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Unofficial
Detonics
&
New Detonics
Information Site

 

Detonics Model Chart

Name
Defining Feature
Notes
Combat Master MKI
Matte blue
Not usually marked as MKI. Essex frame
Combat Master MkII
Brushed nickel
Essex frame
Combat Master MkIII
Hard chrome
Essex frame
Combat Master MC1 Matte blue slide, matte stainless frame Transitional to Caspian frames
Combat Master MkIV
Polished blue
Caspian stainless frame
Combat Master MkV
Brushed/matte stainless
Two recoil springs. Caspian stainless frame
Combat Master MkVI
Polished stainless slide
Later models had three recoil springs. Caspian stainless frame
Combat Master MkVII
Flattop stainless, with no sights
Rounded edges,additional removal of slide material. Small run of 50 made for CIA which also featured magnaporting. Caspian stainless frame

 

Model names and the Specifications for models other than Combat Master

Model Name
Calibers
Description
Years of Manufacture
Military Combat MC2
.45 acp, 9mm, .38 Super
Dull, non-glare combat finish and fixed sights. Came with a camouflaged pile-lined wallet(rug), and Pachmayr grips.
Discontinued in 1984
O.S. Model
.45 acp
Emergency backup pistol similar to the Combatmaster, 6 shot mag., choice of stain stainless, or all black finish
2 manufactured, 1991 only
Scoremaster
.45 acp, .451Detonics Magnum
Match Pistol with extremely close tolerances, 5 or 6 inch barrel Millett Adjustable Sights, and Grip Safety, 7 or 8 shot magazine, weighed 42 ounces
Compmaster
.45 acp
Similar to the Scoremaster, except it is fully compensated.
1988-1992
Competition Master T.F.
.45 acp
Competition model with dual port compensator, rotational torque compensating vents, patented coned barrel system, hand tuned trigger, and they included all competition modifications.
Discontinued in 1992
Servicemaster
.45 acp
Shortened version of the Scoremasters, with a non-glare combat finish, 4.25 inch barrel, coned barrel system, 8 shot magazine, and interchangeable front and rear adjustable sights. Weighed 39. ounces,
Discontinued in 1986
Servicemaster II
.45 acp
Same as the Servicemaster except offered in a Polished Stainless Steel finish.
Manufactured from 1986-1992
Royal Escort
.45 acp
Action similar to the Combat Master, 3.5 inch barrel, 6 shot magazine, black frame, slide and grips are iridescent purple, hammer and Trigger are 24 Karat Gold Plated.
Less than 25 were manufactured, 1990-92
Midnight Escort
.45 acp
Similar to the Royal escort, except Stainless, with a black slide, and smooth black grips(onyx).
Less than 30 were manufactured. 1990-92
Jade Escort
.45 acp
Similar to the Midnight Escort, except has Stainless Frame, Jade Colored Slide and Real Jade Grips.
Less than 10 were manufactured. 1990-92

Pocket 9 Series

Model Name
Calibers
Description
Years of Manufacture
Pocket 9
9mm
Double action, 3 inch barrel, 6 shot magazine, soft matte sheen finish
1985-1986
Pocket 9LS
9mm
Similar to the Pocket 9, with a 4 inch barrel, again Limited production
1986
Pocket .380
.380acp
Similar to the Pocket 9, 23 ounces
1986
Power 9
9mm
Similar to the pocket 9 except has polished slide sides, and came with 2 magazines.
1985-1986

The Pocket 9 Series were produced from 1985 thru 1986 only and discontinued due to lack of demand. Special thanks to Mick at MRM for supplying the above information.

 

Production Numbers from 1984-1987

Year .380 9mm .45 Total
1984 0 2,742 951 3,693
1985 110 1,546 1,292 2,948
1986 85 218 563 866
1987 4 2 281 287

 

Misc Notes and History

 

The first patents for Detonics Inc. reflect a filing date of June 3, 1976 and were submitted by Patrick Yates, Sidney Woodcock, and Jeffrey Bealls.

Production numbers were 26,000 units between the Detonics and New Detonics Inc. Courtesy Mick@MRM

1045 investors were brought into the company to form the New Detonics corporation, which was relocated to Phoenix, AZ. This effort was spearheaded by Robby Barkum, who is known for his Robar finish. Courtesy Calus

The New Detonics Corporation, ceased operating in the spring of 1992 and all assets were sold at auction in Phoenix, AZ.

At one time an Ex-Detonics employee stole a Detonics imprinting plate and stamped out some fake Detoincs pistols using ODI/Viking frames. Courtesy Tony Rumore

At one time they ran out of Detonics shipping boxes so they took the .451 Conversion kits out of their own boxes and shipped complete pistols in them. The "1" on the boxes was carefully painted out as well as the "Conversion" part. Courtesy Tony Rumore

At one point they made up a pile of 9mm Combatmasters but they did not sell well, so after collecting dust for several years, they yanked the top ends off of them and converted them back to 45's. Courtesy Tony Rumore

A little known movie fact from Terminator II - Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) used a modified Detonics in the scene directly after she emptied her M16 into Miles Dyson's (Joe Morton) house. The gun was a Scoremaster frame with a Combatmaster slide and a comp'd barrel to make it look like a longslide. A former Detonics employee confirmed that the pistol was built years earlier but to everbody's knowledge was never used in a movie until years later when it came out in T2. Courtesy Tony Rumore

Links

Syd's The Sight 1911 Page
Detonics.com

Last Modified on October, 2015
aalbert@biggerhammer.net