There I was, minding my own business, when this gun fell into my lap. I try to cruise a local gun shop once a week, knowing that it's the early bird, etc. Anyway, stuffed into a corner in a lower shelf of the glass case below the counter, was this funky looking pistol, a chopped S&W 439.
"Could it be?" I asked myself. A James Bond special? A S&W 9mm ASP conversion? Sho nuff! I'd never even held one in my hand before, and I'm getting old!
The price was ridiculously low, because nobody in the gun shop knew what the gun was. They weren't asking much more than for the beat up Smith 3913 sitting on the shelf next to it. The gun shop had taken it in as part of an estate sale, and had listed it only as a "customized S&W."
Until that moment, I'd never really wanted one. I quietly put it down after handling it, and went home to do some quick research. I called a couple of gun bubbbas I know, trying not to sound too excited. When I told them the asking price, they said to go back right away, not to even negotiate on the price, and buy it before the gun shop learned learned what it was they really had and put it up on the internet. (One guy even wanted to know which gun shop it was in...) So of course I went back and -- I am almost too embarrassed to say -- beat them down another $150.
Yup, I had to shoot the thing, and took it into my backyard range. The "Guttersnipe" sight is interesting. This is not a bullseye match gun, but I did find the sight very quick on an IPSC silhouette at 4-7 yards. I shot it side-by-side with my HK PSP for comparison, and found it more comfortable than the German gun.
The ASP has had its day, I suppose, but the rounded contours of the gun are quite comfortable in the hand. I had to remind myself to actually use the hooked trigger guard "pocket", as it's called, during double taps, as I've gotten away from this over the years. Waddaya know, it actually works to control recoil!
The gun is a hoot, and all of the spook atmosphere that goes with it just adds to the fun. My original idea was to grab the thing and then use it as trade goods for something I wanted even more, (and wasn't it fun making up that list) but it has become so sticky from handling it that I don't think I can let it go. I'm shocked to discover that I have been buying accessories for the darn thing, and have even thought about carrying it! (Don't tell my 1911)!
"Could it be?" I asked myself. A James Bond special? A S&W 9mm ASP conversion? Sho nuff! I'd never even held one in my hand before, and I'm getting old!
The price was ridiculously low, because nobody in the gun shop knew what the gun was. They weren't asking much more than for the beat up Smith 3913 sitting on the shelf next to it. The gun shop had taken it in as part of an estate sale, and had listed it only as a "customized S&W."
Until that moment, I'd never really wanted one. I quietly put it down after handling it, and went home to do some quick research. I called a couple of gun bubbbas I know, trying not to sound too excited. When I told them the asking price, they said to go back right away, not to even negotiate on the price, and buy it before the gun shop learned learned what it was they really had and put it up on the internet. (One guy even wanted to know which gun shop it was in...) So of course I went back and -- I am almost too embarrassed to say -- beat them down another $150.
Yup, I had to shoot the thing, and took it into my backyard range. The "Guttersnipe" sight is interesting. This is not a bullseye match gun, but I did find the sight very quick on an IPSC silhouette at 4-7 yards. I shot it side-by-side with my HK PSP for comparison, and found it more comfortable than the German gun.
The ASP has had its day, I suppose, but the rounded contours of the gun are quite comfortable in the hand. I had to remind myself to actually use the hooked trigger guard "pocket", as it's called, during double taps, as I've gotten away from this over the years. Waddaya know, it actually works to control recoil!
The gun is a hoot, and all of the spook atmosphere that goes with it just adds to the fun. My original idea was to grab the thing and then use it as trade goods for something I wanted even more, (and wasn't it fun making up that list) but it has become so sticky from handling it that I don't think I can let it go. I'm shocked to discover that I have been buying accessories for the darn thing, and have even thought about carrying it! (Don't tell my 1911)!
