Stainless Detonics, MC, .45 1911 Combat Master - any owners here?

[JJEH]

I found a Stainless Detonics, MC, .45 1911 Combat Master listed at GB and I'm curious if anyone knows something about it.

Any owners/shooters here? Any good/bad?

I appreciate your help guys

 

[s&wchad]

They were "all the rage" back in the 70's. I wanted one, but they were ridiculously expensive. Flash forward to 1998 and I spotted one in a pawn shop at a price I couldn't refuse. Patience is a virtue!

Mine is hard chromed, not stainless... it may be Armoloy. It's whippy because of the small grip and had a tendency for the slide stop to jump and lock the slide back under recoil. I had the rear surface dimpled to engage the plunger and it's worked fine ever since. Some of the real early ones were cut and welded (slide/barrel) and I'd pass on shooting those, but I believe the stainless guns (CR prefix) are well beyond that.

It's a neat little piece of firearms history and a bit scarce with only about 24,000 produced.

 

[inspcalahan]

I've got one that's been NP3'd by Robar, to help against sweat/rust/etc. It's a heavy little beast, but accurate, reliable and gets the job done. I like it mostly as a part of firearms history I guess - are there better, similar sized, reliable and effective guns out there that weigh less...yes.

 

[Herknav]

It looks to be a WA gun, probably a Mk V.

I'd give it a whirl. Just know that you're getting a 1911 that does NOT have a grip safety. Mags (made by Metalform) are available through either Metalform or the Detonics website. Recoil springs are available through Detonics.

 

[JJEH]

Thanks fellas. They sure look nice...

 

[swampersand]

I stumbled across one a few years ago and was very happy to add it to the inventory. Mine is a Mark VI, stainless with a CR serial number prefix. I remember when they first came out and no one I knew could afford one and apparently that problem affected a lot of people and the Washington company went under. The claim to fame as I recall was that it was the first stainless 1911 form 45 in SS. They pioneered the no barrel bushing design and they overcame the galling and binding that had plagued those who wanted to manufacture an all stainless 45.

About the same time as I found this one I found a counversion kit for a 1911 to 451 Detonics Magnum which was a wildcat cartridge that Detonics tried to get going.

As I recall, the design endures and someone is manufacturing an updated version at a pretty hefty (again) price.

 

[OzarkRecluse]

Jerry Ahern, who recently passed away, sold a lot of Detonics by including them in his books. Good quality but they were hard to buy at the time because the company was so small. I'd buy it.

 

[JJEH]

Thank you very much for the very interesting comments.
I appreciate you guys