Detonics Combat Master

Mainsail · Oct 25, 2020

I was trolling some of the state auctions and found a property room auction happening down in Texas. There were at least 30 guns, all looking pretty bad. The listings all said they were stored in a non climate controlled area. Many of the rifles had some bad surface rust on the barrels, the internals were a complete unknown.

Of the handguns I wanted to bid on, there was a S&W model 19 and 66 among others. There was an old Dan Wesson 15 that could probably be refurbished. There was a FireStar I considered (sold under $100) and something I never heard of, a 10mm MegaStar.

But this was the one I wanted; the Detonics Combat Master from Seattle. It's one of my 'always wanted' guns that I highly desire, but would never pay their current market price to get. So it was always on my list to wait for a good deal or better.

I'm very excited to have won it at $300. It'll probably take a couple weeks to ship it in, but man I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Looks like one magazine, and since it's stainless I'm hoping it will only need a deep cleaning to bring it back. Someone pointed out the hammer doesn't look original, so I've ordered one from Numerich along with a couple magazines.

These were the photos I had to go with, not much in the way of description other than they were used guns stored poorly.

OLDSTER · Oct 25, 2020

Congrats !!! I'm envious

I have only two handguns on my "bucket list"; A DW 4" model 15, and the Detonics Combat Master.

Kid Shileen · Oct 25, 2020

Great find. And as the saying goes “that’ll buff right out”&#55357;&#56833;

Mainsail · Oct 25, 2020

Thanks!

If, after an initial inspection reveals no send-it-out deficiencies, I plan to detail strip it and let it soak in.... something. Better living through chemistry?

Suggestions?

armorer951 · Oct 25, 2020

Probably be better to have it bead blasted. I don't believe the pitting (if there is pitting) and stains will come out by soaking. Silica sand can also be used, as it is more "rounded" or orbital in shape (60 mesh) like the glass beads, rather than having sharp edges like some particles.

Retired W4 · Oct 25, 2020

Nice pistols. Never could figure out why the put the rear sight so far forward while starting out with the short sight radius. I'm sure they had their. reason.

Gene L · Oct 25, 2020

Retired W4 said:
Nice pistols. Never could figure out why the put the rear sight so far forward while starting out with the short sight radius. I'm sure they had their. reason.

Looks like they shaved the rear of the slide, probably to reduce weight, necessitating the forward mounting of the rear sight.

s&wchad · Oct 25, 2020

Nice score! It should clean up just fine.

I believe the hammer is original. There were a number of different hammers used over the years, including the "J", a wedge shape and a Commander style. Your is a later production original Detonics and probably dates to around 1980. The CR serial number prefix indicates stainless steel (C = carbon steel). Jerry Ahern resurrected the brand around 2005, but they didn't survive very long.

Here's a relatively early Combatmaster with the "J" hammer and a hard chrome finish.

Original magazines are not difficult to find and are quite distinct. The floorplate is marked Detonics .45 ACP and has a gap at the back, where an extension on the rear of the follower projects through and acts as a loaded magazine indicator. You'll want to sit down before you start looking for originals online, they can top $200. New Detonics mag's for the Combatmaster are marked differently (New Detonics logo) and should work just fine. I sold several a few years ago for about $50 each.

Retired W4 said:
Nice pistols. Never could figure out why the put the rear sight so far forward while starting out with the short sight radius. I'm sure they had their. reason.

According to the owner's manual, the sight was moved forward and the "top rear of the slide was sloped to allow fast smooth cocking of the hammer". There's no grip safety on these and some people preferred to carry them with the hammer down on a loaded chamber. They are safe to carry cocked and locked, especially if the holster has a retaining strap that goes between the frame and hammer!

Gene L · Oct 25, 2020

A Scotchbrite pad should remove any lingering stains...just make all rubs in the same direction.

wx7b · Oct 25, 2020

Jerry Ahern would be proud!!

ContinentalOp · Oct 25, 2020

s&wchad said:
Jerry Ahern resurrected the brand around 2005, but they didn't survive very long.

wx7b said:
Jerry Ahern would be proud!!

I was trying to remember the author who featured the Detonics in his works. It would've driven me nuts tonight. Thanks!

Qc Pistolero · Oct 25, 2020

Congrats for your new gun!I've always loved the Detonics.One of my friends has one;I made sure he knows I'm first in line to buy it when he will get bored and sell it.
By the way he uses it,something's telling me I'm in for a looooong wait!

s&wchad · Oct 25, 2020

You may already know this, but Don Johnson (Sonny Crockett) carried a Detonics Combatmaster in an ankle holster on the final years of Miami Vice.

I suspect one of his calf muscles was substantially larger than the other!

Mainsail · Oct 25, 2020

s&wchad said:
You may already know this, but Don Johnson (Sonny Crockett) carried a Detonics Combatmaster in an ankle holster on the final years of Miami Vice.

I suspect one of his calf muscles was substantially larger than the other!

The only time he wore it was when it needed to appear in the scene. The rest of the time it was in the property room.

Model52guy · Oct 25, 2020

Great score,,,,,usually priced over 750 at gun shows. I have two of them from years ago. If you shoot it make sure the skin between your thumb and your forefinger is not over the duck bill on the safety. Don’t ask how I know this.

Muley Gil · Oct 25, 2020

A buddy of mine bought one when they came out. I never shot it very well, due in part to the short sight radius.

The story I heard was that some Israeli operatives had input into the slide design. And the rest of the story is the same; designed to be carried hammer down on a loaded chamber.

2sharp2 · Oct 25, 2020

Great pick up. I've had mine for a long time. It was my car travel/edc gun before conceal carry was really a thing. Accurate at self defense ranges. Bought it from my cousin and I grew tired of the finish he had on it so I had it Cerakoted a few years ago, Sarge made some Zebrawood grips for me. Eats Winchester SilverTips like candy. Before and after pics. It is not a pistol for the faint of heart.

Gene L · Oct 25, 2020

wx7b said:
Jerry Ahern would be proud!!

You all probably know this but Jerry Ahern passed away in 2012. Too young.He died in Jefferson, GA, close to where I live, Born in 46 died 2012, I read some of his books, which were very specific on guns and leather,

i

Rock185 · Oct 26, 2020

Many years ago, a coworker bought a new Detonics Combat Master. As a died-in-the-wool Colt guy at the time, I expected the worst from his new pistol. I was wrong. The gun was 100% reliable with whatever ammo we were using that day. And shooting carefully as possible from the bench, was surprisingly accurate at 25 yards.

Enjoy your new Combat Master. Were it mine though, after initial function testing, I would detail strip and bead blast it. If you bead blast it properly, it will come out looking brand new. I have a blast cabinet and have done several of my guns over the years. Brownells 270+ glass beads leave a very bright result, while the Harbor freight #80 glass beads will leave a similar, but slightly more matte finish...

Jerry Ahern's Survivalist series were the first books of that type I can recall reading. Thoroughly enjoyed them at the time.

s&wchad · Oct 26, 2020

Jerry Ahren also offered a line of rough-out leather holster and had a book titled CCW: Carrying Concealed Weapons.

Back when I was actively teaching CPL classes, I offered his book, his IWB and Pocket holsters for a 2” J frame and his ammo wallet to my students.

He was quite a character! I still have some of his leather goods stashed away and they were a good value for the money.

Ahern holsters at 6 O’Clock:

Detonics Combat Master

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