Designed in the 1960s by Paris Theodore, abstract artist, holster maker and (self-proclaimed) CIA independent contractor, the ASP takes a basic Smith & Wesson pistol (a Model 439 in this case) and "remanufactures" it into an ideal defensive carry pistol, optimized for long term concealment and rapid deployment. During the process the pistol is shortened, edges rounded and smooth, hammer bobbed, the trigger guard trimmed on the right side and the sights replaced with a one-piece "Guttersnipe" sighting plane. The grips are transparent Lexan with matching cutouts in the magazine to permit assessment of remaining ammunition. Included with the pistol are a pair of extra magazines and a copy of the owners manual. Appearing in Maj. Geoffrey Boothroyd's 1970 book "The Handgun", the ASP was later adopted by fictional legend James Bond; though the films continued using the PPK, the novels of Fleming's successor John Gardner had Bond take up the ASP in 1984. Inlcuded with the pistol is the original factory soft case featuring internal magazine pouches.