Detonics pistols just Detonics pistols

[fredseviltwin]

Here I will share all I know. I am always looking for more knowledge.
Just Detonics.
Here is a link to the Col Gideon Detonics collection.
http://detonicscollector.com/cm1/index.html

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[fredseviltwin]

I had always wondered where the name Detonics came from. I knew the precursor to the firearms buisness was an explosives manufacturer. I found this book I believe on eBay. Long before I read the information below.
"Starting with the name itself......the word Detonics was coined by Swedish explosive specialists Carl Hugo Johansson and Per Anders Persson to describe the physics of detonating high explosives and their mechanical effects (Johansson & Persson, 1970). This was to separate the physical action of detonation, from the physics involved. Combining the word "Detonate" with "Physics" they came up with "Detonics".
I forgot where I copied this from.

 

[orygun]

When I learned about Detonics, I was really excited. But they were out of my price range and the company shortly folded.
Still haven't seen one in person.

 

[fredseviltwin]

I had always wondered where the name Detonics came from. I knew the precursor to the firearms buisness was an explosives manufacturer. I found this book I believe on eBay. Long before I read the information below.
"Starting with the name itself......the word Detonics was coined by Swedish explosive specialists Carl Hugo Johansson and Per Anders Persson to describe the physics of detonating high explosives and their mechanical effects (Johansson & Persson, 1970). This was to separate the physical action of detonation, from the physics involved. Combining the word "Detonate" with "Physics" they came up with "Detonics".
I forgot where I copied this from.

View attachment 2283883

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How did this word end up on a 1911 pistol you ask? Well the original Detonics company and the men who designed the pistol were former employees of a company called Explosives Corporation of America (EXCOA). So being in the business of explosives, they knew something about the work of the two Swedish specialists. As a side note (if you didn't know) the Swedish have a large body of work in the explosives field, it was a Swede, by the name of Alfred Nobel, who invented Dynamite.

Explosives Corporation of America had an office and manufacturing plant in Issaquah, WA.

 

[fredseviltwin]

When I learned about Detonics, I was really excited. But they were out of my price range and the company shortly folded.
Still haven't seen one in person.

Yea they are out there. Most of my so called collection were from GB. The last was a face to face, at Pintos in Renton,WA. I spotted it in the last issue. Washington Arms Collector monthly newsletter.
The ATF chose to require the company to add a prefix letter to the serial number.
The first a capital i XXXXThe next was a DXXXX
At 10,000 began the CR with the stainless steel Combat Masters.
At C20,000 began the last of the carbon steel pistols.
Many of the pistols I have seen over the years has had some form of customization. This all happened in late 70's early 80's.
My first year pistol (1976-77) was hard chromed. It was a fn mess.
My "I" prefix was nickel plated with stippled front strap. I have it on good authority definitely, not from the factory.
I even have a stainless 9mm CM.
I am lusting after a C20,xxx.

 

[fredseviltwin]

My work in building my own CM pistol.
More than a decade has passed since I decided to build my own 1911pistol. Back then the nanny state had yet to legislate against the historical practice of legal firearms building.
MSR's check, AKM's sure why not. 1911's? Now that is a real challenge. I knew this would require real study.
I bought several books. I bought AGI 1911 course. There is a great deal of information to go through.
When I found 80% frames for a good price, I brought in.
Back then the issue of serializing had not come up. I found a person that offered that service. Now of course the problem is government overreach.i sent off my paperweights to be properly engraved.

 

[fredseviltwin]

Knowledge is only one part of the journey for me.
TOOLS, tools and more tools.
I did an accounting of the tools I have purchased over the decade… actually more than a decade now. Over $5,000 dollars invested.
For this Detonics project, I bought an early 4 number pistol. You ask why? I needed to confirm how those early ones were constructed.
I wrote about the welded frame on one forum. I was flamed and insulted.
I can confirm after purchasing one of the early pistols. Yes the early CM's were cut and welded frames, slides and barrels.
I

 

[fredseviltwin]

I look back on it now and likely would not recommend this course of action.
Some of the tooling was to complete the 80% frames.
I purchased a pair of "Aluma Grips" to fit the Combat Naster. I bought these to use as a weld jig for the frame orher tools to hold the frame also copper filler plate for welding.

 

[fredseviltwin]

I took a long time to get this build complete enough to be able to test it at the range.
Over the years iowned several other Detonics CM pistols. My first was in 1981 or so. If I remember correctly it was a I prefix pistol. The range I used to go to was between Kirkland and Redmond, on Rose hill. One day I showed up and a gunsmith from Detonics was there. He noticed I was having issues. He asked if I wanted to have him look at it. I was grateful because I was having every issue possible problem. Fail to feed fail to eject stove piping. I'm sure there was other issues. It was fourty. something years ago. He did fix it.

 

[BluMtn]

My dream gun was to get a 451 Detonics, but they were extremely hard to get and by the time I was ready I could not find one and kind of lost interest.

 

[fredseviltwin]

I felt the same way, was able to get 101pieces of NOS brass. Probably won't re chamber my Schuman gain twist barrel to us it in my 5" slide Detonics home build

 

[fredseviltwin]

As I understand it the longer case prevents chambering 451 in 45ACP barrels. I think there is a bit more to it than the unsupported back of the original Browning designed feed ramp. The Clark Parra or Wilson-Nowlin ramped barrels. Here is a article on Bigger Hammer

.451 D Mag VS .45 Super