The Detonics CombatMaster .45 is handsome with a nicely formed thumb safety that works well. The checkered rosewood grip panels are functional and attractive.

To begin with, my review of the new Detonics 1911 is qualified by the fact that I have not routinely carried or used any of the very good compact 1911s for personal defense for many years. In fact, I have not done so since I last owned an original Detonics back in 1977.

The coned barrel is relieved on its top to allow the barrel room enough for unlocking when firing.

It's not that these guns are not good for the job; it's just that they require more attention for their upkeep than I care to devote to a gun. As I've written in the past, the micro 1911 must have fresh springs, recoil and magazine to ensure that the gun will cycle reliably.

Simply put, when the 1911 platform is decreased in size, there's less margin for error, or, perhaps better put, they are unforgiving of neglect of these two areas. Knowing this, why do I now think I might well wind up owning the subject of this review, the Detonics USA pistol?

I have two reasons. The first is simply nostalgia; I owned and carried an original Detonics off and on from 1976 through 1979. I bought and sold the gun twice to finance another "must-have" gun, like others have done.

SPECIFICATIONS Detonics CombatMaster
MANUFACTURER:	Detonics USA
CALIBERS:	.45 ACP, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .38 Super, 9mm Parabellum
BARREL LENGTH:	3 1/2 inches
OVERALL LENGTH:	7 inches
WEIGHT:	34 ounces
CAPACITY:	6 + 1
HEIGHT:	4 3/4 inches
WIDTH:	1 1/4 inches
GRIPS:	Cocobolo with reptilian surface
FINISH:	Checkered rosewood with logo engraved
SIGHTS:	Low-profile fixed combat
PRICE:	$1,200

The second reason is the Detonics captive tri-coil spring system, which uses three rather than the more common two recoil springs on a full-length guide rod. The latter (two springs) should be changed every 800 to 1,000 rounds. They wear out quickly because they're doing the same work as a full-size single recoil spring but in a much shorter space. According to both Jerry Ahern, Detonics USA president, and Pete Dunn, the company's master gunsmith, the Detonics system is good for 5,000 rounds.

Now, back in '76 I'd have swallowed this whole, since at that time there wasn't the body of experience now existing to indicate otherwise. Then, only a few talented pistolsmiths--Armand Swenson and Austin Behlert being the most notable--were miniaturizing 1911s on a very limited and expensive custom basis. Currently, a dual spring is used in other microcompact 1911s, with some owner's manuals recommending replacing the spring system, as I mentioned earlier, every 800 to 1,000 rounds. My own experience with them strongly supports this admonition.

However, both Jerry and Pete pointed out that by using three rather than two springs, and there being slightly more room in the spring channel (by design) for the system, it allows for extended spring life. I do not doubt either's honesty, having known Jerry for more than two decades and he being an early Detonics fan. And Pete, well, he was the master gunsmith for the first Detonics company, so he should know his gun.

Having said this, I think if I buy this one I'll also get two spare spring systems. I also want to do my best to get this gun in the hands of as many others as possible to get the round-count up. While the Detonics is not unpleasant to shoot, I'm not of a mind to try and shoot 5,000 rounds in a short period of time with it.

The Detonics CombatMaster is 34 ounces of stainless steel with a six-round stainless steel Metalform-made magazine. The slide has a distinctive configuration, with the rear sight repositioned forward about an inch from the usual location. Behind the sight, the rounded slide has been flattened and slopes downward slightly a few degrees.

A spurred hammer is used, and the spur is higher on the hammer body than is traditional. The reason for the slope and the raised hammer spur is to make thumb-cocking easier when carrying the gun with loaded chamber and hammer lowered. This works as intended and is as easy, if not more so, than doing this action with a full-size original design. This also makes lowering the hammer easier as well.