1911 Show-N-Tell

[Substance-P]

Here are mine
I'll start with the ponies. The first is my new Colt Defender got it a couple of days ago and haven't taken it out to the range yet. The second one is a Colt Commander that was customized at Gunsite by the Gunsmithy. This is not a production Colt Gunsite but rather one that spent some time in Arizona.

 

[Substance-P]

Next up are the Kimbers. The first one is an SIS. I had it for a little while but it didn’t do it for me so it was traded off. The second one is an Aeigs II (9mm) which is a hoot to shoot, as soft as could be, and I think pretty good looking. It’s the only Kimber I’ve had that has been trouble free and it is the one everyone fights over on our range trips (it’ll make anyone look like a good shot).

 

[Substance-P]

Next up are an Ed Brown Jeff Cooper Commemorative. It came with a copy of one of Cooper’s books. This one is presently a safe queen. Below it is a Dan Wesson Commander Bobbedtail

 

[joker7037]

S&W 1911

 

[melensdad]

2 Detonics Combat Masters.

The new gun is the stainless steel gun made by Detonics USA of Georgia, the blued gun is an old shooter from the original Detonics company in Washington, it is about 25 years old.

Death to Pikachu

 

[Substance-P]

melensdad...I think its safe to say you're a fan of Detonics...

Great pics

 

[melensdad]

melensdad...I think its safe to say you're a fan of Detonics...

Great pics

Don't tell my wife, but I actually have one of the larger collections of original Seattle built Combat Masters in the country

I just think they are nifty little guns, they started the whole pocket pistol trend long before most states allowed concealed carry. They also are one of the only small 1911 guns to ever be considered 100% guns and my experience with them is that they are damn close to 100% guns, most of mine have never had any form of failure. Detonics Combat Masters had many 'firsts' in terms of innovative features, many of those are now fairly common on high end pistols but were revolutionary designs back in the 1970's when these guns were first produced.

And many companies still haven't figured out how to duplicate the reliability of the Combat Master in their small 1911s.

 

[Substance-P]

Don't tell my wife, but I actually have one of the larger collections of original Seattle built Combat Masters in the country

I just think they are nifty little guns, they started the whole pocket pistol trend long before most states allowed concealed carry. They also are one of the only small 1911 guns to ever be considered 100% guns and my experience with them is that they are damn close to 100% guns, most of mine have never had any form of failure. Detonics Combat Masters had many 'firsts' in terms of innovative features, many of those are now fairly common on high end pistols but were revolutionary designs back in the 1970's when these guns were first produced.

And many companies still haven't figured out how to duplicate the reliability of the Combat Master in their small 1911s.

Your secret is safe with us...I don't think you are alone in wanting to keep some of the details of your collection from a significant other

A shop by me has had a Detonics in the used section for awhile and I have wondered about it. I am not sure which one it is (I know it is stainless and smaller than a Commander sized). From what I understand, the company has gone through several changes over the years and there is some variance in the quality of the pieces depending on when they were produced. Any tips for finding a good one, or ones to stay away from based on the history of the company?

 

[melensdad]

Any tips for finding a good one, or ones to stay away from based on the history of the company?

Original company was based in Washington state, those are the guns I collect. Early guns are marked "Seattle" later original guns are marked "Bellevue" I like both of those. Later the company sold/moved to Arizona, they are NEW DETONICS guns. After that it sold/moved to Georgia, those are DEONTICS USA guns.

The very early blued Combat Masters are guns that should NOT be shot, they are collectable but not shooters. The original Combat Masters were made by cutting and welding slides and barrels together and those guns are old and probably should be relegated to display cases. I have one of the very first guns made, I don't think its been shot in 30 years.

Take a look at the barrel of any Combat Master you are considering, if the barrel has a cone on the end of it that is concentric all the way around then that barrel is an earlier barrel. The very earliest were made from Colt barrels that were cut with a cone brazed at the end. Later they had some milled to spec. The best shooters/carry guns have an asymetrical cone, those are the modern barrel guns. You can see the barrel of the Georgia built Detonics USA gun in my last photo. The top of the barrel looks ramped but not the bottom. That is what you want to look for if you are looking at buying a gun to shoot.

The earliest guns were hand fitted, the Arizona and Georgia guns used more modern machine tools and were built to higher tolerances. It is safe to say the early guns are technically not as good as the more modern versions but the more modern guns are more like an assembled gun and the early guns are more like a gunsmith built gun.

I will also say that later model original Washington guns had some very sketchy quality control. Depending on the gunsmith who built it it could be an excellent gun or a piece of crap. I have a piece of crap Washington gun, it is in a rare caliber so I bought it, but the gun is visibly not well fitted.

 

[Substance-P]

Thanks! That is some very helpful information. I am going to stop back by there this week and see what model this gun is.

 

[melensdad]

I've got a new set of fancy grips that I thought I'd show off (and brag about) a bit here. These are African Giraffe Bone, dyed grey/blue, and inset with custom sterling silver medallions. The medallions caused us some problem because of the detail and the depth of the carving caused the molds to blow several times so it took quite a few castings and remeltings before we got a perfect set to inset into the grips.

These are 57th Communication Brigade medallions from the Firefly/Serenity TV/Movie series. This is my personal set fitted on a Detonics Combat Master frame.

 

[Substance-P]

I've got a new set of fancy grips that I thought I'd show off (and brag about) a bit here. These are African Giraffe Bone, dyed grey/blue, and inset with custom sterling silver medallions. The medallions caused us some problem because of the detail and the depth of the carving caused the molds to blow several times so it took quite a few castings and remeltings before we got a perfect set to inset into the grips.

These are 57th Communication Brigade medallions from the Firefly/Serenity TV/Movie series. This is my personal set fitted on a Detonics Combat Master frame.

Very cool. Not only are they unique, but I love the color of the giraffe bone and the medallion really looks good against the stainless frame.

 

[melensdad]

Well it is raining outside so I can't walk out to go shooting, best 2nd option is to go play with guns . . . I dug this one out of the back corner of the safe. Its a hard chromed Detonics Combat Master MK III. The grips are not original, I do have original grips for it, but I don't like them! For that matter I don't like these grips either. I've got a very special set on order, the stone mason has been working on the new grips for the past 2.5 months, hope to have them in a week or so. But until then, this is a prelude look.

 

[GJ1981]

Nice pics everyone...I guess I'll contribute something to this thread

 

[Substance-P]

A beautiful gun for sure. However, the Rotty's paw makes it an even better picture. A Rotty and a 1911 make a heck of a combo for home defense and for fun.

Nice pics everyone...I guess I'll contribute something to this thread

 

[melensdad]

A little bit of 1911 GRIP porn . . .

Slabs of stabilized turquoise on a chromed Combat Master:

Aged and dyed Giraffe Bone, with sterling silver custom cast medallions on a Mag Na Ported Combat Master:

A small group photo of custom grips:

Another group photo, again all custom gripped 45acps:

 

[spartan933]

My new Kimber

So, I finally bought my first 1911 today. Kimber Tactical Pro II, .45 ACP. I went to the Valpo Gun Show and didn't find many Kimbers and not what I was looking for of the ones they did have. I talked to the guy from Midwest Gun Exchange and he said they might have it in the store. As I was only an hour away, I drove over to Mishawaka and they had it. Bought it right there for $1015.43.



I love this gun and bought it for carry purposes and the look of it. I can't wait to shoot this thing next weekend. The guys there were very cool too.

 

[slacker]

Now that's one good looking firearm!

 

[Hoosier8]

spartan993, that looks great! I've got the Pro CDP II and I really like that size and the way it fits my hand. I get a bit more kick out of it since it is a lighter pistol.

I went to the range and practiced with it and then switched to my full size all steel Springfield and aimed and pulled the trigger and nothing happened. I thought there was something wrong. It was just that I had been shooting the Kimber with about a 3.5 lb trigger and moved to the 6-7 lb trigger and didn't pull hard enough. That says something for muscle memory. It also means I need to practice more with my carry then any of the occasional guns.

 

[spartan933]

Thanks guys. After yesterday, my girlfriend wants the Kimber Ultra CDP II. The compact. She likes the finish of the Eclipse more but the weight is obviously an issue for her. I think I am going to buy it for her for Christmas.