Detonics Combat Master

[OLDSTER]

Any one else here own one of these. Great compact ( the first ) .45acp. These are from the original Seattle factory. Blued model is from 1981; stainless from 1985. Very high quality and innovative features.

 

[Mainsail]

I feel like we just did this.

 

[dsf]

I've had a Combat Master since about 1979, bought it when I turned 18 and used it on my 1st MA LTC "for all lawful purposes"



I bought a MkVI a few years back, it resides in its original box out of state in my retirement home.

Last year I found a 1911 similar to the Detonics. It/s on a Caspian frame and slide, has a 3" bbl like many small 1911s, but unlike those it uses the grip frame height of the Detonics. It also has a functioning grip safety.



I waiting for a manufacturer to come out with an alloy framed "Detonics" - that would be a great carry gun.

 

[s&wchad]

I've got an early Seattle gun that a previous owner had hard chromed. It was in a pawn shop and they made me an offer I couldn't refuse!

 

[6string]

Most people don't know that Detonics had planned on introducing a modern break-top revolver. It was designed to visually resemble a bulkier version of the classic Webley. But, it was to be chambered in 357 mag, 41 mag, 44 mag, and 45 Colt.
And, like target versions of the Webley, it could be had with a single shot barrel that would replace the barrel/cylinder assembly.

That would've been AWESOME!!!!

 

[offrdmania]

They were great little guns. Those early Bellevue/Seattle models used off the shelf Colt parts as well as modified Colt parts. A lot of the stainless parts came from Essex since they were the only ones at the time producing parts in stainless. Unfortunately, the company didnt last long enough to see real growth. A few attempts in the 90s were made to revitalize the company but it just never took off again. The models offered out of Arizona in the 1990s revitalization of the company werent of the same quality as those early models.
Theres a story out there somewhere that I remember reading about the top break revolver and their original prototype. I dont remember the story in detail but when the prototype was being machined, it slipped out of the jig and a bunch of material was machined off that wasnt supposed to be. Witnesses said that they saw grown men cry because the prototype was nearly finished when this happened.
Under the barrel was a tube with a threaded cap where a dense weight plug could be added to help reduce muzzle climb. Supposedly, they were going to offer weights in different densities.

 

[Lonestar57]

Yep, great little guns. Way ahead of their time. I've got a MKVI but I also have this MKVII, known as the CIA model. It's sightless and Mag-Na-Ported.

 

[RM Vivas]

Still waiting for the John Thomas Rourke Limited Edition Model....

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[Krogen]

That's an interesting one, 6string! Later this morning I'm meeting up with a buddy who was a gunsmith at Detonics. I'll pick his brain to see if he has any "gems of wisdom" to offer. He's never mentioned a Detonics revolver. It may be that it hatched after Detonics left Washington.

Regarding OP's Combat Master. I've fired one of my bud's Combat Masters. I lasted all of two rounds. It's a snappy little beast with 230 gr FMJs. First round: "I can't believe it hurts that bad!" Second round: "I believe it!!" It was nasty despite the steel frame. It hurt all the way through my wrist, up my forearm to my shoulder. Ooof! I'd think an aluminum frame as suggested above would be unusable - at least for this shooter.

 

[F224]

I've got one as part of my brothers collection. No box/papers but we do have a few original magazines for it. Not bad to shoot with standard pressure 185gr HP's.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I bought the MkVII as a dealer from a distributor in mid 80's. It was made in 1983. It's a 9mm. Has all the goodies that came with it, even the little vile of lube.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[Krogen]

That's an interesting one, 6string! Later this morning I'm meeting up with a buddy who was a gunsmith at Detonics. I'll pick his brain to see if he has any "gems of wisdom" to offer. He's never mentioned a Detonics revolver. It may be that it hatched after Detonics left Washington.

Quoting myself . . . . Is that tacky or what?

I talked with my pal this morning. He had the revolver in his hands at Detonics. It was a one-off prototype. The revolver prototype and a 9mm semi-auto prototype were sent with a sales rep to a show. He doesn't recall if it was the Shot Show or somewhere else. Both pistols were "mysteriously" stolen at the airport, never to be seen again. Probably in a collection somewhere or at the bottom of the bay.

 

[Golddollar]

Quoting myself . . . . Is that tacky or what?

Not if it helps everybody understand the context.