Tell me about Dan Wesson revolvers...

K

kcub

New member
I remember not liking something about them back in the 80's but I don't recall what it was.
I may have been all wrong.
 
Some of the early ones were kind of homely looking,but all shot well.
The forward cylinder latch was different from the norm,and threw some people off,but I a;ways liked the ones I had,but never kept one for a long time,why?I don't know.
 
I have two from the 80s. Both are Monson built guns and both are first rate.

One is a .357 and the other is a .44mag.

I have heard of spotty quality about guns built in other locations. The company has reinvented itself several times and I think they are owned by CZ now.

My son has the guns and shoots them regularly.

I have had the extreme pleasure to shoot a Dan Wesson PM9. Super nice 1011 style 9mm.

I would buy one in a New York minute if I could find one.

Geetarman:D
 
The early models had a different shroud design that extended down the front of the frame and exposed muzzle nuts. These are called "porkchop" models. They also had an oversize rear sight. Ugly but dependable as a rock.
Later models slimmed down the shroud, now in both standard and HV profile, and cleaned up the looks by redesigning the sight and recessing the muzzle nut into the shroud.
The Norwich revolvers are the ones that have the bad rep for fit and finish. A fixed-barrel model was produced at the Norwich plant for a short time.
The large frame and SuperMags are totally different animals. They haven't changed since their introduction.
All Dan Wessons have a well deserved reputation for accuracy.
 
Like DWFan said the Porkchop model is the ugly ducking of the group. It wasn't that many years ago you would find these at bargain basement prices but that's all changed. Folks have caught on to the DW's and the accuracy of the tensioned barrel design.

My first DW was this .357 super mag.
supermag01.jpg


I found this pistol pac several years ago before the prices went crazy.
DW02.jpg
 
I had two and although they shot well the overall quality was poor. I had one, a rimfire, that would not allow extraction of empty cases unless you used a mallet to get them out. This was with any brand of ammo. I sent it back to Dan Wesson and got it back the same way. For some strange reason they sent a test target back with it? My enclosed letter was very clear about the extration problem. Later that summer I talket to them at the IHMSA Internationals and had them look at the gun. They did and told me to send it back to them after the shoot. I did and got it back again with the same problem. Again, they enclosed a test target. I had a center fire that shot well but kept coming loose at the barrel frame area. Overall, I think they weren't worth owning. Clubby looking and very poor customer service.
 
I have a model 15-2 with vented heavy shroud 6" and 2.5" barrels, small and regular grips depending on the configuration I'm using at the time. Got mine in 1981, used, made in the late '70s I think. I have always been so happy with this revolver, in every way (look, feel, accuracy) that I will never get rid of it.
 
I had a stainless 6-inch 44VH back in the 80's, and sold it when I was broke one year. Of all the guns I've ever sold, that one is my biggest regret.

Someday, I'd really like to find another one just like it.
 
I don't know if they were the first for a production gun, but certainly one of the first to offer a gun with a tensioned barrel which has been shown to produce better accuracy than a standard barrel. The thing that I liked about their guns is that the sear engagement(s) (plural because they were indeed separate engagements) broke at the same exact point in the rearward position of the hammer. Single action was identical to double action in the force required to break the engagement and fire the gun. I've never seen any other gun that was designed this way and don't know why. For accuracy it was perfect and Dan Wesson didn't have to go too far out of the way to make it happen internally. Smithy.
 
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