I like the idea
The new Detonics Combat Master has an interesting sight set up. The front sight is in a groove on the barrel. And theres a slot in the slide. Like so:
With rifles, people tend to tell you to mount your optics on the barrel if possible for better accuracy. Not sure how much effect it would have on pistol accuracy but it may have some. I spotted the new Detonics in Shooting Illustrated and here’s their blog report with more pics of the Detonics.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:16 am
This has actually become the “hotrod” setup in USPSA limited division, admittedly on longer barrelled guns than the Combat Master. The idea is that if your sight isn’t moving with the slide, you get faster splits inbetween shots because it’s easier to pick up the front sight again.
A good example of a gun set up like this is the STI TruBore.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Very neat. But better still is the moving of the rear sight to the traditional location at the very back of the slide. I never understood why Detonics felt the need to shorten the sight radius by moving the rear sight block so far forward.
Also the abbreviated (or absent?) beavertail strikes me as a snag-point when drawing from concealment with the gun cocked-and-locked (which is how your 1911 should be).
I’m with you, it’s a neat design, but I’m curious on how much more accuracy it’ll wring out of this platform.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:38 am
I’m kind of intrigued by the octagonal barrel, personally, but I think that’s a mostly aesthetic thing.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Just what I always wanted: A non-1911-compatible 1911.
Maybe they could do like Para and change their extractor to a single-source unit, too?
January 12th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Weer’d – Detonics are meant to be carried with the hammer down and cocked with the thumb when drawing the weapon. Placing the rear sight forward gives the thumb a flat spot to index from when cocking the hammer.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Oh, what a delightfully horrible idea!
I’ll stick with my 1911s with their fat-ass beavertail that allows a high grip and helps avoid hammer-snags.
And I paid good money for my manual safety, I might as well use it! : ]
January 12th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
This strikes me as a, particularly fragile, solution looking for a problem. And eight additional stress risers free!
January 12th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
I’ll add to what Caleb said:
In Enos’ book he talks quite a bit about putting the front sight on the comp so that it:
1.) Doesn’t reciprocate with the slide and
2.) Gives a slightly longer sight radius.
Not sure I like this solution, tho…
January 12th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Weer’d —
Condition 1 (Cocked and Locked) was not always the ubiquitous 1911 carry method it is today. “ZOMG! It’s a COCKED pistol!!!”
Condition 2 (Hammer down on a live round) was considered “tactical” by many users, and Condition 1 was for crazy, reckless poseurs.
Which is why Galco 1911 holsters with thumb breaks are designed to snap over the dropped hammer. To accomodate Condition 2 carry.
Condition 2 fans are also more likely to be fond of the original hammer, rather than the “Commander” hammer so common today.
January 12th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Well then I’m certainly a crazy reckless poseur. Also to note that the Glaco holster that my 1911 is riding in right now will NOT snap closed unless the hammer is in the cocked position, and the retention is SNUG this way…it was a real bitch getting the snap closed before the leather was fully broken in. It’s a Miami Classic II if you’re curious, and the literature DID say you should snap the retention on a lowered hammer. I suspect since this is impossible, that was written by a lawyer, not a shooter.
Also Condition 2 requires 2 things.
#1, that you have a gun with a firing pin block or a half cocked notch, lest a tap to the hammer gets transferred all the way to the live primer.
#2. You must chamber a live round, leave the safety in the “Off” position, pull the trigger and then ease the hammer down on the chamber. (Then half-cock if necessary) In this case you are just a slippery finger away from an ND. Better have a clearing bucket if you plan on doing that on a regular basis.
Yeah, I’ll stick with condition 1, thanks.