Detonics Combat Master MK I Mark 1 .45 ACP 3.5″ Semi-Automatic Pistol
SOLD FOR: $1470
LSB#: 220430LB001
Make: Detonics
Model: Combat Master Mark I
Serial Number: 3176
Year of Manufacture: 1976-1981
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with Detachable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “DETONICS .45”. The right side of the frame is marked “DETONICS ASSOCS. / SEATTLE, WA. / 3176”. The interior of the slide and the barrel are both matched and hand-inscribed “3176”.
Barrel Length: 3 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the slide. The rear is a square notch sight dovetailed into the slide and it also has a set screw.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood panels. There are a few light marks from use and storage, no major defects. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is mostly sharp. The mainspring housing also has a checkered rubber exterior. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Matte Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is some stubborn fouling, mostly in the grooves.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its finish. There are a few rubs and light handling marks, no major defects. There are a few little spots of dark discoloration from previous oxidation on the bright sides of the hammer. There are some light handling marks and standard operational wear. The markings are light but clear and the screwheads are sharp. Overall, this handgun is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. One of the included magazines does not lock the slide back. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a 6-round magazine.
Our Assessment: In Guns & Ammo’s December edition of 1974, Jeff Cooper said, “This remarkable pistol is the smallest, lowest recoil single action .45 caliber semi-automatic in the world. The Detonics .45 is a premium quality professional tool for the serious handgun expert and combat shooter. It is capable of providing the brute force stopping power of the standard-sized .45 in a size no larger than a snub-nosed .38, or “pocket” 9mm auto.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. In a time when compact 1911s could only be had by custom modification of a full-sized 1911, and then only properly done by a handful of gunsmiths for a hefty sum, Detonics delivered a powerful, compact, semi-automatic with the familiar controls and function of the 1911. This example has seen little use and still has the size and power that was so hard to come by in the late ’70s and ’80s. This is a piece of firearms development history and is in Excellent condition, a solid addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!