Dan Wesson Valor, worth the price?

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banditgriot

New member
I found a barely used DW Valor in a local pawn shop and the lowest they will accept for it is $1,300.00. Everything is in the box, including the test fired case. I have told myself that after my experience with customizing a 1911 that I would one day buy one with all the features that I want out of the box. At any rate, retail new on a Valor is about $1,700. Would you take it for $1,300 or look at new offerings from other makers?
 
Is it Stainless or Black Duty Coat finish? Is it an earlier model with the Novak style tritium rear sight or the current version with the tactical ledge Heinie rear sight? Mine is a Black Duty Coat with the earlier Novak tritium sights, and I bought mine used and paid right around the same price that you mentioned. You would have to spend about $500.00 more for a new Black Duty Coat Valor, you're about $300.00 under the cost of a new stainless Valor. I've shot mine against my friend's Wilson Classic and my groups with the Valor were just about as tight as the groups I shot with this $3K Wilson.

If it's Stainless it's a decent deal but if it's Black Duty Coat it's a great deal. My gun shoots better than I can shoot it but I can do pretty well with it!
 
Have several DWs, and that's about as high 'up-the-ladder $$' I've gone.
The are extremely well made 1911s... all forged, w/ no MIM/cast parts...
My Valors have all been flawless, dead-accurate shoots... for me, no need to spend more $$s on the higher-end, 'custom' 1911s (EB, LB, Wilson, etc)...
DW makes an excellent 1911 for the $$s... you won't be disappointed!
BTW: RifleGear is selling a 'Blem' for $1379... has full DW warranty and their 'blems' are awesome values...
usually something very minor 'cosmetically' (not noticable)...
Bought a Heritage blem a couple years ago... saved about $250 and could never find the blem!!...
Also, GrabaGun is selling one NIB for $1458 w/ $5.99 shipping and no CC fees....
I'd look into those two options.

 
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I have a Valor with the black duty coat. Great gun. Great trigger. The only issue I had with the gun was the sights needed to be drifted .019 to the right to shoot to point of aim. For me, that is a significant shift and is noticeable when you look closely at the top of the slide. I had two others shoot the gun before I shifted the sights and it shot to the left for both of them. Some slight misalignment of the rails probably. The gun shoots fine now. I have maybe 400 rounds through it.
 
Thanks all for the responses. It is a newer black coated model with the Heinie sights. I think I will be making arrangements for it tomorrow.
 
Thanks all for the responses. It is a newer black coated model with the Heinie sights. I think I will be making arrangements for it tomorrow.
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Excellent price for a Duty Coat Valor.
 
At that price and condition I'd grab it in a minute. Dan Wesson makes extremely nice guns. Great triggers, very well made.
 
Newest production valors don't have their name in gold script anymore, if it's black that's a brand new gun, wouldn't even consider it used @ that point
 
The Heinie tactical ledge sights on the newer Valors are a quantum leap improvement over the earlier Novak sights which I have on mine.
 
It get's even better...it was test fired only NIB. Yes, I reserved it and will pick it up on the 23rd. Happy Birthday to me! This will be my favorite handgun purchase to date and will likely pass my Tavor for current firearm favorite.:)
 
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Went to the indoor range yesterday and shot 25 rounds through the Valor, another 25 rounds through the TRP and 50 rounds through the P320C.

No malfunctions at all. The P320 is shooting better and better.
 
It get's even better...it was test fired only NIB. Yes, I reserved it and will pick it up on the 23rd. Happy Birthday to me! This will be my favorite handgun purchase to date and will likely pass my Tavor for current firearm favorite.
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Sounds like you're getting a helluva deal, looking forward to your range report.
 
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