Paris Theodore
Encyclopedia
Paris Theodore was an American
inventor of innovative gun holsters
and state-of-the-art firearm
s and shooting
techniques used by government agents and police departments in the U.S. and abroad, as well as by the fictional James Bond
.
on January 9, 1943, his father, John, was a sculptor and art professor at The Horace Mann School
. His mother, Nenette Charisse was a renowned ballet instructor and member of a Vaudeville
dancing company. Charisse’s second husband was Robert Tucker, a Tony-nominated choreographer, and the couple raised Theodore from early childhood. Following his graduation from The Browning School
on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and while still a teenager, in the early 1960’s, Theodore claimed to have supplemented his work as an abstract painter by serving as an independent contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency
. For several years, he supposedly performed a number of dangerous covert missions for the Agency, many of which, if true, required him to carry and use handguns. His supposed experience sparked an interest in creating special holsters for the concealment of weapons. “I was working for Uncle Sam as a freedom fighter until Communism imploded on itself,” Theodore said.
In 1966, at the age of 23, Theodore founded Seventrees Ltd., a company that designed and produced gun holsters for professionals who had the need to conceal weapons yet access them quickly. Demand among undercover investigators and intelligence agents grew quickly for his innovative designs and Seventrees was soon awarded several contracts from a variety of U.S. agencies. The growing popularity of the holsters inspired many imitations by other manufacturers. Even the company’s slogan “Unseen in the Best Places” was copied by at least one competitor.
By day, Theodore and his team were manufacturing customized gun holsters, while by night, Seventrees’ West 39th Street offices were transformed into a clandestine weapons manufacturing operation, designing special classified concealment weapons for government agencies through a sister company, Armament Systems Procedures Corporation (ASP).
,” based on the Smith & Wesson
Model 39 semi-automatic pistol, featured many innovations: “clear grips”—which enabled the user to see the number of unfired rounds remaining; the “guttersnipe”—a ground-breaking gun sight designed for close range combat; and a “forefinger grip”—today a standard feature on the trigger guard of many modern handguns. Theodore’s ASP was the first successful service caliber handgun in true pocket pistol size. Its arrival inspired a cottage industry of gunsmiths producing unauthorized versions of the weapon. This led a the creation of a factory-produced version of the ASP that soon became one of the most popular pistols for a major gun manufacturer. Shortly thereafter, the entire gun industry began producing compact and sub-compact service caliber handguns.
In 1970, the ASP was featured in The Handgun, by Glaswegian gun expert Geoffrey Boothroyd. Boothroyd, the inspiration for “Q,” the technologically inventive character who outfitted James Bond
with his lifesaving gadgets, would, in turn, later inspire Ian Fleming
’s successor, John Gardner, to replace Bond’s renowned Walther PPK
as 007’s weapon of choice. Beginning with 1984’s Role of Honor, the ASP would go on to be featured in 11 James Bond novels. James Bond expert James McMahon would later write: “If Bond were a gun, he'd be the ASP. Dark, deadly, perfectly suited to his mission.”
As a child, Theodore appeared as “Nibs” in NBC’s 1955 broadcast of Peter Pan
starring Mary Martin
. In 1962, Theodore married Lee Becker, the Tony-nominated dancer and choreographer and founder of The American DanceMachine, who died in 1987. Theodore died November 16, 2006 at St. Luke’s hospital in Manhattan
. The cause of death was complications resulting from a longstanding and debilitating bout with multiple sclerosis
. He is survived by his sons, Ali and Said Theodore and Paris Kain. Kain, a filmmaker, is currently producing a documentary based on the life of his late father.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor of innovative gun holsters
Holster
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use.-Function:...
and state-of-the-art firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s and shooting
Shooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
techniques used by government agents and police departments in the U.S. and abroad, as well as by the fictional James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
.
Early years
Theodore was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on January 9, 1943, his father, John, was a sculptor and art professor at The Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School is an independent college preparatory school in New York City, New York, United States founded in 1887 known for its rigorous course of studies. Horace Mann is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League, educating students from all across the New York tri-state area from...
. His mother, Nenette Charisse was a renowned ballet instructor and member of a Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
dancing company. Charisse’s second husband was Robert Tucker, a Tony-nominated choreographer, and the couple raised Theodore from early childhood. Following his graduation from The Browning School
Browning School
The Browning School is a United States college preparatory school for boys founded in 1888 by John A. Browning. It offers study from Pre-Primary level through Form VI and is ranked as one of the top private schools in New York City...
on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and while still a teenager, in the early 1960’s, Theodore claimed to have supplemented his work as an abstract painter by serving as an independent contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
. For several years, he supposedly performed a number of dangerous covert missions for the Agency, many of which, if true, required him to carry and use handguns. His supposed experience sparked an interest in creating special holsters for the concealment of weapons. “I was working for Uncle Sam as a freedom fighter until Communism imploded on itself,” Theodore said.
In 1966, at the age of 23, Theodore founded Seventrees Ltd., a company that designed and produced gun holsters for professionals who had the need to conceal weapons yet access them quickly. Demand among undercover investigators and intelligence agents grew quickly for his innovative designs and Seventrees was soon awarded several contracts from a variety of U.S. agencies. The growing popularity of the holsters inspired many imitations by other manufacturers. Even the company’s slogan “Unseen in the Best Places” was copied by at least one competitor.
By day, Theodore and his team were manufacturing customized gun holsters, while by night, Seventrees’ West 39th Street offices were transformed into a clandestine weapons manufacturing operation, designing special classified concealment weapons for government agencies through a sister company, Armament Systems Procedures Corporation (ASP).
Invention of the ASP
One of ASP’s first products was a Theodore-designed handgun bearing the name of the company. The “ASPASP (handgun)
The ASP was a custom made handgun designed and built by Paris Theodore, owner of Seventrees, Ltd. a custom gun leather shop in New York from 1975 to 1987. The ASP was based on the Smith & Wesson Model 39 pistol. The ASP featured clear Lexan grips allowing the shooter to see how much ammunition is...
,” based on the Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
Model 39 semi-automatic pistol, featured many innovations: “clear grips”—which enabled the user to see the number of unfired rounds remaining; the “guttersnipe”—a ground-breaking gun sight designed for close range combat; and a “forefinger grip”—today a standard feature on the trigger guard of many modern handguns. Theodore’s ASP was the first successful service caliber handgun in true pocket pistol size. Its arrival inspired a cottage industry of gunsmiths producing unauthorized versions of the weapon. This led a the creation of a factory-produced version of the ASP that soon became one of the most popular pistols for a major gun manufacturer. Shortly thereafter, the entire gun industry began producing compact and sub-compact service caliber handguns.
In 1970, the ASP was featured in The Handgun, by Glaswegian gun expert Geoffrey Boothroyd. Boothroyd, the inspiration for “Q,” the technologically inventive character who outfitted James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
with his lifesaving gadgets, would, in turn, later inspire Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
’s successor, John Gardner, to replace Bond’s renowned Walther PPK
Walther PPK
The Walther PP series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols.They feature an exposed hammer, a double-action trigger mechanism, a single-column magazine, and a fixed barrel which also acts as the guide rod for the recoil spring...
as 007’s weapon of choice. Beginning with 1984’s Role of Honor, the ASP would go on to be featured in 11 James Bond novels. James Bond expert James McMahon would later write: “If Bond were a gun, he'd be the ASP. Dark, deadly, perfectly suited to his mission.”
The Quell System
In 1980, Theodore formed Techpak, a company created to market a combat handgun shooting technique he had developed called “Quell.” The Quell system included a realistic depiction of close quarter combat, a shooting stance, as well as a target designed to enhance the shooter’s understanding of the Quell Zone, the area, that when struck, caused the instant cessation of movement by a hostile opponent. Quell drew upon Theodore’s real-life experience in close quarter combat and the concept of a "Quell stop" became standard training for many police departments and special agencies throughout the world. Through Quell, he sought to educate weapons professionals about the stark reality of close combat with handguns. “From the movies we have learned to expect that when someone is shot in the arm, he reacts immediately by grabbing it with his free hand, wincing, and maybe uttering an ‘Unh!’ When he is shot in the chest, a spot of blood appears and he is thrown backwards, usually with arms flailing, to land motionless and silent.” Theodore wrote in 1985, “The truth is that no bullet from a sidearm, no matter what the caliber, will bowl a man over.” He described this “knock-down power” as “the figment of the collective imagination of Hollywood screenwriters.”As a child, Theodore appeared as “Nibs” in NBC’s 1955 broadcast of Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
starring Mary Martin
Mary Martin
Mary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
. In 1962, Theodore married Lee Becker, the Tony-nominated dancer and choreographer and founder of The American DanceMachine, who died in 1987. Theodore died November 16, 2006 at St. Luke’s hospital in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The cause of death was complications resulting from a longstanding and debilitating bout with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. He is survived by his sons, Ali and Said Theodore and Paris Kain. Kain, a filmmaker, is currently producing a documentary based on the life of his late father.
External links
- Official Paris Theodore tribute site
- Paris Theodore's obituary in the New York Sun
- James McMahon’s Q Branch (Article discussing James Bond's use of Theodore's ASP)
- Modern Firearms – The ASP