Yesterday I picked found a beautiful little Detonics Combat Master, its in 98% condition, and its a 9mm. Out of the entire run of Detonics guns, only about 300 to 350 of them were chambered in 9mm. It will be a nice addition to my modest collection, and will fit nicely next to my even rarer 38 Super Combat master (about 225 to 250 of those were produced). This gun is virtually new.
Detonics Combat Masters, for those who don't know the history, were very innovative and many features they pioneered 30 years ago are now standard on premium pistols today.
For comparison I've shown this gun with a modern two tone Para Warthog and a fairly early production all blued Combat Master. The Warthog has a 3" barrel, while the Combat Masters had a 3.5" barrel.
The best this is that I commonly find 9mm versions in good condition for about $1500 but I paid well under 1/2 that price for this beauty!
Detonics Combat Masters, for those who don't know the history, were very innovative and many features they pioneered 30 years ago are now standard on premium pistols today.
- Detonics was the first to make a compact 45acp, the Colt Officer model was actually a copy of the Detonics Combat Master.
- Detonics was the first to use a bushingless tapered bull barrel, which is now found on most compact pistols and nearly every target/competition grade pistol.
- Detonics was the first to use a multiple spring recoil system and further they contained it with a solid guide rod. Depending on the model/caliber, there could be 2 or 3 springs on a Detonics guide rod.
- Detonics developed a loaded magazine indicator, which can be seen as a small tab protruding from the bottom of a fully loaded magazine. (this was less than successful and if you 'slammed' a magazine into your gun with the butt of your weak hand you'd often find you had a bloody palm!)
- Detonics moved the rear sight forward and relieved the rear portion of the slide allowing you to fan back the hammer with your weak hand to put the gun into firing condition (in the 1970s/early 80's it was not common to carry a gun 'cocked & locked' so many carried with the hammer down and a round in the chamber, something most now feel is unsafe)
- Detonics, to aid concealability, eliminated the beavertail safety (they actually disabled the grip safety and cut off the beavertail). This makes the gun about 1/2" shorter than guns with extended beavertails, but the shooter must be careful to grasp the gun low or the slide will slice open the web of his hand.
For comparison I've shown this gun with a modern two tone Para Warthog and a fairly early production all blued Combat Master. The Warthog has a 3" barrel, while the Combat Masters had a 3.5" barrel.
The best this is that I commonly find 9mm versions in good condition for about $1500 but I paid well under 1/2 that price for this beauty!
and I just hate safe queens 
I'm a fan of small guns and the price was right so I figured it would be a fun 'range' gun if it was unreliable. It eats up lead SWC reloads, Hydra-Shocks, discount FMJ, even the dirty Wolf brand ammo.
