The ASP: An Early Subcompact 9mm for Sneaky People

[@wsc31]

When the ASP was new I wanted but could not afford it. Fast forward forty years- still want it still cannot afford it. Still great for Ian to give a demo and history on a ground breaking pistol.

[@JonasUllenius]

Make a GoFondMe page and hope some folks help you own one. Good luck and godspeed you getting one. Interesting video.

[@kellynolen498]

@Wet Johnny e-begging is the way of the future

[@boxcarz]

​@Wet Johnny I was about to jump the gun and say "implying that e-begging is bad", before I realized that you didn't actually imply that. The message I finally decided on putting in this awfully long-winded comment is as follows: "And...?"

[@q3znw6j88aywnwy]

@Wet Johnny if you can't even afford essentials the best thing to do is commit and stop living off other people

[@henryhill6126]

Now you can buy a SIG SAS and it will have night sights. You probably already bought it since this video is old.

[@matthewramada922]

My understanding is that part of the justification for the "guttersnipe" is that it avoided the need for a front sight blade, eliminating yet another potential place the gun might snag on when being drawn quickly.

[@ksm1985]

I think you're right actually, in 3 separate occasions when I was drawing my piece, it snagged on the cottons I was wearing. I still managed to get my shots in first though but was a close call on all 3 occasions.

[@infamoushokage7697]

Only fat people habe that problem

[@DustyOrange]

@@infamoushokage7697 Seems like the gun was made for more sneaky, spy-like uses. Like say, you're an undercover cop and you're keeping your gun in a purse. Maybe the front sight will get caught on an inside pouch or the lip of the purse. 1970 police and CIA seemed to be wearing suits and those detective trench jackets and slacks. Ties and such were still in. It would probably be snagged on say, suits, jackets, bags, possibly ties, the back of the pants where one might tuck the gun into, etc. I also feel that fat people wouldn't have as much of a problem. From what I've noticed, a lot more fat people wear clothing thats too small for them (possibly from denial), and tighter clothing would result in less snagging. Thats just my opinion though.

[@tommybear1097]

@@ksm1985 Yeah, those paper targets at the gun range sure can draw quick, gotta watch it or they'll pop you before you can even get your Dirty Harry "Do you feel lucky, Punk" out from behind your teeth.

[@ryanpeck3377]

That is correct, these guns were meant for deep concealment, often a pocket. Today many pocket guns have very small rounded sights for the same reason. Also the Sig P365 SAS is a modern take on the ASP. That is why it has no traditional Front sight and the takedown lever/slide stop changed to be snag free

[@danelisslow3269]

Operation 40, bay of pigs. Remember, Mason.

[@labmanatlarge]

7-15-1-2-19-7-25-6-13-6-7-15-14-0

[@sphenodon2016]

@@labmanatlarge "the Rusalka. where Castro gifted me to Dragovich"

[@HotboiEngineering]

Shout-out to all the people who know this pistol from Call Of Duty Black Ops 1.

[@dylangreen9819]

Lol that game was fun

[@FiXXXer024]

+The Ghost of the Flying Dutchman RIGHT!?

[@griffgoldstein6378]

I don't remember it in Snake Eater.

[@nellsonstout7001]

Brap Brap or those who know it from its parent, the smith and Wesson model 39.

[@zeniththecat3121]

um, you dummy

[@KowboyUSA]

DEA, CIA ...RIA...

[@ForgottenWeapons]

John Ratko The plot thickens...

[@lordclangtheintolorable2094]

Tep, why

[@ThatGuy-te9wh]

RIC, RUC, CPD, B.I.G., NYC, J-M-Z...

[@notyou6674]

DMV... YMCA... BLT with cheese

[@PatrickCanney]

DMX... Jay-Z... LL Cool J... Mickey D...

[@RedMcCloud]

James Bond in the 'newer' novels (not written by Ian Fleming) used the ASP for almost as long as the PPK.

[@Desmaad]

The PPK is a peashooter, anyway.

[@RedMcCloud]

That is not true in the slightest. .32 ACP (European ammo, not the stupid downloaded American target ammo) is an extremely viable round, .380 ACP even more so. All bullets can kill you.

[@sethcote3101]

Red McCloud aren’t those rounds made specifically for self defence

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

John Gardner's James Bond novels where I first heard of this pistol. Of all the forgotten weapons in the world, the ASP is my all time favorite. Like the Bren Ten from the television series Miami Vice, the ASP saw very few media appearances in movies and television. Apart from Commando (1985) and I also understand that one was going to be used in Cobra (1986), but the scenes were it appeared were deleted.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

As a proud second generation James Bond fan, I really enjoyed reading Carte Blanche. It was a nice touch by author Jeffery Dever, to arm 007 with the Walther PPS in .40 S&W. If you have not read the John Gardner books (published from 1981-1996), I highly recommend them. Bond begins using the ASP 9 in the fourth book, Role Of Honor (published in 1984) and uses all the way thought to the last book in the series Cold Fall.

[@cameronjenkins6748]

That sight makes me think I should be shooting into a thermal exhaust port because it looks kinda like the sight used in that star wars scene.

[@Buffington916]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that lol

[@pinz2022]

+Cameron Jenkins "Stay on target."

[@pinz2022]

+Sam Buffington "Stay on target!!"

[@0Wheezy]

+Cameron Jenkins you switched off your targeting computer, whats wrong?!

[@SouperDooper21]

Use the aimbot, Luke.

[@dannybruce2027]

Ian, I really enjoy Forgotten Weapons. You get me interested in firearms that I previously thought I could care less about. While it's not good for my pocket book, I do love the information and history of these guns. Please keep it up. You do a real service for all gun enthusiasts.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Thanks!

[@willpugh8865]

Tell me about it every time i see a cool rifle or something i go out and try and find it lol i had 2 guns before i subscribed now i have 8 :p thanks Ian, sorry bank account

[@twj6808]

Daniel Bruce

[@twj6808]

will pugh

[@snaek2594]

couldn't care less about you mean. Lol

[@brain_drops]

ASP: A Sneaky Pistol, A Stealthy Pistol, A Small Pistol, A Smelly Peacock, etc. Take your pick.

[@theflyingdutchman22]

A Smelly Peacock

[@tronalddrump1193]

A smoll pp

[@luisd157]

@@tronalddrump1193 A Small Penis

[@SteveKarpali]

Active Self Protection

[@Merc7734]

A Suboptimal Pie

[@feeish]

One of the reasons I love seeing Ian at Shot Show is his smirk when someone says "first time it's been done" or "this radical new idea we're implementing." Because you know he has seen it before on some random firearm from 40-100 years ago. That guttersnipe sight reminded me of the new sig xray sights.

[@8digitPDX]

Sheesh. I once passed up a chance to get one of those for under $500. Came from a probate sale and sat on the shelf at a local gun shop for a long time because nobody could find the right spare magazines that would fit it.

[@jayque300]

8digitPDX I wonder if the regular S&W 39 magazines would work with it?

[@hakugin15]

I was just thinking the same thing

[@vincentlok8894]

.. and it sold at auction for $6000 ...

[@MrRugbylane]

Aye but even from the other side of Atlantic I can see you are buying HISTORY.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

+Vincent Lok Yeah, but it was a presentation set. That's a big deal in this kind of thing.

[@yomama1283]

shout out to all my black ops 1 players who assassinated fidel castros body double.

[@tehgreatvak]

ahahah how can people honestly think a gun made in the 70s could be in any way equal to something modern, what a bunch of dummies **still considers the 1911 to be the best handgun of all times, looks up to the sky every time he mentions Browning**

[@Frentorianid]

tehgreatvak lol, so true

[@TALIZ0RAH]

+tehgreatvak Cz 75 was designed in the 70s, that pistol is not only held in high regard, but is also still very good.

[@tehgreatvak]

I know, I was poking fun at my own cognitive dissonance.

[@Orbytum]

+WVgregWV depends on the model. The AKM is a fantastic weapon but is by far not the best.

[@ArtisChronicles]

+Mikhail Blagodarov I think most people think of AK 47 when mentioning AK in general. Probably due to its reputation for reliably firing even when covered in mud.

[@av0-cad03]

so getting your normal pistol turned into an ASP was like pack-a-punching it, you had to give them a gun and money and they upgrade it

[@av0-cad03]

Communism and peace​ XD

[@cougar10ag]

uh yeah thats how it works almost everywhere. you buy a gun, send it to someone and pay them money to trick it out.

[@yolomasta6940]

LMFAO

[@brabhamfreaman166]

Those sights are very interesting. Like 'one-point-perspective' drawings. I can see how in a pinch, with adrenaline at the max, there are sensible, instinctive, common-sense features that maximise deployment speed with the best grip. Love the book title too!

[@MisterBones2910]

Would probably be great for a scenario where you had to arm someone with little experience as well.

[@CompletelyWorst]

first time I heard of this gun was in Call of Duty, it's cool to see such a rare gun in person.

[@alexritter8904]

yeah me too. I thought it was a really cool gun in that game. Wasn't sure if it was a real gun or not because I hadn't heard about it.

[@ArtisChronicles]

+Filipe Amaral I just rekt everyone with the makarov honestly.

[@baron8107]

+UserUnknown And the CZ75 blew it and every other gun out of the water.

[@haxxez]

You sure? Dual python was pretty legit.

[@theleanhead]

Clone Trooper Two words. Full. Auto.

[@mackenzieross1837]

Blops 1 quickest reload ever

[@mythic_omen948]

Mackenzie Ross +plus sleight of hand, and either spamming with middle finger or mouse spam

[@alexgutierrez2783]

In all honesty if you knew how to use it, quite over powered lol

[@MrMartinio]

Funniest shit ever, to run out of ammo after killing one guy and have another mag in by the time you can Click at someone else. And then you have run out

[@APage-hn6cz]

Fastest shooting with an auto clicker or modded controller

[@kidsIIIII009]

In real life, reloading is difficult, but the fire rate is slightly fast

[@jugularspeed774]

The title is clever ASP stands for An early sub-compact 9mm pistol for, Sneaky, People

[@davewolf8869]

JugularSpeed 77 wow they even included the word "early" even tho at the time it was perfectly modern? What a company with vision!

[@wollsmoth69]

This is 100% false.

[@woah5546]

@@wollsmoth69 shocker

[@wollsmoth69]

@@woah5546 Indeed

[@jugularspeed774]

Tunasub bruh I was tryna be clever when I was 14. Go away

[@willpugh8865]

im surprised the gutter sights arent more popular, id love this on my sks or a shot gun

[@riverstyxarmory9782]

will pugh I was hoping to get a set on whatever carry gun I chose, but sadly they aren't as popular they probably should be. no front sight to snag.

[@willpugh8865]

River Styx Armory lets get some investors and start this bad boy up!

[@riverstyxarmory9782]

will pugh wish it was that easy. the sights are available, but from what I can tell usually a special order [read: long wait time] only. what would help is a giant billboard showing that their are more options than plain blade and notch

[@Imissthefuhrer]

River Styx Armory why would anyone want something besides plain edge. Serrations are for lazy people that have no clue about sharpening a knife.

[@riverstyxarmory9782]

Frank Stadelmann are you being serious? it's a discussion about handgun sights, not knives.

[@JKCDLT]

This has to be my favorite sub compact 9mm, I wish someone made reproductions.

[@JKCDLT]

got a link?

[@w6krg]

Check out a used S&W model 3913, single stack 9mm 8 round mag. S&W liked this idea and ran with it. Still have mine from the '90s and it's the most accurate 9mm I own.

[@TomoeNageX]

James Bond himself actually used one in the John Gardner continuation of Fleming's novels.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

@ Spleen Arrow, Indeed he did. Beginning in the 1984 novel, Role Of Honor and continuing up to the 1996 novel Coldfall, James Bond was armed with an ASP. Gardner also had 007 load his ASP with Glaser Safety Slugs (an early frangible bullet) for greater stopping power. If I had the money, I would defiantly get an ASP for my James Bond collection. Something that might interest you, from 2002-2007 gun smith Jonathan Deval produced the ASP 2000. It is a tribute pistol based Paris Theodore's original blueprints. Like the ASP, which is a customized Smith & Wesson 39, the ASP 2000 is a customized Smith & Wesson 3913 pistol. The pistol is custom modified for fast instinct shooting. The standard sights are replaced with a 'guttersnipe' which is for fast reflex shooting, the grips have a transparent window to check how many rounds are left and various edges are burnished and a cut out for left or right handed shooting are cut into the trigger guard.

[@robertryan7528]

​@@user-si9fx4xb6vbrother I just met his son. I'm with Siad Theodore now and he has all the info about him in writing a book about Paris. Im from Ohio and I went to NYC and I met with Paris's son. He created the ASP it was his company Armaments, Systems, and procedures. He also created the quell system. That's why he's called q like the real James Bond he really is and he created all modern spy weaponry and the briefcase and the appendix holster and the ankle holster etc. reach out if you want to know more. I'm with the family now

[@gokuss15]

Honestly that's not too obscene a cost for a boutique custom handgun. COUGHwilsoncombatCOUGH

[@Mildcat743]

I have a copy of the Shooters Bible from 1973. The cost of a blued Model 39 is $173.50. So in total, the customer would be spending around $473.50.

[@ryderferenc9375]

Lucas Hagg that was the era my gramps bought his Colt Commander. I asked him what he paid for it, and he said "less than $200", if I remember correctly. That was a good price even then for either a model 39 or a commander.

[@fredbobberts5753]

He mentions the collector kit was actually $875 in contemporary money.

[@fredbobberts5753]

I’m sorry $1875 in the 1980s...wow. Like Les Baer for compact 9mm.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

6 grand for this handgun is a flaming joke .

[@Serenity_Dee]

I once saw one of these at a gun show in Hickory. NC. The friend I was with recognized it instantly and was stunned to find it there. For me, it was the first time I ever heard of it, and I still wish I'd had the cash to pay the shockingly low asking price.

[@joewalter7523]

I read awhile back that this is the gun used by Sully (played by David Patrick Kelly) in the movie "Commando" when he was escaping from Matrix in the shopping mall scene.

[@Derpy_Aura]

This gun reminds me of Call of duty: Black ops 1

[@Maxx995]

It is

[@av0-cad03]

first pistol you unlock

[@WTFisTingispingis]

Derpy Aura Same gun, albeit a decade too soon. Still a cool piece for sneaky people.

[@Omnihil777]

The sights: "Use the force, Luke. Use the force." - Ingenious gun. Really. Love it.

[@reyp5323]

"1970's" , " sneaky things in dark places" * scene fades in on the NYC skyline at nighttime* My imagination leads me to believe that back in 1970, this gun was carried concealed into a nightclub in Manhattan by undercover CIA operative Michael T. Dawson posing as a Soviet nationalist. His mission was to infiltrate the underbelly of New York City's suspected Soviet spy ring to gather intel on their secret sleeper agent operations inside the United States. The meeting inside the club quickly went south as the Russian crime lord Nikolai Novikov who Dawson was there to meet did not recognize him or the dialect of Russian that agent Dawson was speaking, as he caimed to hail from the same region of the Motherland as Novikov. He called Dawson out on his phony Russian accent and he knew at that moment that they had made him. His cover was blown. He instinctively grabs the bottle of Vodka sitting on the desk in the meeting room, smashes it over the head of the henchmen sitting adjacent to him, as the other henchmen in the room realize whats happened, they fumble to draw their weapons on Dawson but its too late. Dawson quickly draws his concealed .9mm ASP pistol. Before Novikov can react, he puts two rounds in his head from across the desk. A firefight ensues...* scene fades out* .you decide how the movie ends....

[@tlshortyshorty5810]

This comment deserves more likes. Excellent scriptwriting.

[@StoopidAnimul]

Soviet Nationalist? Communism is the opposite of nationalism, lol.

[@guntherhermann2317]

@@StoopidAnimul Yeah, a little research gap right there. "Дружба народов" was like, the hottest thing going in SSR.

[@IainDelaney]

Three years later, but shouldn't he be FBI, operating on domestic soil? CIA charter forbids them from working inside the U.S. but the FBI have counter-espionage as part of their mandate.

[@niadhf]

I love the ASP. I am working on a build for a Bulgarian Makarov as an ASP. not DAO, but fast aquisition sights (not the snipe channel, xs), poly grips, bobbed hammer, and the stock open side mags

[@RJ-qm1gi]

ASP+duel weld+steady aim= the same power as every other pistol in black ops one haha

[@steampunx3157]

RJ McKinney asp+ slight of hand pro + good trigger finger = best pistol in the game

[@Burrmao196]

Steampunx facts

[@RpiesSPIES]

So true. Dual wield on those was an absolute waste. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJrXnKWom7p-aa8

[@theerealatm]

It shot so fast in BO1.

[@kweezynonya955]

Them see-through grips go crazy wish more companies used this feature 😍😍😮

[@The.dudeinator]

I remember seeing this gun back in video games (cod black ops 1) and actually fell in love with the design and smooth characteristics and can not wait to get one myself

[@Funhaus_Ryan]

Good luck getting one.

[@riverstyxarmory9782]

an ASP had been on my list but out of my price range for a long time. makes me sad, but I'm at least happy they existed even if I can't afford one.

[@pjsguns6873]

I thought it would be pronounced A-S-P

[@johnwizeman3894]

I've wanted one of these ever since I read an article about in a gun magazine. Not only are they priced out of my range, their magazine are out of my price range too. I've even hoped that someone would make clear plastic grips for the Makarov so I could have a pseudo ASP :-( The saddest part is that if I ever actually did own one of these I'd absolutely never carry it.

[@anglicky69]

@Toupee Ron and subsequently have it confiscated by the police until all of the details were worked out if you ever had to use it. say bye bye to it for at least a couple years until that happens. would be stupid to carry something so valuable today when there are far cheaper options to have get tied up in red tape.

[@randywatson8347]

It kinda looks like a walther p88 compact. Other 70's notable 9mm compact firearm is the HK P7. I would like to see a review on this one.

[@TortillaChip521]

It’s right there in the name: Aneasilyconcealed9mmfor Sneaky People

[@michaeljdauben]

I remember reading about the ASP pistol back in the 70's and wishing I could buy one. Back then I was still in college and it was way outside my budget. As you say, nowadays there are better carry guns available but I would still love to own an example of the old ASP.

[@jefflockaby702]

Back in the 80's I worked with a Cop who loved oddball guns...he carried an ASP off duty in his pocket & he even bought one of the original Bren Ten's...he was never able to get a magazine for it...or any ammo...(the company went put of business almost immediately) ...but he had the pistol....no telling what his collection was worth...

[@ジョジョさま]

Are there any other weapons for which a guttersnipe sight is available?

[@john091077]

"Hold on, sir! I must retrieve my comically huge book. But it is in no way hiding a weapon."

[@sauercrowder]

Funny thing about that is it was mostly empty space inside

[@aidengonzalez615]

I love guttersnipe or trench sights, especially on the Colt New Agent.

[@coqsoq3756]

im not even a gun enthusiast, but i really enjoy these videos. keep it up man

[@user-td1zo3tv9p]

DAAAMMMNNN!! I remember WELL when these were THE GUN of the day for us "Sneaky Bastards" who desired the SMALLEST (For the day, anyway) platform for a carry gun. I had designs to send in my M39 for "The Treatment" (as it was called) to use as my B.U.G. to my primary, M1911A1, or as my primary when I was doing, well, YOU KNOW, times when I didn't want to be "made" for whatever I might be doing at the time. As time would prove out, IF I had "been made" and someone found I was carrying an ASP, it would stand to reason that it was a unique gun not generally carried by Bad Guys of the day and, therefore, throw up red flags that I wasn't a Regular Joe. Obviously, the idea was to NOT be made or have some Bad Guy sneak up on you in the first place. All that personal history aside, I was hard-pressed to save up the cashola since I was raising a family and back in the day the cost was not inconsiderable for a working stiff. All that aside it became a moot point since the pistol was stolen from my brother's apartment, along with all of his guns. SUMBITCH, I was PISSED!! My NRA insurance paid for my loss but that did (does) NOTHING to assuage my anxiety knowing, first of all, that some dirty rotten SUMBITCH Criminal has MY gun and may be doing all manner of criminal actions! And since my local PD is run at the behest of an admittedly ANTI-GUN Tucson City Clowncil (!), even if it ever is recovered I'm certain I'd NEVER be notified and the gun returned to me. The Tucson Police Department will undoubtedly see that the pistol is destroyed for whatever reasons they want, the dirty rotten SUMBITCHES! Anyway, my hope of ever being able to have had that process done is gone and the cost of buying a good example is not in my budget these days just for nostalgic reasons. Lastly, I cannot speak to the comments in the video that the M39/M59 wasn't the most reliable gun on the market (or did Ian mention that in the Devel M59 UT video?) but regardless, as long as I used QUALITY ammunition or MY own reloads, my M39 NEVER faltered in any way, shape or form. The ONLY thing I really detested about the S&W line of semiautomatic pistols was the friggin' magazine disconnect feature!! The Shit-For-Brains attorney's working for S&W aure did bugger up the company (and the REAL!) shooters who carried the gun as a duty weapon! Since I carried an M1911A1 as my EDC On-Duty and an Officer's Model either on my ankle as my B.U.G., (and the O.M. as my usual Off Duty gun) that asinine feature wasn't THAT big of a deal to me. UNLESS for some reason I WAS carrying the M39 as my Off Duty gun for whatever reason. I was oftentimes tempted to just disassemble the gun and remove the magazine disconnect feature parts and be done with it altogether, but the gun was stolen anyway, making that "problem" a moot point. I actually bought the gun from a fellow Service Member while I was serving overseas in the US Army so it had (has) a lot of nostalgia behind it for me. I just hope that in the end that the Dirty Rotten SUMBITCH that stole it happens to be cleaning it with a round in the chamber and it "accidentally" discharges, putting a +P+ round right between his eyes one day! That would be ALL the KARMA I'd need to assuage my feelings. That's enough for now. Overnout

[@bcaffrey98]

I remember learning about the ASP in the 1970s when I carried a S&W 39-2. At that time the pistol cost around $135 but the custom work would cost you almost $375 as I recall. That was "obscene" - to think of a nearly $525 compact carry gun. The Devel conversion came along around the same time with a bit less extravagance. In 1990, S&W released a commercialized version based on the 3900-series pistols in production. The first gun was the Model 3913 Ladysmith. There was also a model 3913NL and 3914NL which were the same gun without the "Ladysmith" logo. The 3913 was a stainless gray alloy frame while the 3914 was black anodized alloy. I have a well used 3914NL that has been an excellent carry gun and it's easily as quick & accurate as you'd want a small 9mm to be.

[@420BudNuggets]

Those sights are dope

[@PaulMauser]

Anyone else getting kids toys for related videos?

[@tenhundredkills]

This Guy I got a couple of those and some videos on learning the alphabet and shapes. What's up with that?

[@mergenocide]

***** Kids gotta stay strapped 'nah mean?

[@2literoverlord482]

I think it has something to do with the education category.

[@ntracy98]

no, I did get an attack helicopter one though...oh bby

[@chartle1]

Yep thinking it something with the wording of the title but can't figure out what.

[@copperandradium]

It would be cool if someone applied the ASP concept to a Glock 26.

[@kcdodger]

This weapon is a marvel in its own right. Everything about it is well thought out and quite a bit is extremely well engineered. I was first introduced to it in Call of Duty: Black Ops, with its weird sights and slim, smooth profile I was intrigued. After quite a bit of research, I was shocked that the also-known-as Trench Sights hadn't caught on! They seemed to be rather effective in a few cases cited out in the real world, and the no-catch-ever design is something that continues to impress me, years later. There are a lot of good concealed carry weapons on the market, but honestly? Were I to ever have the luxury of choosing, precisely, what sidearm I wanted to be there in case I needed it, the ASP is absolutely my number one choice.

[@stormshot119]

I wish some company would make repro guttersnipe sights for modern subcompacts

[@TimothyAaronPotts]

Wow 7 extra magazines with that gun, that particular guy was literally prepared for the worst case scenario.

[@PandaFG]

I was searching for Active Self Protection but this was some neat knowledge

[@ian-op5fv]

i really wish these were still made it seems like the best ccw ever made.

[@darkspire91]

My one chance to see a Model 39 completely stripped in a video and Ian doesn't do it.

[@crockett616]

Those sights somehow remind me of the trapezoid sights on Steyr pistols. Dont know if the idea is in any way similar though.

[@mihailsaltirov5333]

The silincer that came with it was awesome xd

[@kenibnanak5554]

I nearly bought a Devel back in the late 70s, but went Detonics instead... Keeoing track of how many rounds fired was one of the motivations behind USAAF air crews using pieces of shot out windows and cockpits to make grips for their issue 45s. German Luftwaffe may have done the same thing because I have seen both an old Luger and an old P38 with plexiglas grip panels.

[@kentuckyboy541]

This is actually very cool. Aesthetically very cool also.

[@KNiteshft]

Did this give birth to the 3913 series then the later CS guns by S&W? I remember these from wasted youth reading gun magazines.

[@SW990]

+KNiteshft Yes, S&W tried to cater to that market, especially after Theodore's business went bankrupt.

[@Bigrednumber77]

The sights remind me a lot of the sights on the Sig P365 SAS

[@Hawk1966]

I'd really like to try something with that sighting system. Do any modern weapons have something similar?

[@zerodollarbird]

SIG has the P365 SAS, which has their new "X-Ray" sight which is similar.

[@popescope223]

Idk about you but that's one beauty

[@tammysilverwolf1085]

Now that's an interesting piece of design and history O_o Thanks, Ian.

[@Runetone]

The Black one looks brand new :D

[@ashleysmith3106]

I have a 70's (almost sub-)compact in .45cal ACP - a Spanish Star PD. Tiny gun, alloy frame, horrible kick but interesting piece of hardware. Perhaps you could compare one to a standard Colt 1911a1 on a video one day?

[@gosonegr]

Literally has nothing to do with a 1911, besides kinda looks like one

[@ashleysmith3106]

@@gosonegr Even Ian in his video on the Star 1920 acknowledges that Star copied the JMB design of the 1911, albeit with the simplified Eibar style lockwork!

[@michaelshelton5488]

I came here because of Ian's video on this gun from today. This video is from 9 years ago. Apparently Ian doesn't age.

[@Robert_Browne]

Finally. A gun you can take to the library.

[@DG-nb6fe]

NAA guardian

[@Nitsua_Atayha]

It always reminded me of if a ruger lcp and a Glock 42 had a baby

[@gunnerview6578]

Best channel for the coolest firearms along with TFB...

[@amandamyers5169]

Great video. This is really a cool early subcompact pistol. An I bet that is it made of good quality because it is Smith Wesson made originally. Very cool story behind this Pistol.

[@1978garfield]

I wish S&W would make DA/SA autos out of metal again. Not everyone wants a Faux Glock.

[@rdubby1102]

Profession: Sneaky Person

[@stfram]

Just to note, the two pistols in this vid are both set up for right-handers, there's a relief cut on the trigger guard to allow the trigger finger to rest against the guard. You could also order the pistol with a left-hand/trigger finger relief cut.

[@iamtorcman]

007 uses an ASP in at least one of the John Gardner written James Bond novels.

[@Ryan-lz8zm]

Role of Honor 👍🏻

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@Ryan-lz8zm Everything from Role of Honour until his last: Cold. Mike Grell's late-'80s 007 graphic novels also used the ASP.

[@luisrosique]

I see guns as tools, and manufacturers / gunsmiths as people that want to build the best hammer so we can nail things with the least blows. I still like those 70's to early 90's S&W's. It would be really nice if ASPs could be mass produced now that single stack 9mm's seem to be coming back

[@corktail7900]

this gun is satisfying

[@Psiberzerker]

If Paris Theodore was Q, then Mitch WerBel was like Oddjob.

[@mr420quickscops2]

Sterling Archer *always* remembers how many rounds were fired in a firefight

[@marvindebot3264]

Pretty sure he's used an ASP as well, just can't recall which series/episode.

[@frailty7280]

fun fact: Paris Theodore's son is musician and composed the soundtrack for non other than Alvin and the Chipmunks edit: 2 years later and i just looked it up again i cant believe i wasnt lying, Peep Ali "Dee" Theodore

[@about47t-rexes12]

Black Ops anyone?

[@foxrine]

Sneaky pistol? I went brrrr with this gun at the bar in Cuba

[@rustybooty8978]

What does ASP stand for?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

+Rusty Shackleford A Sneaky Pistol.

[@rustybooty8978]

+Forgotten Weapons I know but is it an acronym?

[@stevenboelke6661]

+Rusty Shackleford He said in the video!

[@rustybooty8978]

+Steven Boelke He might have ,but I did not watch it to the end.

[@weedleaf4873]

7:00

[@jayque300]

Those sights are pretty awesome! I expect they aren't very effective outside 10 yards but I would love to have that thing! Who sells guns in false books anymore 😂😂

[@quironmiranda2591]

Funny I just now remembered that time Alex Mason killed Castro’s body double with the ASP in Call of Duty Black Ops. Man the fact this gun was made in the 60s really show the attention to detail the developers put in that game

[@larrythompson8630]

My 2nd carry gun was a S&W 39-2. Competed, carried it. Came within ounces of using it. Then it started doubling. Timer caught rapid double taps. As multiple Officers, couple .gov involved it was “suggested” I get it fixed. Must admit the thought of 2 rd burst with 8+1 sounded good back then. It never did 3 (or more)

[@w6krg]

(Apologies if I duplicate a previous comment....) Since we're all quarantined, I've been binge watching your previous episodes. S&W liked this idea and ran with it producing the S&W model 3913, single stack 9mm 8 round mag. Still have mine from the '90s and it's the most accurate 9mm I own. The only problem with the S&W autos of this time is that due to the rather high bore axis they are susceptible to return to battery issues due to "Limp Wristing."

[@normfishler184]

A friend of mine had one back in the 70s from Mr. Theodor's shop. It didn't work right and was plagued with feeding issues. My friend got Mr. Theodor on the phone and was told, "That's impossible! I worked those guns over to where they'd feed empty cases." My friend took a moment to try a magazine full of empty cases, and just as advertised, the empties did feed. Too bad he explained to Mr. Theodor that they would not feed live ammo. The gun went back and the feeding issues were resolved.

[@bobmar9239]

A business having financial troubles in the late 70s? That was everybody.

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

Imagine pulling out one of these pistols in the 70s and saying: *"I'd like to Asp you a question"*

[@duelist1954]

I remember reading about these in the gun magazines back in the early 1970s.

[@jungleno.]

I wish someone would buy the rights to the Star Firestar and start producing them again. Excellent handguns. Beats the overpriced Kimber by a mile.

[@alvaromorap9364]

Watching this videos 7 years after it was uploaded, and it's really interesting that there is a 1970's gun with that kind of sights, today there is a pocket 9mm pistol with a similar sight system. That's the Sig Sauer P 365 SAS.

[@HillbillyHades]

Not a single Call Of Duty comment here. Good.

[@FromRussia_With_Love]

Does ASP stand for anything? Because I know an asp is a kind of snake, but the fact that it's in all capitals makes it look like an acronym. Plus, the manufacturer of the gun was Armament Systems and Procedures, which spells out A.S.P.

[@christianhoffmann8607]

And in the darkened underpass/ I thought, oh god, my chance has come at last/ but then a strange fear gripped me and I just couldnt ASP

[@bdm1000]

I wonder if these sights directly inspired the ones found on some Caracal pistols.

[@lawrence3242]

I can understand you don’t have control over the advertisement. I do like your show. I Drool every time you present a broom hand Mauser.

[@justinreyez5561]

with 7 rounds you better be hitting your target

[@blave549]

GREAT video. This is a really neat historical item, for sure. Thanks for the effort you put into this production.

[@skygrasper_47]

The principle behind the gutter sights remind me of the "instinctive shooting" technique that the SAS train for. You don't need to be super accurate at close range, you just need to land shots effectively. Just bring the gun up, push it forward, then fire.

[@codemiesterbeats]

I actually think the sight is a neat idea, I dont know how practical but I would be curious to see one machined into the slide the entire length.