New "detonics" Build

[Sailormilan2]

Years ago, many years ago, I got an Essex made Detonics style frame from a LGS in Lancaster, CA. Originally I had a Colt Commander 38 Super slide mounted on it, but that slide was in sad shape, with pitting visible underneath the nickle plating.
So, I decided to change it.
I managed to locate a Colt Officers Model slide and barrel at a good price. So, I purchased it and mounted it. I changed out my original homemade short tang "grip plate" that I had made from a Colt Commander grip safety for a long tang factory made grip plate. I decided I didn't want a short Detonics hammer, nor did I want a long Gov't hammer due to hammer bite, so I installed a Commander style round hammer, that had been hollowed. I like the looks of those. Which of course meant I had to modify the long tang for the hammer to work. I may have to do a bit more work, but that can wait till I fire it to see how things go.
I installed a long thumb safety, and located a 6 round Detonics style magazine. Trigger break is a bit heavy at about 6#, but clean. Not sure if I want to go lighter for its use as a self defense gun.
Some fool had tried to install a new bushing, or didn't know how to take the bushing off. The edges had all kinds of nicks. So, I had to bevel it and polish it a bit to get rid of most of them, though it still needs some work. Bushing was so tight in the slide it would not turn, something I have improved a bit but also need to work on more. Years ago when I first got the frame, I made a set of grips out of a spare set of full sized 1911 grips. That is going to get changed to a generic set that I plan on cutting down.
Currently I am waiting for a guide rod to get here. Once it gets here, it is off to the range. My son is already thinking about claiming it, so he can use it at work. He works in a small convenience store in a bad side of town. Then nice thing about this is that he will be able to use standard mags for reloading, even it they stick out the bottom a bit.

With the whole family.

[lemski4]

I remember hearing about the Detonics back in the early 80's, and after seing it, it stood out next to all other 1911's for obvious reasons. I started really looking into the specs, and history of how they came about when I was on a serch for an officer size 1911, and ran across some very good reading along the way. I finally worked a trade for one and have been content with it ever since. One interesting thing I did learn was that they made them in 3 calibers, 45acp, 9mm, and 38 Super, and some how the 9mm pistols bring the highest premioum, I'd have thought the 38 Souper would have been the most valuable to have? Oh well.

 

Nice build by the way, hard not to like a 1911 in my book.

[Sailormilan2]

After getting it up and running, I did some more tinkering with the "Detonics" build. Just trying to get it "right". Function and accuracy are good. I cut down a Wilson drop in Beavertail grip safety I had fubar'd, and inserted that in place of the standard grip "spacer". I had already ground down the frame to get rid of casting marks and contour the frame to the original spacer(which needed it badly), but the work helped it fit well with the BTGS. The original spacer had such sharp edges it cut my hand during shooting, almost like "hammer bite".
Once done with that, I reparked the frame, slide lock, thumb safety, grip screws, and spacer. I used a Black park solution I got off eBay, it matched the slide well.
I've test fired it at about 7 yds, and using Mil Spec hardball reloads it does well. Trigger is a little heavy, but clean, which works for a close range Self Defense gun.
It is still up on the air as to whether or not I keep the BTGS. If I carry it with the hammer down, the wider, deeper design of the safety interferes a bit with my thumb as I cock it. However, I think that since it allows a bit higher grip hold, that will cut down recoil a bit(which is important in a smaller gun like this), as well as spread the recoil out over my hand more, I will keep it.

 

7 rounds mil spec hardball reloads at 10 yds.