CommanderBond.net

Now on the CBn main page...

A.S.P.: The Stuff Legends Are Made Of

A look at the handgun of choice from the John Gardner novels

A decent article, I've fired a Beretta Mod 418 in .25 calibre,I own a Walther PPK and a Walther P99 but I doubt I'll ever see a ASP 9mm.

I own two ASP 9mm pistols and I adore them both. I regularly carried first one and then the other (my second was in better shape, so I switched to that one once I acquired it) until my professional and other transport requirements forced me to traverse areas where my existing authorizations did not suffice. It is still my favorite concealed carry pistol (I have also carried the SigSauer P230, SigSauer P225, Glock 17, and Glock 27). Of the others, the only one that came close to being as effective and concealable was the Glock 27, and the Glock's squared slide always dug into me when worn concealed. I was deeply saddened by the ASP's inventor's passing last November.

If you're taking a handgun into combat and its caliber doesn't start with a .4, that's the wrong answer.

Ultimately, I always thought it was rather ridiculous to have a pistol downsized for the sake of "concealability," unless you're looking for something like an ankle gun. If you're wearing the right clothes and you holster the weapon in the right place, it won't bulge out; and ultimately, no matter how small your concealed handgun is, if you get frisked by a competent searcher they're probably going to find it.

That said, in emergency situations any pistol is better than none. I wouldn't trust a .25 with my life, but it would beat throwin' rocks.

You guys are most likely American..?

Residing in America, but not necessarily of American descent or heritage.

My own ASP, WAS a privilaged weapon of choice in my hands and posession.

Designed for CQC (close-quarters-combat) it isn't a long range pistol by any means. As mentioned, most firearm exchanges take place between 3-5 meters, but it is a fine pistol. I miss it.

Universal acceptance of all known 9mm ammo (can even fire .380's - 9mm short - rounds if need be), Teflon coating (assuring a non-snag issue on clothing - even drawn from a pair of snug jeans), the lexicon (see through) grips remind you of what's left in the heat of combat and the sights are (once learned) the most accurate of fixed sights.

Compact, powerful at close range and excellently carried in one of the Ken Nulls rigs. You can't go wrong and bet or trust your life to it.

Generally, I agree, to a point. If you can't hit what you're aiming at with a .45 or .4?, then you're better off with something that you can hit with, whether it's a 9mm, .38 or even a .25.

As for concealment, Yes, you can make the clothes fit the weapon. But in the Bond movies, they don't seem to really try to do that so well. Seems they're always more concerned with how well the clothes look on Mr. Bond.

True enough. But they've managed to make the clothes work for the movies, it seems. The Walther P99 is about 45% larger (give or take) than the PPK, yet the films present it as equally concealable.

Great article.

I found this picture of the Guttersnipe sight, might want to place it in the article to demonstrate it's uniqueness.

True to a point, but a lot of that is 'movie magic'. In many scenes where the viewer would assume the concealed weapon is effectively concealed, in reality it's probably not there at all.

As for making the clothes fit the weapon, that can work to a point. But such clothes can be as much of a tip off to a trained eye as a slightly visible 'print' of the weapon.

In reality, a P99 is a rather difficult weapon to effectively conceal.

Excellent article on a very worthy topic. The ASP is a part of the Bond legacy and deserves attention. Also nice for younger fans just reading Gardner to actually see what this gun looked like. I always liked the see-though grip. Thanks.

Or the actors took training courses with a stage magician. Otherwise, I can't think of a way to conceal a weapon like the P99 under such excellently tailored clothes as the Brioni suits of the last several Bonds. Frankly, it's just ridiculous IMHO. Bond could draw a Katana as well, it wouldn't seem more unlikely.

To carry guns in the class of SIG 225, Beretta 92`s, S&W 639 and the likes concealed, Bond would have to dress more like Jack Bauer. And even then, it would probably be futile. Kiefer Sutherland is roughly my size and built and every time I see him drawing a Beretta 92 from under his jacket, I ask myself why the butt hasn't already poked a hole through his coat? Because I surely know it would have done so, if I had worn it the whole day long.


Apart from that, fantastic article. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Hmmm.... so the reason that Bond is roughly the same age after 40 years of films is because he's immortal? *queue "Princes of the Universe" by Queen*

Seriously, I would like the producers to not cheat it by pretending that