By Dan Rauscher
The Detonics Combat Master is a smaller version of the 1911. The slide is shorter and it has a shorter frame. Another difference is the profile of the rear sight. The rear sight is not at the back of the slide, but about an inch and a half forward. Another difference between the Detonics and the 1911 is the lack of a grip safety on the Detonics. Due to the shorter frame, and the fact that the main spring housing is the same length as the 1911s, the space available for a grip safety is reduced. As such, the area where the grip safety should be is simply a part that is mounted flush with the rest of the frame.
Typical 1911-style parts include the frame-mounted safety, the slide catch, and the magazine release. Disassembly of the Detonics is similar to the 1911, and accomplished the same way.
The ARMY Detonics is essentially, a budget version of the Tokyo Marui Detonics. Since I got this one used, I can't say exactly how much it has been used. The previous owner painted the grips an Olive Drab color. The stock Detonics comes with wood-patterned grips, similar to the TM. As far as I know, the original owner did nothing to this replica, aside from painting the grips.
EXTERNAL COMPARISON WITH THE TM: The following series of pictures and paragraphs show the differences between the ARMY and the TM versions. In these pictures, the ARMY version is the one with the olive drab grips, and the TM has a compensator attached to the barrel. This compensator is an aftermarket part, and does not reflect the stock form of the TM. However, this is the only external change I have made, leaving the rest stock. The discoloration on the end of the slide is my very poor attempt to remove the orange paint.
When initially picking up both replicas, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two (aside from the obvious cosmetic differences).
Looking more closely, there are slight differences between the 2 versions. For example, the outer barrel on the TM is shiny silver, but the ARMY is more of a matte silver.
In addition, the trademarks on the slide and frame seem deeper on the TM version. They seem to be engraved, while the trademarks on the ARMY seem to only be scratched into the surface.
The trademarks on are very similar, and only have slight differences. For example, the TM trademarks read "Detonics .45 Tokyo Marui Made in Japan", while the ARMY read "Detonics .45 Army Works Made in China".
SHOOTING IMPRESSIONS: The Detonics shoots rather well. It seems to be on par with all my other GBB replicas. Sadly I do not have a decent range area in my apartment, so I can't do any accuracy testing.
However, aiming on the Detonics is rather rudimentary due to the sights. In true classic 1911 style, the sights are a simple post and notch affair. The sights are unmarked, so it is just lining the black front sight with the black rear sight. The rear sights are not adjustable.
The ARMY Detonics, like the TM has adjustable Hop-up. In order to adjust the hop-up, you must field strip the pistol. This is accomplished in the same way as a standard 1911.
The wheel in the pictures is how you adjust the hop-up, and is located underneath the barrel. To turn the hop up higher, rotate the wheel counterclockwise, and the opposite to turn the hop up down.
Sadly, my chrono is currently acting up, so I'm unable to have chrono readings.
MAGAZINE COMPATIBILITY: Since the ARMY version is a clone of the TM, magazines should be compatible.
I tested the stock magazine, a TM Detonics magazine, a TM 1911 magazine, and a Bell 1911 magazine. All fit, and were fully compatible. The only slight difference was that the Bell 1911 magazine was a very tight fit, requiring a little more force to insert it into the magazine well, and then remove it again.
AFTERMARKET PARTS COMPATIBILITY: Since the ARMY is essentially a clone of the TM, it is compatible with any aftermarket parts for the TM. For example, while tuning this replica, I switched the inner barrel with a precision barrel meant for the TM. It was a drop in fit.
- END ADM
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is In Our Opinion Only - We lay no claim to any of these ideas,
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improve upon what we consider to be useful. ADM
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