Y'all were making big money back then! I started in 1976 as a jail deputy at $275 every two weeks-before taxes.
Were you law enforcement in the 70’s-80’s? What did you carry?
- Thread starter usmcsgt
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Y'all were making big money back then! I started in 1976 as a jail deputy at $275 every two weeks-before taxes.
Reloader Fred
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My reasoning for always carrying a 6" was several things. First, I was 6'1", with large hands, so the 6" barrel just balanced well for me. I worked a Sheriff's Office in Central California that covers 8,026 sq. miles, so there's lots of open space. The average distance from the driver's side of a car, to the front door of most residences was close to 50 yards, and even farther. I knew what I could do with a 6" revolver with the longer sight radius, so I felt really comfortable carrying one. When I was carrying my Model 57 for most of my career, I never felt under gunned. There are several funny stories about explaining to bad guys what a .41 was, and how the gangbangers would sidle away when they found out what was in my holster. It seemed they always wanted to know for some reason....
Hope this helps.
Fred
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usmcsgt
Member
That could be a whole new thread "the myths criminals spread about cops and their guns". If you were in a small department/county with say 25 sworn officers is was very common for the crooks to know who all the cops were, their backgrounds (he was a marine don't screw with him) and what they carried - guy carries a 6 inch 44 mag fully house loads.
Did you ever tell them it would shoot through schools?
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Reloader Fred
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No, but I told them it made the .357 Magnum seem like a pipsqueak. I once told a burglar that if he made any move I didn't tell him to make I'd put a .41 caliber hole all the way through him. At the booking desk, he asked what a .41 was? He was more concerned with that than he was for being booked for a felony.
Fred
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In the Secret Service, we carried what we were issued with very few exceptions.
The standard issue Colt 4" Official Police .38 Special was replaced in 1965 with a Model 15 S&W 4", also in .38 Special. In 1968, we went to a Model 19 with a 4" barrel and that was replaced around 1970 with a Model 19-3 2 1/2". The Model 19's did not hold up well to the Super Vel ammunition we were using during our quarterly (and sometimes monthly) qualifications so we eventually switched to a +P+ semi-jacketed .38 Special which provided excellent performance out of the 2 1/2" barrel. In the early 1990's, the revolvers were replaced with Sig Sauer 228's in 9mm. I did not like the Sig double/single action as well as the decocking operation so I kept my revolver until I retired.
The standard issue Colt 4" Official Police .38 Special was replaced in 1965 with a Model 15 S&W 4", also in .38 Special. In 1968, we went to a Model 19 with a 4" barrel and that was replaced around 1970 with a Model 19-3 2 1/2". The Model 19's did not hold up well to the Super Vel ammunition we were using during our quarterly (and sometimes monthly) qualifications so we eventually switched to a +P+ semi-jacketed .38 Special which provided excellent performance out of the 2 1/2" barrel. In the early 1990's, the revolvers were replaced with Sig Sauer 228's in 9mm. I did not like the Sig double/single action as well as the decocking operation so I kept my revolver until I retired.
W.E.G, I too carried a model 10-5 dash, out of the old 2nd precinct, in DC.
I don't recognize the city these days.
I started in law enforcement in 1973, got my first Chief's job in Iowa in 1976, making $10,500 per year. I retired in 2019 with 46 years and 43 years as a Chief in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas. I was 18 when I started, and could carry a handgun, but couldn't buy one, so my dad had to purchase my first duty gun, a Dan Wesson Model 15-2 in .357 with 4" and 6" barrels. Loved that revolver. I got into IPSC shooting, and in 1977, because I didn't have the money to keep it, I traded the Dan Wesson for a Colt Gold Cup .45 that I sent to California where it spent 6 months with gunsmith Chuck Ries getting modified. Carried that on duty for years, with a Detonics .45 in an ankle holster for backup. After 130,000 plus rounds on the Gold Cup, it developed a small crack in the frame so I had Les Baer build me a custom .45 Premier II Super-Tac with lots of features, and I carried that until I retired. I still have the Chuck Ries, love it, and still shoot it once in a while, even with the crack. Chuck did great triggers. I have and love the Les Baer as well, great gun. A number of years ago, I missed my Dan Wesson, so I purchased a full Pistol Pack 2-4-6-8. Dan Wesson's had a reputation for accuracy. The Pistol Pack was so nice, and original, that I didn't want to shoot it, so I bought another Dan Wesson 6" that was beautiful, but I could shoot it, and still do. Carried a variety of 9mm, .40's, and a small .45 for off-duty or when in plain clothes, but always go back to my Les Baer .45's as my favorite and go to. Still have the Satin Nickel Detonics too.
As a post script, I worked in a rural county in Iowa in my first Chief's job. We had a deputy, primarily working nights, that carried a S&W Model 29 .44 magnum, 6" barrel. It was hard not to notice it. He later became a writer, and put out several novels about law enforcement in rural Iowa. The books were great, and if you are interested in a good read, look up Donald Harstad. I believe he wrote 7 of them.
As a post script, I worked in a rural county in Iowa in my first Chief's job. We had a deputy, primarily working nights, that carried a S&W Model 29 .44 magnum, 6" barrel. It was hard not to notice it. He later became a writer, and put out several novels about law enforcement in rural Iowa. The books were great, and if you are interested in a good read, look up Donald Harstad. I believe he wrote 7 of them.
wileyjackhammer
Member
Chieftam, what made you choose the Detonics Combat Master ?
Do you have a connection to the Northwest, where Detonics were manufactured?
And finally, is it a mark IV, V, VI or VII and was made in Seattle, Bellevue or Georgia ?
I am pretty familiar with Detonics and their origin.
What interesting accounts here. The chief in our small carried 6in .41 Magnum in 60's. You all are to be commended for what you did to protect and serve.
When I started my career in Dec. '74 I carried a pre 14 Masterpiece that I borrowed from my then Father-in-Law. A couple years later the Dept. issued me a Model 66. First night carrying it I was stuck doing traffic control at a fatal accident. Wasn't raining when I got on scene so I didn't have my raincoat. When it did start raining I wasn't able to get to my unit to retrieve it. Gun got completely soaked, along with the rest of me. Was glad it wasn't the Masterpiece. Carried a 66 until issued a Glock 22 just before retiring.
KAC
KAC
My Detonics is Satin Nickel from the factory, which should make it a Mark II, with a stamp "Detonics Assocs. Seattle, WA. I69XX" on the frame and only DETONICS 45 on the slide. I believe that research I did many many years ago showed that the gun was built on December 24, 1978. I might be wrong, as I am getting old! I don't believe that they made many Satin Nickel models. I had no connection to the NW, I just wanted a small .45 for back-up and off-duty to go along with my custom Gold Cup duty gun. I believe I heard about Detonics either from Col. Cooper at an IPSC National or from Ray Chapman.
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I was a police officer in Oklahoma starting in 1984. We were issued the S&W Mod 65 4". I liked it so well that I purchased one for myself and carried that one for a few years. I later purchased a S&W Mod 686 4" and carried that for several years. We started with loops on our belts for the extra rounds, and later were able to purchase speed loaders to carry on duty. My backup was always a S&W Mod 60. When our department finally went to semi-automatics in the late 80s, we could carry one of the approved models (don't remember which ones) as long as we purchased it ourselves. I went to the local "law enforcement" store and spoke with the sales clerk. He showed me several options. I liked the S&W 4506, but it did not fit my small hand well. I ended up purchasing the Glock 17 Gen 2. I carried it until I retired. I still have all four, along with a "few" more. I would have to say, out of all my firearms, the 686 is still my favorite.
My husband was an officer in CA from 1973 until 2007. His entire career, he only carried a S&W Mod 15-3 4" .38 special and always qualified expert using strip loaders. He was never a gun nut, but when he retired, I made him purchase his revolver. Unfortunately, he passed away, but I still have it.
My husband was an officer in CA from 1973 until 2007. His entire career, he only carried a S&W Mod 15-3 4" .38 special and always qualified expert using strip loaders. He was never a gun nut, but when he retired, I made him purchase his revolver. Unfortunately, he passed away, but I still have it.
I had a Detonics Combat Master for a short period of time around 1978 or 1979. Mine was the blued version.
I carried it off duty for a bit, cocked and locked in a "Yaqui" belt slide holster.
I found I could shoot better with a Colt Combat Commander and it wasn't much bigger, so The Detonics got sold off. It is one of many guns I regret selling!
I started in May, 1984 with a small department and was issued an old, well-used taper barrel Model 10 and PMC 158gr RNL ammunition. I never carried it, purchasing a Model 66 and R-P 158 gr SWCHP +P ammo instead.
Next was a larger department where you provided your own service weapon. I carried a personally owned Model 19 and later a Model 586. Issued ammunition was 38 +P but Magnums were authorized. I carried 357 Magnum Winchester 145 gr Silvertips.
My last job, the one I retired from, was with a large department. They issued the Model 67 with R-P 125 SJHP +P and Safariland Comp II speed loaders. I never carried it, instead purchasing a 4 inch Model 629. Revolvers chambered in 44 Magnum were authorized but 44 Special ammunition was required. I replaced the Target hammer and trigger with a Service hammer and trigger (meant for use in a 624) and carried the issued 44 Special Federal 200 SWCHP.
About three years later we transitioned to Third Gen S&W 9mms and eight years after that to the Glock 22 which was the service weapon I carried until retirement.
Next was a larger department where you provided your own service weapon. I carried a personally owned Model 19 and later a Model 586. Issued ammunition was 38 +P but Magnums were authorized. I carried 357 Magnum Winchester 145 gr Silvertips.
My last job, the one I retired from, was with a large department. They issued the Model 67 with R-P 125 SJHP +P and Safariland Comp II speed loaders. I never carried it, instead purchasing a 4 inch Model 629. Revolvers chambered in 44 Magnum were authorized but 44 Special ammunition was required. I replaced the Target hammer and trigger with a Service hammer and trigger (meant for use in a 624) and carried the issued 44 Special Federal 200 SWCHP.
About three years later we transitioned to Third Gen S&W 9mms and eight years after that to the Glock 22 which was the service weapon I carried until retirement.
Rock185
US Veteran
I started in '73 at $773.00 a month, before taxes. My wife started a couple years later for big bucks; $848.00 a month....
wileyjackhammer
Member
My friend was Richard Niemer, chief pistolsmith/quality control at Detonics and he built most of my Detonics for me. I met him in the late 70's or early 80's and we became fast friends, shot IPSC matches/COPS Matches and I used him as an Instructor at our WSLEFIA seminars...
In 2011 he did a class for us, 100th Anniversary John Browning's 1911 Pistol.
He would never take money for instructing at police seminars, just room & board for multi-day events. When he died, we made commemorative T-Shirts with his photo, birth/death dates and
"BEST DAMN PISTOLSMITH IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH" on them.
Niemer pistols are cherished in the NW.
Seattle means you do have an early pistol.
They next moved to a huge building in Bellevue, in which the Detonics owner had several other "Think Tank" businesses. We saw most of them on our way up to Detonics.
I first learned of Detonics when a Seattle Captain brought a guy to one of our COPS Matches who had Detonics pistol #007. It was a Combat Master size pistol and I got to shoot it...this caused me to research them and eventually order a Scoremaster, then Servicemaster (w/adj sights), then Combat Masters and yes I did buy a Pocket 9, against Richard;s advice.
OP
usmcsgt
Member
That's a great story.
wileyjackhammer
Member
Richard's daughter & my Granddaughter were about the same age and we would take them and another friend on Steam Train rides, especially during the Christmas Season.
That friend & I helped him during his divorce. His daughter met the world to him and all his extra cash from building guns for several of us went to her education and needs.
We held a fundraiser for her after Richard died. She went on to graduate from UofW (University of Wash) is now married with children.
Richard worked at Olympic Arms after Detonics closed.
Richard had clients from all over the world.
We were all lucky to know him. We all miss him.
Detonics was later purchased by a couple of different owners at different times.. As far as I know, they no longer exist as a working company.
I will check some of my serial numbers....they would be on 1980-90 serial number guns. I do not remember the date Detonics closed it's doors.
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