilante WW2 vet. Bit dark.

[@jic1]

@@BadgerUKvideo Northern Ireland vet.

[@BadgerUKvideo]

@@jic1 Good shout

[@Shadow__133]

I love My Cocaine!

[@AaronMichaelLong]

@@Shadow__133 Weak spring.

[@MoparMan777]

To anyone else with one of these pistols: A Wolff recoil spring for a S&W 469 fits right in and is a big upgrade over the cutdown Model 39 spring these got after the ASP conversion. Mine had the same issue seen in the video with it not returning to battery. After I dropped the 469 recoil spring in I have not had one hang up in ~200 rounds so far.

[@kenibnanak5554]

Since I grew up on the old style Colt revolvers the terrible double action pull is what kept me away from the M-39 when it came out. A coworker had a 39-2 we used to shoot a bit at the range and it was a very meh experience. Then again, in that era almost all the semi-auto DA trigger pulls were pretty poor against revolver pulls.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Cool, a US gun shop made a newer 3914 9x19mm "ASP" style pistol: mid 2000s. The gun was cool. The company only made a limited number with a S&W run.

[@Hammerli280]

I'll keep that in mind. I own an ASP. Thanks.

[@TheB3e3]

It's good advice to anyone with a vintage pistol, especially a compact shorty like the ASP: if it doesn't go into battery, replace the recoil spring. The really tiny pocket guns absolutely clobber themselves, and need recoil springs every 500 rounds

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

Why mess around with any semi auto when GIGN was using D.A. 357 revolvers quite effectively in that era? A Manurhin with a 3" barrel and round butt was their concealed carry piece. I could see Bond with the S&W in a like configuration.

[@gooondie]

Dual wielding these bad boys with steady aim on Nuketown

[@1leggeddog]

good times

[@worldf1re41]

Catch me with just one, Nuketown Hardcore, Sleight of Hand - what is reload time?

[@Joe-ie8vk]

I get that reference!!! lol

[@JoCaTen]

@@gooondie that and the AK74U with rapid fire...

[@magoshighlands4074]

Please stop making me feel.old

[@JohnJustice-n3f]

The printed materials that came with the ASP included a card that showed how to align the sights. Sight alignment is with equal-sized yellow triangles. Sight PICTURE, on the other hand, is a rather extreme 6 o'clock hold. If you're putting your target down into the trough of the guttersnipe sight, you'll shoot really high. Aim for the diaphragm to get center chest hits. With regards to the failure to go into battery, Armament Systems and Procedures also stated in the printed manual and reference cards that there was a "known issue" with the S&W model 39 aluminum frame. The barrel lockup uses inclined ramps in the sides of the frame that mate to ramps on the steel lug on the bottom of the barrel. According to A.S.P., when the pistol is being broken in there may be some peening of the softer frame that will start grabbing the barrel lug. Their stated solution was to use a small file to remove the material that gets folded over into the barrel lug channel. They stated that the problem would go away once the barrel and frame got mated in to the exact same angle. Hmmm, that doesn't exactly inspire confidence. I wouldn't recommend using +P ammo with the ASP as a result. They also recommend replacing the recoil spring every 3000 rounds, but I'd do it after 1000. As someone has already stated, you can use 469 springs, or do like I did and order the heaviest weight spring from Wolff for the model 39. If you clip springs, remember to put the rounded end towards the rear of the recoil spring guide and the open end to the muzzle end. If you don't the loose tail of the clipped spring might slip over the flange of the guide rod and you'll lock up the pistol. It takes a hell of a time to get it loose. Ask me how I know. Finally, don't cinch the grip panels down too tight or you'll start cracking them around the screw holes. Good luck finding replacements made out of the clear Lexan!

[@Ct99915]

Can't beat first hand experience 👍

[@culshie]

When Princess Anne was ambushed on the Mall her ONE Bodyguard was armed with a "Walther PP in 9mmK", the recently adopted Police issue Pistol, the reported reason that it jammed was there was no issue mag carrier or training on keeping the mag free of dirt and pocket litter so the mag would have been in and out of the Officers Suit or Trouser Pocket and had been contaminated, it could also be noted that Inspector Beaton of the London Metropolitan Police Special Operations Unit 14 had been shot in the shoulder limiting his ability to clear his weapon. It probably seems ludicrous to us today that the daughter of the Head of State was accompanied on a Night Out with her Husband by only one Body Guard but it was a different time.

[@derekp2674]

20/20 hindsight is always far too easy to apply. Nonetheless, as he had no need for deep concealment, I think he'd have been far better off with a decent revolver. My personal choice would have been the 2.5" S&W Model 66 - the one I used to own was fast and accurate, as tested on the old UK NPA Police Pistol 1 course of fire.

[@culshie]

@@derekp2674 You are of course substantially not wrong but at this time I was carrying the same Pistol it had just replaced our Webley Mk.4 (.38S&W) revolvers and we loved them for their concealability and accuracy unfortunately even with Hirtenberger 9mmK ammo they were still way under powered so a few years later they were replaced by Ruger Service Six in .357 Magnum with a three inch barrel. Inspector Beaton can not be faulted for his bravery or indeed any of the others including the Princess herself but as people who had to be able to defend ourselves at any moment by drawing fast and always having our personal defence weapons in perfect operating condition he got a C minus for Professionalism.

[@othernamesweretaken1871]

Donald Trump has at least a squad up to like a company worth with him and it makes no difference. So not that different honestly lol

[@ninebangtrojan4669]

Royalty protection [SO14] wasn't really taken that seriously prior to the incident on the Mall it was thought by many the Royals were so popular no one would do anything to them Protection officers were armed but it wasn't unheard of for them to carry their PPW in a brief case or unloaded, uninformed officers on static posts sharing a pistol, sometimes coming back from a break to find a colleague had field stripped it and left the parts laying on a doorstep to be reassembled Following the Mall incident training was hugely increased with the MP5K being purchased, SEG [Special Escort Group] outriders were also recommended for movements although initially Her Majesty declined thinking it would look bad if her car was seen bullying drivers off the roads.

[@ninebangtrojan4669]

@@derekp2674 they did return to revolvers as a short term measure for protection officers until a reliable semiauto could be decided upon. Many Met AFOs carried revolvers right up until the 1990s, when ARV went live in 1992 they initially carried the S&W M10 alongside a MP5 they eventually replaced the M10 with Glock 17 although only with one mag

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

ASP owner here. I've found mine to be *very* ammo picky in terms of accuracy, as it definitely prefers lighter-grain bullets. I suspect it works very well with the 80 grain Glasers. And yeah, the double action is horrendous. A carryover from the 1st gen S&Ws, no doubt.

[@geodkyt]

A heavier bullet than the sights were regulated for *would* result in it throwing rounds high, because the gun will have recoiled up slightly more before the bullet actually exits. And vice versa, if you go significantly lighter. Something I learned when switching to 110gr hot loads in a fixed sight .357 that was dead nuts on at 25 yards with 158gr "FBI" SJHP. The gun suddenly was shooting noticeably low.

[@longshot7601]

What is your impression of the Guttersnipe? I wanted an ASP after reading the books in the 80's. None were available to me so I got a S&W 469 which looks like a double stack ASP. I was going to have a Guttersnipe put on until a shot one with it. It was weird and I didn't like it. I hated the DA on that one too.

[@JR-N-TX]

@@longshot7601 As as past ASP owner, the guttersnipe SUCKED! I found mine to be a finicky eater. I think WW Silvertips or Glassier safety slugs might have been promoted with that gun. Both were popular at the time. Both are extremely light bullets. Mine got traded and later showed up on the cover of one of the gun rags sporting a Hush Puppy can from AWC. Glad the new owner was happy with it.

[@longshot7601]

@@JR-N-TX Glad I didn't spend the money to mess up my gun. Everybody was pushing the Winchester Silvertips at the time. the 469 ate everything ball, hollow points and cheap range, it didn't care

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

The base pistol, the S&W Model 39 was an ammo picky gun. Ammo selection was important if you owned one, because it wouldn't cycle just anything. I owned a 39, and the main reason I sold it and moved on, was its Ammo Sensitivity.

[@jdeval3852]

It was just the Met Police that withdrew the PPK from service. The MOD was still issuing the PPK to SF in the U.K. in the mid to late 90’s. Possibly even to this day for certain scenarios, but I have no proof of that beyond chatter. They were standard issue to my old unit 14 Int certainly until I left in 97. Famously known in SF circles as the ‘disco gun’. Great video. I’m loving this series.

[@skepticalbadger]

PP, not PPK. The PPK was never British military issue - not police so far as I know.

[@kiloalphasierra]

@@skepticalbadger the PP’s were in .22 LR and were issued to soldiers in Northern Ireland for concealed carry when out on leave. There’s an another Forgotten Weapons video that covers them.

[@colbunkmust]

Iirc, the attempt on Princess Anne was a kidnapping, not an assassination. The kidnapper shot her bodyguard and others but ordered her into his car to which she replied, "Not bloody likely". Eventually he was forced to flee the scene and was later apprehended.

[@ninebangtrojan4669]

Correct it was a lot more sinister than a lot of people realised at the time, the kidnapper was finally forced to flee by a passing boxer punching him in the head, he received the George Cross for his bravery which he sadly had to sell at auction many years later.

[@roygardiner2229]

What a gem of a lady!

[@kiloalphasierra]

I don’t think you can get a more British response to an attempted kidnapping than Princess Anne and Ron Russell, the passer by that punched the kidnapper.

[@ninebangtrojan4669]

@@kiloalphasierra yep, I think he actually said "I'm not having that" to a passer by!

[@chartreux1532]

I really enjoy these Videos, including these on James Bond! My Father who served in the Bundeswehr during the Cold War is a huge James Bond Nut, in fact, everything i gift to him for his Birthdays is James Bond related haha. He was born in the late 1940s. Served in the Bundeswehr, is a Gun Owner and Enthusiast. I as his Son was born in the 1980s also obviously a Gun Enthusiasr and served with the 23rd Gebirgsjägerbrigade 23 with 2 Tours in Afghanistan and 1 via KFOR in Kosovo. So i can't wait to show him these Videos on James Bond Weaponry you Guys put out recently! Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@sethmoyer]

I can tell that Caleb is too much of a Bond nerd because of the watch strap he's using... Because I am too much of a watch nerd.

[@AshleyPomeroy]

Without looking it up, from what I remember Connery's version of Bond had a Rolex with a strap that was 1mm narrower than standard, or something.

[@sethmoyer]

@@AshleyPomeroy Also the colors on the strap are what people would call a "true bond" pattern, which is black and olive wide stripes with thin red stripes in between. If you just search for a "bond" watch strap, it's black and gray because of the poor quality of home videos or something. Nowadays, the black and grey ones are super common watch straps because they go with a lot of different watches.

[@esrvdb88]

He usually matches his outfits in these vids close to a Bond outfit as well. For example this one is very close to one from License to Kill.

[@ismarwinkelman5648]

Loving the look of that NATO strap

[@TheCrusher72]

He's rocking an (expensive for what you get) Harrington Jacket that has made many appearances in 007 Movies over the years...

[@jmpetersrn]

God, I am old. I remember reading about the ASP in Soldier of Fortune magazine as they hit the market.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Be a man among men.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

CIA, DIA, special ops guys used them often. Many "insiders" 🕶 knew of Paris Theodore. ASPs.

[@Seth9809]

What issue?

[@derekcombs6497]

Found one of those ASP. In a box of stuff my buddy's grandfather left in his garage. Lots of pictures from Nicaragua in there too

[@doc_sav]

I remember being a kid listening to (I think, it has been a long time) Goldeneye, where it talks about the Corbon Glazer rounds, and it made them sound like they were enchanted or something. It was all presented in a very interesting way and it has stuck with me all this time.

[@danwalters8171]

S&W got the message and in 60s and 90s produced cut-down versions of Model 39 (3913 and 2914) and double-stack Model 59 (Models 669 and 6906). Fine guns all.

[@sactodan]

ASP was the inspiration for S&W Models 3913 and 3914, two of best pistols S&W ever produced and much valued by collectors and shooters.

[@HGates-hl4eq]

Hello, the guttersnipe system was to be used with Paris Theodore's own shooting system known as the Quell system. It's to be used with this gun.

[@2thPlace]

Hello

[@n_tas]

Hello

[@J_1791]

Hello

[@kirklawson2218]

Yes, this. The quell system is similar in some ways, perhaps a precursor, to the center axis relock system. I've done extensive reading of what little material remains on it. This consists of three magazine articles from the time period which makes them very hard to find, and one very well hidden newspaper article as well as the patents for his targets to be used with the system.. Someday if I'm very lucky I hope to find some of Theodore's original printed training material for the system which I've been told existed but never seen any proof of.

[@quilope]

Hey, it's The Three Stooges! @2thPlace, @n_tas, and @J_1791 😂😂😂

[@skunclep1938]

I remember Gardner writing about the Ruger Blackhawk as his glove-box weapon, and that his Saab 99 turbo (weird car for Bond, but this was the early 80’s) had special portholes for shooting that hand-cannon 😊

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Q gave 007 a big Ruger revolver, .44 for vehicles, stop engines, 🛞 . Bond used a few 9mm guns. Mainly the custom ASP 9mm. S&W 39-2 pistol.

[@ComicGladiator]

I just looked up the Saab...to say it's a weird choice for Bond is an understatement. He must have looked like an accountant going to work, doubt he pulled many sexy Countesses in that thing.

[@skunclep1938]

@@ComicGladiator ah, yeah, even though it was the “Turbo”, it had a reputation for being popular with architects and scored very highly in safety tests for both passengers & pedestrians 😂 Gardner’s Bond was way more down to Earth, especially in the early books. I just can’t imagine how loud a magnum going off inside that little box would have been.

[@generalilbis]

Gardner had Bond with a Bentley again early on... a Mulsanne Turbo, if I recall rightly... but I think it got trashed or blown up. The Saab was an interesting pick; but at least it had Q Branch extras to help it punch above its weight class.

[@generalilbis]

​@ComicGladiator Don't remember seeing much in-story dunking on Bond by possible bed partners over his choice in wheels. I'm pretty sure Freddie (Swiss Intelligence agent Frederika von Grusse) never complained in the 2 or 3 books she was in about her paramour's mode of transport.

[@benkelly7499]

I saw the irons in the thumbnail and had so much nostalgia to when I was 10 playing CoD Black Ops

[@AJadedLizard]

"Castro...We went in to kill Castro."

[@protogenlonex6638]

I’m currently replaying the black ops franchise in preparation for Bo6

[@protogenlonex6638]

Also the ASP is my favorite gun in Bo1

[@ElChris816]

I grew up on the Bond movies and I'm really enjoying this series with Daniels.

[@commandobond]

Cheers!

[@BillieBoyd-ng2qv]

#1 : thank you for helping Dr Crawford. He is a great man #2 : I have 39 . I think p99 better but u need 2 train w it.

[@philips.5563]

You are not hitting low, it's just that the gun was designed for headshots from a chest hold. Source: this gigantic tank of liquefied copium.

[@FIREBRAND38]

No it wasn't and that's a lie. It was designed for 10 yard shooting. The original patent #3,777,380 shows point of aim point of impact and has NO mention of your "aim here hit there" nonsense.

[@CrashRacknShoot]

​@@FIREBRAND38it's called a joke, Kojak.

[@FIREBRAND38]

@@CrashRacknShoot Nah, jokes are funny, Sherlock.

[@tolgavarol9368]

@@FIREBRAND38 and it was watson

[@CrashRacknShoot]

@@FIREBRAND38 don't get mad that something went over your head. Ain't nobody's problem but yours, my dude.

[@jayhatfield8177]

Ian, thank you for the coverage you have given the ASP. Gardner's books hooked me on this pistol but I was perpetually near broke in my 20's. I bought the S&W 469 in the late 1980's since it was as close as you could get commercially. I was just disappointed it was based on the S&W 59 instead of 39. Caleb, great job on your channel, I have been watching your posts and you convinced me to give the Jack Carr novels another chance. I'm glad I did. Cheers guys!

[@gregorymaroda4860]

I remember the Gardner novels were the first time I ever heard of this gun and I just thought it sounded so cool. Though I could never quite picture the guttersnipe sights until the ASP video done on this channel some time ago!

[@zed639]

S&W had terrible double action triggers in the 70's and 80's. Their trademark long gritty pull and poor machine work had consumers dropping them off at gunsmith's before taking them home. After getting the milling marks smoothed out lube tended to spread. Smart users opted for (now discontinued) "Gunslick". A graphite paste that stayed in the track/rails and kept the surfaces slick throughout the carry/use. Unlike oil it did not dry up or dribble off into the holster. Back then it was one of the few lubes available that worked a year or 2 after application. If you can find a tube someplace give it a try on the rails. It will solve the battery/engagement problem.

[@NareshSinghOctagon]

Any specific reason it's now discontinued?

[@jeromethiel4323]

Just find you a good colloidal graphite in an isopropanol carrier. Same basic thing, it's a dry film graphite lube. And once you put it on, it STAYS on. You get it on you, you are going to have it on you until it wears off. Which could be days. I just did a google search, and there are quite a few brands of this stuff available. So while "gunslick" may not be around anymore, you can get basically the same thing.

[@zed639]

@@jeromethiel4323 Just pointing out the solution back when these firearms were produced. Today, wow, so many different cleaners, lubes, and techniques for firearm maintenance. A major progression from Hoppes, some patches and a rod. The "paste" may have been retired, but, they are marketing a "new" formula. Supposedly it adheres/impregnates/bonds to the parts for a long lasting film. So far the only issue reported has been it an unpleasant odor. My experiments have shown it present and working on items left undisturbed for over a year.

[@jeromethiel4323]

@@zed639 No worries. I was only pointing out that you can actually buy things other than branded "gun lube's" and get the same thing for less money. You just have to know what to buy.

[@CrashRacknShoot]

I'm a big fan of silicone grease like Super Lube for carry. Odorless, stays where you put it, and a little goes a looooong way. I've maintained every firearm I've owned with it as a final lube for nearly 15 years with a single bottle and still have WAY more than half the bottle left.

[@r.reigns2511]

Love that you all did this. The ASP is my absolute favorite of all of the esoteric pistols, not just the Bond ones. I was in love with it the moment I read about in one of Gardener’s novels as a kid. That said Gardener lost me when he talked about handling and reload times… it was clear he wasn’t a shooter, just a writer. Stories good, details pulled me right out.

[@robertborgeson1821]

Gutter sights tend to be tricky with any target that is above or below you. I would imagine if your target was chest height you would struggle less with elevation adjustments.

[@saiberunato]

First learned of this pistol as a youngster in the pages of Mike Grell's comic, James Bond: Permission to Die.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Paris Theodore R&Ded a real 9mm pistol. Mainly 239 separate changes to a factory S&W model 39/39-2. He worked over the 9mm. It's noted how the CIA, station security mgr in Saigon 🇻🇳 1975 had a ASP 9mm.

[@mrmicro22]

Mike Grell's Jon Sable comic was so obviously written by a gun guy. So good.

[@saiberunato]

@mrmicro22 The thing that frustrates me about Jon Sable is his big pepperbox gun that shoots flechettes. I could never find any information about it online unless it's a page related to Jon Sable. 7 years ago, when I met Mike Grell at a comics convention, I asked him about the pepperbox gun. He said it was based on an experimental gun he saw in a magazine. It was invented by someone named Johnson. That's all Mike told me. He never gave me a specific name for this weapon. Still can't locate info on it. It's the most elusive gun I have ever heard of.

[@williamstringer2846]

I've shot ASP's for years. I do love them, the key is to properly align the sight to visualize the yellow triangles equally.

[@matthewcoleman1919]

A propos to nothing, but Caleb's gelled hair and clean, modern Bond look vs. Ian's Western Wear, epaulette-tabs, and pony-tail gave me a chuckle. Great video as always.

[@DevonReclaimed]

I really think it's time for the next bond to carry one of the modern Walther pistols. When he carried the p99 in the world is not enough I thought that was a huge progression forward from the antiquated PPK and was sad to see Daniel Craig continue carrying the PPK after we had already established a nice sensible pistol for him. On that note it is time for Walther to come out with a pistol that truly competes against the Sig Sauer p365s of the world.

[@jic1]

The thing is that if you are continuing the idea that Bond is a modern British operative, and not just giving him a Walther because you associate Bond with Walther, he really needs to carry a Glock.

[@ninebangtrojan4669]

@@jic1 exactly the Glock 19 is issued to certain officers within the UK for example

[@kolomaznik333]

In the movie Tomorrow Never Dies, Bond lost his PPK in Hamburg and then he picked P99 in weapons case in Wai Lin base.

[@c.c.x.pearson3308]

Daniel Craig is also seen at the very beginning of Casino Royal chasing the guy with a p99.

[@mattd5240]

Glocks are boring as hell, though. He needs a handgun that fits him and his style. Glocks are the honda civics of handguns.​@jic1

[@bobbressi5414]

I'm wondering if the recoil springs in those pistols are just a little played out. Perhaps a slightly higher weight recoil spring would force those slides back into battery

[@Williestyle-RobotechxMacross-x]

Yes, this has been mentioned elsewhere in the comments. The ASP has a cut down recoil spring, so it is less forceful at returning the slide all the way into battery. The other comment advocated for using the recoil spring from the S&W 469, iirc.

[@VincitOmniaVeritas7]

Can't wait for the video on the wrist-mounted dart gun! In all seriousness, hope Mr. Daniels had a Walther P5 on hand to make a video about. That sidearm never gets covered and for some reason I really like it, it's almost retro-futuristic.

[@commandobond]

well covered in our book, I'd love to cover it in a video as well!

[@kurttate9446]

When S&W finally woke up to the popularity of these types of pistols they came out with the Model 469, just about the time I was looking for a compact pistol to take backpacking. Still have it in my nightstand.

[@polymathart]

ALL THOSE DUCKS?! IN A ROW?! 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

[@robertyork5796]

I just finished the Art and War podcast with Caleb, banger episode, awesome to see him collaborate with you Ian.

[@commandobond]

Appreciate your support, cheers!

[@davewebster5120]

Ian being very accommodating for this young author, what a class act. And excellent research from Mr. Caleb. I didn't know this was among the more contemporary bond novels. My favorite quote: "That double action is very hard." "It hurts the heart." lel. I'd probably pick this over a detonics even though dick marcinko was a huge fan of them.

[@irishpsalteri]

Re the sights, you rarely need a quick life-saving shot on a gopher.

[@steveh1792]

Plague is endemic in western U.S. ground squirrels. Better safe than sorry.

[@ComicGladiator]

What about Gophers...WITH FRIKKIN' LASERS ON THEIR HEADS?

[@quilope]

Rarely, perhaps, but not never.

[@3rdpig]

I remember these when they first come out, I wanted one at the time but they were hard to get and expensive. There was also another gun called the Devel, which was a similarly modified S&W model 59.

[@commandobond]

Yes! Made because the designer got terribly frustrated waiting for his ASP, so he worked with Ken Hackathorn to make the Devel!

[@mowgli2071]

Not just the ASP 9mm but the Glaser safety slug

[@commandobond]

The marketing combination of those two, and the lore they put out is stuff of legend!

[@J.TiberiusKirk]

Commenting about the cut-down pistols at the end reminded me I have a Walther P38K; it is a Walther P-38 with a shorty barrel that basically is the length of the slide. Very unique to say the least. It has a much smoother trigger and way more traditional sights which don't hurt in relation to reliability and accuracy.

[@commandobond]

And that's another gun that briefly appears in Gardner's novels, and in our book too!

[@J.TiberiusKirk]

@@commandobond I am honored then, good sir!

[@One-Armed-Un-Boxer]

JB used a P38k in the novelization of Licence to Kill

[@patrickbamforth4235]

I Don't know if it was purposely thought of here with them using the antique decoy ducks in the background, but sir Ian Fleming was himself a keen bird watcher even naming the character of James Bond after a ornithologist he knew. The name Goldeneye which Fleming also named his Caribbean villa after is in fact a type of duck- maybe one of lifes happy little coincidences.

[@John.VanSwearingen]

The start of the range session reminds me of every older Swenson I’ve shot... those 70s custom shop guns always seem like they are a few filestrokes from complete! The cycling feels clunky, and they don’t like going into battery when they’re the slightest bit dry or dirty. But, the looks are iconic.

[@alexwasherefirst]

My favorite Pistol ever thanks to Black Ops 1, I was not expecting a video on it this morning.

[@TacShooter]

I forget. Did Bond use Glaser Blue Nose safety slugs in this pistol in the John Gardner novel? UPDATE: Ah, you mention them. Well done. Didn't Bond use the HK P7 in Icebreaker? Seems like he should have stuck with it.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

007 in newer novels used- HK VP70 9mm, P7 9mm; P7M8 version. Bond due to SAS training, quick action had a stock P35 9mm. Q gave Bond a single action Ruger Black Hawk single action .44magnum revolver for vehicles.

[@TacShooter]

@@DavidLLambertmobile Yeah, I think the P7 was most like a Bond pistol.

[@spincity72]

Yeah, he had the P7 in Icebreaker. Gardner should have left it at that instead of going with the ASP.

[@bobspatafore3056]

Enthusiasm of both of you is Transferring to me thank you

[@phishno2767]

What's interesting is what Paris Theodore did not consider critical on a pistol designed for covert survival: There's no threaded barrel for mounting a suppressor.

[@surfinoperator]

What an AMAZING & OUTSTANDING gun review and it's like a mini podcast too! You both should do this collaboration again, but longer!!!!

[@nebiyuesayas5600]

I remember this from Black Ops 1, but I've never read or seen JB so knowing he used one of these as well is awesome.

[@Inflorescensse]

P365 SAS gives me pretty inconsistent groups. Though I like it in theory.

[@TheCrusher72]

It was nice knowing you....

[@aljole683]

The 365 SAS isn’t a group shooting gun, it’s a COM at close range gun. It will do that just fine.👍. But I still bought the base model with the OH, SO cool XRay3 night sights. Then bought an RDS ready X slide to put a dot on it, for those days when I’m feeling a little more operatory. 😅

[@paleoph6168]

3:23 There's also the Caracal Enhanced F Quick Sight Model. Its sight is placed more forward.

[@WHEELGUNNER1]

My stepmother carried one of these in the late 1970s, stoked with Super Vel ammo. I got to fire it a few times, but could never talk her out of it.

[@blahorgaslisk7763]

That gutter sight reminds me of when I was a kid and busted the sight on the pistol I was playing with. Eventually I got it fixed but for a few years I didn't bother. Instead I sighted by using both eyes and holding the gun so I would see the target bracketed by the barrel. Watching with both eyes it looked as if there were two barrels, one on the left and one on the right, and in the middle of those were the target. By making sure the barrels looked the same on both sides I knew I was shooting straight as far as left to right movement was concerned. To get the height right there were just more alignment making sure the "barrels" were pointing right. With training it worked. It wasn't match quality but I could tap a bottle cap reliably at ten yards, and with training it was very fast. Not something I would suggest as a primary sight system but for real fast shooting at short ranges it worked fine. Another fun thing was that no one else could even hit the pistol target with that gun and I wouldn't tell them how I managed. Hey I was a kid. A thing like this was fun when people didn't understand how I could do it. This was also something that needed you to use both eyes when shooting. Something a competition shooter explained for me was vital when competing. You don't use both eyes for targeting, but the muscles used to shut one eye increase the eye strain so you actually shoot worse later in the match. Some use a blinder for the eye not used in sighting, some even use an eye patch or glasses that hinders the "wrong" eye from interfering, but I learned to just don't care what I see in my left eye when sighting. I did get en eye patch but found it was a bother so I learned to shoot without it. For me it work fine with iron sights, red dot and telescopic sights but I know others who just can't do it that way.

[@Eeklectic]

I've been following Caleb on Instagram for years now, mostly because I'm a huge Bond geek. Super cool to see him doing these videos with Ian!

[@commandobond]

Cheers!

[@idontwanttoputmyname403]

There’s a similar setup of sights to the “Guttersnipe” represented in Fallout: New Vegas on the “A Light Shining in Darkness” handgun - trench sights! Didn’t much like that style either.

[@SGTMinguez]

I continue to advocate for modernized versions of both the ASP, in a modern melted striker fired with visible ammo grips, as well as a modernized double action (or is it triple with the shotgun?) LeMat with 8rd .357 around a 20GA or 7rd .44 around a 16GA. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[@Gunbudder]

i am a BIG fan of magnetic retention. i shot competition with a magnetic holster for my glock (with a huge T bar to lock it in place). even if i forgot to unlock my holster for a draw, the T bar comes up to lock it, so my thumb would smash really hard into the T bar while trying to draw, and the holster would unlock anyway. i never once had any issues drawing and it never messed up the finish on my gun. i never thought about magnetic mag holsters though, i just had the usual molded plastic that flexed around the mag and had a friction retention. magnetic retention for the mags is pretty sweet, especially with those super tiny and slim ASP mags. having shot real competitions and played a ton of CoD, i love the ASP and i've always wanted one to shoot for fun and just keep in my collections. such a cool pistol

[@MKD.357]

Definitely a second kind of cool going on with the ASP. I also love how it was made in Wisconsin! But those reliability issues are a huge turnoff in terms of practical use. I think nowadays an Sig P365 variant would be an ideal secret agent sidearm. Though I’m still personally partial to my P938 for the CCW role. But then again I’ve been carrying it for ages

[@JohnJustice-n3f]

The SIG 365 has made a huge impact with a lot of the shooters I know, in the same manner that the Kahr PM9 was the backup gun of choice for many years. The 365X has a slightly longer frame that gives a place for the pinkie finger to rest, and it holds 12 rounds. Add one or two extended 365 Macro mags with 17 rounds each and you have a very nice concealed carry pistol with a lot of rounds. It will be interesting to see if the new HK CC9 makes a dent in SIG's market share. HK is notorious for being civilian-hostile, but this new model was developed here in the U.S. specifically for the concealed carry market, so maybe they have new management. If the CC9 ends up as reliable and durable as their marketing claims it might be one to seriously consider.

[@thomasgrable1746]

My uncle had an ASP 9mm, but sadly we never got around to shooting it at the range. I really wanted to see how the Guttersnipe sights worked in practice. Thanks for showing this.

[@scottrobinson3281]

I affixed a guttersnipe to the receiver of my 20" Remington 870. The "gutter" concentrates one's vision nicely on the bead.

[@joelnotsure2871]

I remember all the Asp hype back in the day. I wanted one SO bad. Settled for a 39, and it wasn’t extraordinarily reliable. If I recall correctly - it’s been a long time - the slide hung up just like on your video but lubricant didn’t fix it.

[@j.murphy4884]

Yeah the gen 1 Smiths are pretty terrible by modern standards (or even 10 years later standards) but the American market's options for semi-autos in the 70s was extremely limited.

[@bobbressi5414]

I owned a 913 that was a later variation of the 39 in stainless with an aluminum frame. It even used the same 8 round mags as the 39. I fed that pistol every grain weight. Every profile of hollow point. Junk target ammo. Mine ate everything. I don't recall a single failure.

[@innernetstranger]

​@@bobbressi5414 my 39-2 is similarly reliable, only thing it doesn't like is really flat hollow points because of the magazine's follower design

[@williamfitch1408]

Didn't Bond use a Beretta with a skeleton grip (I'm not a gun expert, I'm just remembering the original books), similar to this? It had no bulk and was a point-blank self-defence concealed pistol.

[@commandobond]

Indeed, that was Fleming’s original choice, carried from Casino Royale - Chapter 2 of Dr No!

[@MrJerrycampbell]

A revolutionary experiment when there were no compact full power semiautos. They may have worked out most of the bugs, but not all. Compact seldom meant reliable. I wonder if Garner ever went beyond reading the literature before arming Bond. I seem remember a VP-70 and a Ruger (super?) Blackhawk too. A Colt Commander for Commander Bond (or a BHP) were the two best available, though I think the Commander in 9mm had pretty significant reliability issues too.

[@red9mm]

I've always wanted an ASP

[@Goc4ever]

The ASP, i remember that gun when i first saw it in Call Of Duty: Black Ops, in Operation 40. It's a neat gun to look at not to mention somewhat lovely-looking.

[@Kadorhal]

2:01 When I saw that image, for the briefest of moments I wondered if you'd somehow seen my first Black Ops video, because by the time I'd finished that video I was no longer able to find any version of that ASP ad that was not either at a ridiculously small resolution or covered with a watermark. Sure enough, I just looked and the image exists without a watermark again.

[@drabhand]

Combating the slide issue would mean having to maintain a very oily gun. Bond would definitely not like stains on his tuxedo or shirt.

[@bruhmoment6625]

"a video up on it from 5 or 6 years ago" I wish 2015 was 5 or 6 years ago 😢

[@Hibernicus1968]

"I have a video from five or six years ago about the ASP." Meanwhile, I look up in the righthand corner of my screen, and I see that very video at the top of the suggested list, and it's from nine years ago. I'm glad I'm not the only one who, as I get older, doesn't realize just how long ago it was that I did some of the things I did.

[@JerryEricsson]

My first wonder 9 was a brand new in the box Smith and Wesson Model 59. I kept it for about 6 months and sold it to another cop who wanted one so bad his teeth hurt, I went back to my Model 1911A1 and never looked back at the Smith. It was that first double action trigger that queered the gun for me, I hated it, the rest of the gun was OK I guess but I never really got the more 9mm vs the .45 ACP, when compared back then with the limited ammo available, it looked to me like I was going from the old days when we all went to the 357 Mag from the 38 special because of low power. The 9mm looked like a poor relative of the 38 special, sort of like going back from those days when we were all so happy to get that extra boost from the .357 Mag. The old war horse of a .45 ACP never really needed an upgrade, she was a man stopper from day one, you didn't need the extra available rounds from the 9mm. When I retired in '93 I was carrying an Astra A100 in .45 ACP. I had the best of both worlds with the pistol, a higher capacity (11 rounds) and the first shot DA as well as a more compact pistol. She was and is a bit heavy with the larger ammo and a bit thick in the grip with the double stack mag but she served me well on the PD and she lives on the top shelf of my gun safe now, her little brother my M1911A1 Citadel compact is laying in the ready access of my nightstand hid-a-way slot.

[@Nerfhalo1]

Ian's reaction to the PPK jamming is living rent-free in my brain now.

[@pwa8453]

On the Sofa: “great gun”, on the range: “atrocious, dry slide, aiming far too high” - really, a good gun for a 80ths James Bond (which aren’t the most famous movies, at least).

[@johneliadis9689]

Love the magnetic holster and mag holders! Originaly made for the feebs!

[@JohnJustice-n3f]

Ken Null, a holster maker in Georgia, has the original Seventrees patterns and can make you a set, using friction fit molding without the magnets but otherwise the same design. He's no spring chicken any more so don't wait too long to order or he might be retired.

[@TheTrueNorth11]

I LOVE this Bond content. Knives next?

[@triviszla1536]

I remember this funky little pistol in cod black ops. Wasn't very good so was fun to pop people with it for the novelty.

[@robkoons1891]

Amazing video. Love these guns just not ones in reality anyone would want to depend on in any real life and death situation

[@rayoshields969]

One of my bucket list guns

[@OkaNieba]

I am really excited for the Book!

[@praack4563]

I knew someone who had an ASP back in the day, he was an ex-vietnam vet who became a Physical Therapist- helped me purchase my first handgun ( 70's series Colt Commander). this guy shot IPSC, he had a buddy who was prototyping plastic holsters but this was his daily carry. ps= Never saw 2 Asps in the same video or picture

[@andrewm.9066]

Sully from Commando carried one too

[@ddsharknads7782]

I was hoping somebody else would remember.

[@bmclaughlan]

"I like you, Sully.

[@mellongfield9873]

I’ve a pair of Walthers left to me by my father, nice precision and accuracy.

[@J.TiberiusKirk]

I remember when the Gardner continuations of the Bond novels first came out; I have them neatly lined up on one of my bookshelves. John Gardner was not the first author permitted to write a Bond novel (that credit goes to Kingsley Amis); however, he did, to date, write the most post-1960s Bond novels than any other writer has so far.

[@One-Armed-Un-Boxer]

....and it's in his book Colonel Sun were 007 loses his PPK by throwing it overboard

[@bradholmes6404]

Very interesting subject done very well! At the start of each Bond film, we see the inside of a gun barrel which Bond walks across, and Bond turns and fires at the "holder" of the gun. 1. Is the barrel we look through represent the barrel of any particular gun? which one? Or, is it just a generic graphic overing the Bond firing? 2. When Bond turns and fires, which pistol is he using? Was it the same gun for each intro? Presuming it might be a different pistol for each intro, what guns were used for each Bond intro? 3. Are there any outtakes/bloopers of that scene that didn't go well? Thanks! I'm really enjoying the Bond series.

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

First saw this handgun in Black Ops 1. Found it weird at first before looking up the actual gun and history. Pretty interesting compact handgun.

[@timtimtimmay4654]

I just picked up an old 469 at a local pawn shop and the similarities are intriguing. Bobbed hammer, short barrel and in general a very similar firearm albeit far less "melted". Seems like S&W stole ASP's homework and brought it to commercial market with more normal options like traditional sights.

[@Jack-mw2xl]

I read an article many years ago (possibly "soldier of fortune" - not mine I hasten to add!) that stated the gun used by the Royal protection officer for Princess Anne was a Walther P38 not a ppk. It stated the reason for the jam was the p38 mag being left too long loaded and the weak spring wouldn't chamber the second round. No idea of this is true or not but that was a known issue with the p38.

[@Madmanmarque]

Still think Gardner should have gone with the H&K P7. I don't know why he only used it in Icebreaker!

[@commandobond]

It is a tragedy of Greek proportions

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Bond, 00 section used a few sidearms: 1980s 1990s. Mainly Heckler & Koch P7s, VP70s(a new polymer PDW concept), ASPs, Hi Powers, later 2010s: Walther PPSs in .40. 🇬🇧

[@jacksoncz8536]

Enjoyed the video, saw the ads when the ASP first came out. But I would rather have had a Detonic.

[@Traeger91]

I had a 439 at one point, I always wished I could have had it modified like this. Unfortunately, I had to get rid of it after the frame cracked. Specifically caused by it's guide rod slipping during reassembly. The notch where the guide rod rests on the barrel, wasn't cut deep enough. I'd bought it used and it was an early production serial number, though it looked it fine on the exterior. It's unfortunate that most gun stores don't (typically) allow field stripping. As had I known that was an issue, I'd never have bought it. I've often wished that another company would start up clones of the old S&W semi autos. As at this point, I'm against buying used firearms. I've been burned one too many times by used firearms.

[@catgirldoll]

I haven't heard about cut down concealed carry Star pistols! If you get your hands on one, I'd love to see a video on it. I personally really enjoy the Firestar M43, so I'm always eager to learn more about niche Star guns

[@eddiejones8042]

Tim LaFrance, of M16K fame, did a cut down Star model called the NOVA during the 80's.

[@VASCAR2]

Star PD 45 ACP was a small production pistol and the Star BM and Star BKM pistols in 9 mm were very popular. IIRC the BKM had an alloy frame. These were single action pistols so cocked and locked would be my method of carry.

[@mikeking7470]

The Smith & Wesson model 39 "borrowed" a lot from the Walther P-38, And the Sig Sauer P6/P225 borrowed from it, too. I remember that when the ASP came out it was a marvel, smaller than some .380s and firing 9mm Parabellum.

[@andrewwaterman9240]

Rock Island Auction is offering at least 5 Austin Behlert-modified and cut down Browning High Powers for sale. Very interesting and cool pistols, particularly if you like High Powers.

[@janerkenbrack3373]

I'm pretty sure the best was that skeleton frame Baretta .25 with a rubber band holding the grip safety so it could be fired without holding it in the traditional grip. Especially when carried in a chamois holster that won't damage the lining of your suit.

[@TANKER0z0]

This video scratched an itch of mine thanks!

[@Gedden]

Fantastic video, great history lesson!

[@robertlowe9590]

That vintage ad was interesting..."with stopping power second only to the .44 magnum". Lol, isn't this still only a 9mm...?

[@generalilbis]

As Ian & Caleb mention, the ASP is "meant" to use Glaser Safety Slug ammo...a type of ammo where buckshot is floated in liquid Teflon inside a thinly jacketed projectile. So when it hits a fleshly target, it's supposed to DUMP all of its energy immediately and leave a nasty wound cavity from the buckshot being punched into the target. Glssers wete apparently developed for use by air marshals, so they could take out hijackers effectively without over-penetrating and puncturing airplane cabin walls.

[@briandrake5464]

@@generalilbis Would frangible ammo be a modern equivalent?

[@generalilbis]

@@briandrake5464 I would say it was rat or snakeshot on steroids due to the buckshot, but I suppose frangible ammo works too.

[@MrRnipperBrockleBroadcasting]

John Gardner wrote a bunch of other really good thrillers before the Bond continuation novels, but never really got the recognition of other contemporary authors in the genre.

[@briandrake5464]

He wrote some great stuff during and after the Bond books too (Secret Families, Garden of Weapons, etc). He had a heck of a career. Terrific writer indeed.

[@bobbymay8618]

i got a s&w 6904 a few years back, great pistol, they are pretty much a s&w factory asp in a way.

[@yesthecrumbs5806]

LOVE this pistol. Ever since ive played with it in games and seen your video explaining the history and origins. Guttersnap sights are cool and such a unique concept

[@PNWprepped.father]

Question. Growing up, I've always wanted either and asp, a devel, or a detonics. Have a missed a video on either a devel or a detonics?

[@geodkyt]

Yeah, search "Forgotten Weapons Detonics" and "Forgotten Weapons Devel" and they'll come right up.

[@PBVader]

I believe you have missed his videos on those. The Devel vid goes back about as far as the ASP vid.

[@nathanlewis5682]

When I hear of Detonics, I think Sonny Crocketts backup piece