I hate to bring bad news but what you have is a Combat Master that is in low demand. The market is flooded with the Professional model and prices are running about $300. out the door for nice examples. Being the good sport that I am I will be glad to send you $350. to get you out from under that lemmon.

You got a nice piece, hard to come by Combat Master Pro in great condition.

 

$600-$650 for a minty Mk. VI.
The first six "marks" indicated the finish and/or material, and at least theoretically, each could be had in any of four calibers: .45 ACP, .451 Detonics Mag, .38 Super, 9mm. Mk. I was matte blued steel, Mks. II and III were plated, nickel and chrome, but I can never remember which was which. The Mk. IV was a polished blue Professional Model, the Mk. V was matte stainless - and by far the most common Combat Master - and the Mk. VI you are familiar with. Check out the biggerhammer website for more details.

 

$600-$650 for a minty Mk. VI.

That also seems pretty reasonable. Add the original rug, box and papers and it could go for $725.

The MK VI is common enough that many still use them as carry guns. Ditto the MK V.

 

The CIA/MK VII rumor just refuses to die! No matter how many times its gotten shot down by former Detonics employees, on all the forums that I've seen, it's like that only serves to make it a more credible story! Sorry... It just isn't true. (but let's see how long it takes before it pops up again)

The non-standard finish on your magazine, along with the slight tweak to the follower's slide stop ledge, suggests that at one time it (or possibly the whole gun) may have gone through the head gunsmith's hands for some smithing work.

Very nice piece!

 

Thanks for the intel and clarification on these pistols guys!

Maybe I'll try putting it in the classified section before doing the auction thing.

Thanks again and be safe!!

 

Have one I still shoot. Bought it in 1984 as a backup to my main Colt Gov carry. If you shoot it much you will most likely loose the wood grips. Still have mine but put Pachmyers on it. Below is a picture of mine next to a Colt Defender which has different grips on it also.

These pistols were built very well but they had a short grip. I have large hands and my little finger goes under it. Below is a Colt Officers mag in mine.

Or a full length Gov mag.

Both of these mags work great in it by the way and is one reason I liked it as a backup to my Gov. a I could use the Gov. mags in it and they worked great.

Down here in the SW I see them every now and then for around $600. Oddly enough the blue ones in good shape seem to sell for more.

Of course they do not have a grip safety, and oddly enough the one other gun that reminds me of this, which does not have a grip or thumb safety is the Glock 36. Very different pistol, but to me it reminds me of the Detonics when I shoot it.

 

Of course they do not have a grip safety, and oddly enough the one other gun that reminds me of this, which does not have a grip or thumb safety is the Glock 36. Very different pistol, but to me it reminds me of the Detonics when I shoot it.

Really??? I have been shooting 1911's for about 20yrs and any kind of comparison to the Tupperware is beyond me. I have a Sig P229, (no manual or grip safety), and she has never made me think of one of my 1911's. In fact, since I have fallen in love with the .357sig cartridge, my 229 has actually made me forget about my 1911's. There I said it!! Don't kick me off the site, though.

I was aware of the other mags fitting. Just for giggles I threw one of my Wilson Combats in from my Officer's Model and chambered a round into the Detonics, plus checked the slide lock with the empty mag. All good!!

 

I use full-length mags in mine, but discovered that there's enough tolerance in the mag release notches that the mags will bump the ejector. I've made overtravel stops in various forms for dedicated use in the Detonics, but, of course, any mag could be used in an emergency.

 

Not the best pictures in the world but here are my Combat Master MK IV and Service Master wearing Larry Davidsons 'Horned Lizard' grips.

 

VERY sweet grips!!! I like those a lot!

Thanks for sharing.

 

Fastball, it won't be too long before I have been shooting 1911s for 50 years. Many hundreds of them. My observation was that the "feel" of shooting the Glock 36 was similar to a little Detonics. The little 1911s from SA (IMBEL), Kimber, Llama, Para, RIA, and Colt have a different feel when you fire them. I have not shot the little S&W yet, but my guess is it would be closer to a Colt Defender than a Detonics.

 

Detonics Combat Masters have more 'bulk' in their grip frames. If you notice by comparing the two models with the lizard grips in earlier posts, the Combat Master frame is not as 'rounded' or 'relieved' like other 1911 pistols. This, along with the short grip profile and NO grip safety/tang, gives them a different feel and slightly different recoil characteristics. The Combat Master wants to flip up more, when fired, and you get more FELT recoil force distributed onto your thumb webbing. It is certainly not the worst of the .45 stubbys to shoot, but it does take getting used to, regardless of how many 'conventional' 1911s you have owned/shot.

 

The Seattle/Bellevue Detonics did indeed have more bulk in the grip. However, the Georgia guns did not have that bulk. They were much closer to the Gov't grip frame size. Wrap your hands around one of each and you'll see what I mean. If you want more proof, try to wrap a set of Pachmayr rubber Detonics grips around each. Wow, what a difference.

However, in regards to recoil, most of the gunwriters I've read have through the years printed that the Detonics has LESS felt recoil than other small 45's. I would agree with them. I think that's due to the 3 spring system they use.

 

T
However, in regards to recoil, most of the gunwriters I've read have through the years printed that the Detonics has LESS felt recoil than other small 45's. I would agree with them. I think that's due to the 3 spring system they use.

I think it's due to the lightness of the slide, and the relatively heavy overall weight. A lot of what we feel as recoil is the slide slamming into the frame at the end of the recoil stroke, and since the slide isn't very heavy, there's not much muzzle flip. There is plenty of "recoil", but I find my Combat Master shoots very flat, and is easy to get back on target.

 

I wonder when the gun writers wrote. I have shot most of the little .45 ACP lead launchers. The best one I have found is the Colt Defender. If you value comfort, leave the ugly black rubber grips on the Defender by the way as it has an Aluminum alloy frame. Put pretty grips on and it may hurt more.

My only surprise in small .45 ACP lead launchers over the years has been not a 1911 but an AMT 45 Backup. 5 round mag. Very small, but shooting it is not all that bad.

 

I wonder when the gun writers wrote.

You can start with Jeff Cooper's cover page article in 1976 in Gun & Ammo, and then work your way up from there. I believe it was George Nonte who later determined that the speed of the lighter weight slide made for a 30 to 33% faster cycle, which contributed to less felt recoil. (and that was with the original 2 spring system from the mid-70's). Additionally, the Georgia guns got good reviews when it came to recoil. An article in the Blue Press from 2006 credited the 3 spring recoil system. And in a Guns Magazine 2008 Annual, I saw the statement, "Even in long strings of fire, the Combat Master was surprisingly comfortable to shoot..."

There's just a few examples. There were many others throughout the 30 some odd years that the guns have been around.

 

Hey guys, just want to say thanks for the intel in this thread, I've learned a lot and I believe some of this intel helped me finally get her sold.

That's right, sold her locally, (FTF), for my asking price of $700!! :rock:

I needed the funds and other sweet toys in the safe, so she won't really be missed. Heck, I only ever ran 12 rounds thru her in the almost 20 yrs I've owned it.

Thanks again!!