Dream On; New Army Handgun Edition

MILLSTADT, Mo. — At first glance, it seems absurd to suggest that a small company on the outskirts of St. Louis could be a serious player in the race to provide the U.S. Army with its next handgun.

This is, after all, a major event in the realm of military weapons — having happened only twice in the past 100 or so years. And it’s expected to draw the attention of the industry’s most powerful names, including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Ruger and Glock.

And then there’s tiny Detonics, a five-person operation in Millstadt that fashions itself more tech company than gunmaker.

Riiight.

Competing for a DoD weapons contract isn't for small-time operators. It's not just submitting guns and passing the field trials, boys. It's dealing with all of the paperwork and procedures for military procurement.

It's not a game for amateurs or small companies. Smith & Wesson, which isn't exactly small-time, has teamed up with General Dynamics to compete for the contract. S&W didn't partner with GD for GD's manufacturing knowledge, for S&W knows how to make pistols. No, S&W is tapping into GD's extensive experience with the military project and procurement bureaucracies. GD knows how to make a submission with all of the ducks properly lined up and quacking in tune.

Detonics, by itself, doesn't have a chance. Hell, they can't even make their guns in quantity (think of the Mars of 110 years ago). And with all respect to the sacred memory of John Moses Browning, the 1911 pattern is very long in the tooth. Given that even the Marines have evinced a lack of preference for the 1911, I don't see that Detonics has a chance in Hell of winning the contract.

If their plan is to submit it, market the gun as "As Submitted to the U.S. Army" and imply that the game was rigged, they may have something. Otherwise, the gun's little more than vaporware.