Seeing a picture of a Detonics 1911 in the thread about a 460 Rowland in a Glock got me to reminising....

The concept of the Detonics, was to allow someone to carry a 1911, NOT cocked and locked, but allow him to draw the pistol and thumb cock the hammer, very easily and ergonomically.

That is why the rear sight is so foward, and there is a long flat space on the slide in front of the hammer.

Back in the day, there was a rumor, that the Detonics was designed for a "certain" Agency, to replace a certain 9mm [the ASP] with a gun with more "thump".

Being a person that liked "cocked and locked", I never owned a Detonics, but I did train with one a bit, and trained others in its use...

As many are not comfortable with "cocked and locked", it did allow them to have the "thump" of the 45 ACP...

Remember this was before the many DA 45 ACP's were on the market...

Also, those in the particular "Agency" that did not "mind" cocked and locked, could carry the Detonics that way no problem....

All and all it was a well thought out "plan".

Some of the guns did need a little "touch" to make them 100%....

As did most all 1911's back in the day...

In todays world of Citizen Concealed Carry, the Detonics concept is worth a look by those that cannot "do" cocked and locked, ie Condition One... But do not like a DA asemiauto.

I'm fine with cocked & locked IF the holster has a hammer strap with a thumb break. So the thumb break on the holster is about the same move as the thumb cock on the Detonics.

Too many times I've checked the safety on the 1911 to discover it's moved in the holster -- from my shirt, pants or just because I've been actively standing/sitting out on the range.

Hammer strap on the holster seems also to guard the thumb safety.

I have been carrying a 1911 since @1967.

Back in the day we did not have the selection of great holsters we have today.

I used what was commonly called "Mexican Carry"

So named because in Texas, esecially neat the Mexican border where it was hot in the summer, we just stuck or guns inside our pants...

I can say over the years that on a few occasions the thumb safety was knocked off.

However the grip safety was a good backup..

Now a days, with a great holsters like the Milt Sparks, and GWM Davis Summer Specials, as well as others I just do not worry about it...

Truthy is, I never really worried about it even "back in the day"...

Funny stumbling into this thread a year late--

But it brings back a few memories:

I took delivery on a new Detonics in 1977,we received 3 guns in the first order-

the first one we fired had a few teething issues--
ie-the first mag went out full auto.

I remember my mentor " That one goes back!"

We then carefully loaded the other 2 guns with only 2 rounds and fired --then 3 rounds etc--
neither malfunctioned.

We had purchased some ASP's about the same time--we actually had more problems with them and later the Devel's than with the Detonics as a whole.

The ASP...

Haven't thought about that one in a while...

I shot one carried by a "Govt. Employee" a bunch.

It ran 100%.

Once you learned the Guttersnipe sight, it was fast and pretty accurate...

Sill, it was only a 9mm...

But for Foreign Service, I can see the need to use a 9mm...

But, "back in the day" it was small and light.

quote:

hat is why the rear sight is so foward, and there is a long flat space on the slide in front of the hammer.

Thank you for solving that! I did wonder why the otherwise stupidity of electing to shorten further the sight radius on that pistol.

Personally I think it would have sold better with an unsloped rear slide and the rear sight in the "normal" place!

I just carry modren hand guns like the glock ect. Then I don't have to worry about such foolish.

A HK P7 is even better !

Cocking a 1911 is not even close ergonomically .Nothint at all like cocking a revolver.

Well there is no doubt in my mind that a cocked and locked 1911 is the finest combat handgun on the Planet...
There are some conditions, that a double action revolver is a better choice, ie in Contact or Grappling situations...

The Glock system is not a bad choice...

Double action semi autos are a solution to a non exhistant problem...


The H&K P7...
Mechanically, and in concept it is a Great handgun. [I had one in 9mm and shot it a bunch, its only fault is that it was a 9mm]. It was the most accurate 9mm I have ever shot. It is a FINE piece of work. But it is still a 9mm...
They did make them in 40 S&W...

Also remember, the Detonics was designed for non cocked and locked carry, but still gave the advantages of a 1911, once the "shooting started"...
And it could be carried cocked and locked, "regulations be damned"...

I have never seen what the trouble with carrying "cocked and locked is"...

I got my first 1911 in the summer after the 9th grade, and have been carrying cocked and locked ever sense.
I have never had a 1911 go off by it self.

I have been carrying one around most regular since @ 1966.

Detonics had bad word of mouth circulating about them some years back so I left them alone. I don't see how that cocking feature would have any advantage over a positive safety such as a Colt 1911 normally has. Or at least the one I owned.

Mal

I agree. Even as a 9th Grader, till today I have never had any issues/problems with a 1911 cocked and locked...

However I have worked and trained several people, some highly ntrained SWAT personal that just could not "go" cocked and locked...

The "Agency" that was the basis for the Detonics, was not 100% "sold" on cocked and locked...
But they did like the thump of the 45ACP...

So their "workers" had the option, chamber loaded, thumb cock on the draw, or Condition One, cocked and locked...

As a side note, when I was dealing with "them" people, and some other's, I "toted" a Browning Hi Power, "cocked and unlocked" for several months. I did keep the chamber empty, but the gun was "toted" cocked with the safety off.

It was stuck in my belt, drug across the car seat by my finger in the trigger guard. Transported in a gym bag, brief case, etc., ie trying to get the hammer to fall... It never did.

I carried a chambered Glock 17 in my left front pocket on duty for saeveal years, and never had any problems...

A Cocked and Locked 1911, Perfectly safe IMHO...

Back in about 1979, I bought a stainless "Professional Model". I think it was a Mk VI, but I can't recall. Anyway, the damned thing never really worked right. At first, the hammer would often fall to the half cock notch when returning to battery. I sent it back, they fixed it, but I never fully trusted it after that and just kept it for the potential collectors value. Finally traded it with several other guns on a Dakota 76.

Their quality control was a little spotty.

A couple of my buddies had them. Out local 1911 guy tuned them up.
They ran fine after that.