DETONICS RARE one year model Pocket 9 LIKE NEW IN BOX – Vintage 1985-1986 from Citywide Supply L.L.C. near South Tucson, Tucson, AZ

This one is nearly new, if it was fired it might have been less than a box of shells. You can't go back into the pass, but this time you can buy it.

 

This Detonics Pocket 9 is a remarkable, highly collectible example of one of the earliest sub-compact 9mm handguns ever produced. Manufactured during its limited production run from 1985 to 1986, this particular pistol is in like-new condition and comes complete with its original factory box. Built entirely from robust stainless steel by Detonics of Seattle, Washington, this firearm represents a major milestone in deep-concealment history, departing from the company's famous 1911 variants to pioneer a pocket-sized platform for the full-powered 9x19mm Luger cartridge. The original Detonics factory built roughly 1,700 to 1,760 Pocket 9 pistols before the company went bankrupt and ceased operations in 1986 during some of the corportate change overs.

Historical production logs indicate that 1,546 units were manufactured during the initial 1985 push, with only about 218 more finished in 1986 before the factory lights went out. Because subsequent post-1988 corporate iterations of Detonics never brought the model back into production, it remains one of the last and rarest firearms ever built by the original Seattle company. This exceptionally low production volume, as very few survived in pristine condition

To fully appreciate this firearm, one must understand the pedigree of its manufacturer. Founded in the mid-1970s, Detonics earned immense respect in the firearms industry as a brilliant, forward-thinking innovator that dared to challenge traditional manufacturing paradigms. The company was founded by a core group of engineers and combat shooters—including master gunsmith Pat Yates and firearms authority Sid Woodcock—who recognized a desperate need for a powerful, reliable backup weapon. Before Detonics, plainclothes police officers and civilians wanting deep concealment were largely limited to small-caliber pocket pistols or bulky snub-nosed revolvers. Detonics revolutionized the industry by successfully miniaturizing the iconic .45 ACP design, producing the legendary Combat Master. This feat earned them a reputation for exceptional build quality and mechanical ingenuity, and many of their patented innovations—like the flared cone barrel, captured dual-recoil spring guide rods, and a scalloped ejection port—were so highly respected that they became standard design features adopted by the entire modern firearms industry for compact pistols.

Despite its engineering brilliance and cult-like following among elite operators, Detonics was plagued by financial instability and corporate turbulence, operating under various ownership structures, name changes, and relocations for roughly three decades before finally closing its doors for good around 2007. The Pocket 9 represents a fascinating, brief chapter in that tumultuous history when the company attempted to diversify away from the 1911 platform to capture the growing 9mm market.

The handgun showcases the distinct engineering hallmarks of this era, utilizing a unique straight blowback operating system paired with an innovative annular gas ring chamber designed to delay the slide cycle. Visually striking and pristine, the exterior lines are completely snag-free, featuring a sunken trench sight system and smooth contours tailored specifically for a seamless pocket draw. Finding a Pocket 9 in this immaculate, well-preserved state is exceedingly rare, as most were heavily carried or subjected to the rigors of personal defense. Accompanied by its original packaging, this piece is an exceptional find for serious firearms historians, pop-culture enthusiasts of 1980s television like Miami Vice, and dedicated collectors seeking an absolute time capsule from a pioneering era of compact semi-automatics.