Dan Wesson Heritage

T

TunnelRat

New member
Howdy,
I have a love hate relationship with 1911s. I love the way they look and the history that goes with them. At the same time the S&W and Colt examples I owned had plenty of functional issues as did the SIG examples I've tried. I wouldn't carry a 1911 nor use it as a home defense pistol as I have these roles filled, so it would mostly be a range toy. While I know 1911s can have issues I'd prefer to shoot rather than troubleshoot if possible.

I have the option to pick up a brand new Stainless Dan Wesson Heritage for just south of $1000. I've held Valors and been impressed by them, but honestly the degree to which I'd use a 1911 doesn't justify for me the cost of the Valor. I was wondering how folks felt about the Heritage. In an initial search I did on Google I found some folks complaining about issues with galling that resulted from burrs on the slide or frame. I haven't looked at 1911s in a few years and I wondered what folks thought about the Heritage as well as other recommendations at the $1000 price mark.

Thanks
TR
 
$1,000 for an almost new in box Heritage is ok. They seem to be going for about $1000 - $1100 on Gunbroker. From what I've heard, they are nice shooting guns, but I don't own one.
 
I’m sort of in the same situation as you are. I love the look/feel/history but have had varied results in the past. I’ve been considering the Heritage and also the XSE Series from Colt. I’m a little confused by Colt’s WEB site as it no longer shows the XSE Series, but I still see them being advertised. I also find myself thinking about saving my pennies and getting something from Wilson Combat, but when I realize I could get several nice guns for the price of one of their offerings it gives me series pause.

I do have a SA GI model which seems to handle ball ammo just fine and is fairly fun to shoot at the range. So, I suppose, you could get something similar for strictly range use and nostalgic value.

So, anyway, I’d be interested in your decision and if you get the Heritage how it performs.
 
I find the Heritage to be a simply gorgeous looking pistol. It is my understanding that it is one of Dan Wesson's lowest priced 1911 pistols and that certainly does not make it a bad gun, but I only mention it simply because you rolled out a reference to a Valor... which (IIRC?) is Dan Wesson's top of the line 1911.

I looked hard at one a number of times before I finally filled the itch with a different 1911. (much older used semi-custom, has nothing to do with this topic really)

Just south of $1,000 is a decent price on that pistol. It may be worth noting that the cheapest I have seen these go is if you can find a factory blemished model -- also brand new, but typically with some visual deficiency, usually something incredible small that, on most new production guns... is a NORMAL occurrence on 3/4's of the guns you fish out of any gun store display. Dan Wesson notes them specifically with an included sheet, typically showing a picture of the gun with the blemish circled so you can look and see the "deficit" that you are buying.

For a handgun I would purchase to shoot, love and enjoy?! I would go straight to a Dan Wesson factory blem and NEVER think twice about it. They appear on Gunbroker often.

Good luck... and report back.
 
The DW Heritage is a great firearm for the money. No MIM. DW customer service is exceptionally good if it is needed.

The only issue I see, DW stainless pistols have had issues from time to time with their stainless guns with galling.

It is important to follow the break-in procedures as outlined in the owners manual, and you should not have an issue. This is not to say, if you do not, you will have a problem, but I would recommend following the directions.

For just south of $1K for a new one, it is definitely worth it.
 
I don't have the Heritage, but do have a DW Guardian 9mm. DW does a fine job with their 1911's. The price sounds like what the market is asking.

I'm with you TunnelRat; and have that love-hate relationship with 1911's. It started with a military 1911 .45ACP in the late '40's, m/b early '50's. Too much gun for a sub-teen. Then, spent 22 years in the military where my sidearm was either a 1911 .45ACP, or a .38 Combat Masterpiece; much preferred the .38. About two years ago my shooting buddy had me shoot his DW Guardian; then my LGS owner suggested a Springfield 1911 Range Officer 9mm. The 1911's are addictive! I now have five and a 2011 (double stack).

Really enjoy shooting them at the range; spent time this morning with my SIG 1911 .45ACP Target (also bought a SIG 1911 .45ACP MAXX). Both are great guns.

Would never carry one again, nor use one as a home defense weapon. There are too many guns superior for carry purposes and/or home defense.
 
I bought a Hertiage about a year ago and so far have about 600-700 flawless rounds through the pistol. It is my first 1911 and surely won't be my last. The fit and finish is far beyond any 1911 in its price range by far IMO.

I will say when I first started shooting the gun I was getting horrible groupings, was thinking something was wrong. But as I put more rounds down range my groups shrank, could be the pistol just needed some break in time, more likely I just needed to get accustomed to shooting a 1911 and 45acp.

Yes DW has had some issues with galling on their SS guns, but follow the break in guidelines and use the provide gun lube I doubt you will have any problems.
 
I have a Dan Wesson Valor and I really like mine a lot. Having said that, you know your guns better than most people on TFL and if you are just looking for a 1911 range toy, I can save you a few hundred bucks by steering you towards an STI Spartan V for around $600.00. Not as pretty as the DW but it is IMHO the best 1911 value ever, and it will give you your 1911 fix.
 
I have a Dan Wesson Valor and I really like mine a lot. Having said that, you know your guns better than most people on TFL and if you are just looking for a 1911 range toy, I can save you a few hundred bucks by steering you towards an STI Spartan V for around $600.00. Not as pretty as the DW but
it is IMHO the best 1911 value ever, and it will give you your 1911 fix.
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The Spartan has been discontinued for about a year now IIRC. They are very hard to find as old new stock.

The Heritage is an excellent gun. It is 100% forged with no MIM parts. IIRC. That is a very hard thing to find in a sub $1000 gun with those characteristics. They use the same quality parts that they do on the other higher end guns like the Valor but the Heritage gets less hands on time and less finishing of those parts.

I am a 1911 fan. I own about 10 now and have owned another 10+ over the years that have come and gone. One of the best guns I own is a Dan Wesson CBOB. It is the older one with a cast frame but it is an excellent gun. Dan Wessons are gateway drugs to high end 1911s IMHO.

That said todays Colts are some of the best guns that they have ever made. The new CNC machinery is churning out guns with much tighter specs then even in the early 2000s.

I would give them a look as well. For around $700 you can get a 80 Series Colt Govt which might just be enough to scratch that 1911 itch at a lower price point. It is not the same level as the Heritage but it is a sold gun.
 
Thanks for the tips so far everyone.

Having said that, you know your guns better than most people on TFL
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I have experience with a lot of pistols but some of the finer differences between models and manufacturers are lost on me, especially with 1911s. It seems to me those finer differences on 1911s can be important at times.

For around $700 you can get a 80 Series Colt Govt which might just be enough to scratch that 1911 itch at a lower price point.
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I actually picked up a Series 80 Colt around the time you were telling folks about the deals on them that could be had (was that the Christmas before this past one?). Honestly I wasn't that impressed. The machining was nice but the finish was just okay imo, the trigger was okay though a bit gritty, but the ejection was right to my face which I had never experienced before on a 1911. I eventually sold it to a dealer for a profit (thanks to you posting about those sales :)).

When it comes to metal handguns, be it pistol or revolver, there's a certain amount of handsomeness that I need in order to keep it around. It's shallow and has no real basis in function, but I can't help it. I guess when it comes to a 1911 that I'd keep I'm looking for a bit of a step up from the standard fare.
 
When it comes to metal handguns, be it pistol or revolver, there's a certain amount of handsomeness that I need in order to keep it around. It's shallow and has no real basis in function, but I can't help it. I guess when it comes to a 1911 that I'd keep I'm looking for a bit of a step up from the standard fare.
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That DW Heritage is a really sharp looking gun with the brushed polished flats on the slide, it has a much nicer appearance than any STI Spartan, so I stand corrected on my recommendation!
 
Plus Dan Wesson is known to have some of the best triggers out of the box for a production gun. Thier triggers rival many semi- custom.
 
Oh one thing to double check is to make sure the gun you are looking at is not a Blem gun. DW sells a lot of blemished guns which will have a upside down "Y" on the frame.

There is nothing wrong with the blem guns from a functional perspective but when I see a DW at a really low price I always look for the Y. Sometimes you cannot even find the blem but it can be anything from a finish issue to a slight fit problem with the thumb safety etc...
 
Oh one thing to double check is to make sure the gun you are looking at is not a Blem gun. DW sells a lot of blemished guns which will have a upside down "Y" on the frame.
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God point. Do you know where on the frame?
 
IIRC it is near the serial number on the frame.

The Heritiage is a nice gun but to say that if you own one you will never need another 1911 is pushing it And it certainly does not make my Les Baer feel sloppy. It is a excellent production level 1911 but it still is what it is. :eek:
 
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