I did not grow up in a household with handguns. I reached age 21 in late 1982, and, by some time in early 1983, I had bought a Detonics Combat Master, a production version of a cut-down 1911, before the Colt Officer’s ACP existed. It fed JHPs, and would feed empty cases, but would not run reliably with 230-grain FMJ. My skinny fingers had enough room on the short grip, and accuracy was quite good.
I could not legally carry it, anyway, as that was well before Texas developed a handgun carry license system, and, contrary to popular myth/legend, open carry was NOT generally legal. I started a police academy in late 1983, and during my first year of sworn service, starting in March 1984, I was only allowed to use DA revolvers, plus specified shotguns, for any LE/defensive purpose, on or off the clock. I cannot remember exactly when I parted with the Detonics Combat Master, but I did a considerable amount of gun-trading, in those days, and only kept what was reliable, and useful.
Had I kept that Combat Master, I would not be able to readily replace the recoil springs. The RSA contained three concentrically-nested springs. IIRC, quite frequent replacement was recommended.
In 2018 or 2019, I saw a Detonics 9-11-01, a full-sized 1911, at a local gun store. I did some inter-webbing, and learned that though it used a proprietary recoil spring plug, it could use standard 1911 recoil springs, enabling it to be a shooter, not just a collectible. So, I scratched my nostalgia itch, with a Detonics pistol that I can actually shoot. Most Detonics models were made with a slide sculpted at allow better access to the hammer, for thumb-cocking, if carried in Condition Two. (Let’s keep in mind, Condition Two was still “a thing,” not so long ago.)
In general, 1911 pistols remain important, to me, for carry and general utility, though all of my current samples are full-sized. The 1911 has a low bore axis, which minimizes muzzle flip, and the steel damps recoil. Both factors benefit my aging hands.
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