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Unofficial |
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
Last Modified on
October, 2015
aalbert@biggerhammer.net