Thoughts on the Dan Wesson revolver?

Orig. poster here. Thanks for all of the info folks, and thx for that article, Warner, very informative. I'm also looking forward to getting on the DW forum.

I'm thinking of looking into finding a 2 or 2.5" barrel for mine. Any idea what that would cost?

Can anyone tell me what year my .357 model 715 would be? Is this considered large frame? Serial # is S0012XX. In my old DW box, theres a factory invoice from 1988 where the cylinder latch was replaced, and test fired. If not, I'll find out on the DW forum after I sign up.

Here is another pic of mine. I really enjoy the pics you all posted, you guys have some beautiful guns! I'm proud to be part of such an elite group. Soon I'm going to put my 8" barrel on, and the orig. wooden grip. I'll get a pic when I do.
Josh P

Wow I just tried to take the rubber grip off after all these years and it does not want to budge. Am I missing something? Yes I took the hex screw out.

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OH YEA!

I LOVVVE my DW 44 VH..... amazing revolver.

Here are a few pics of the gun, 25 yard target and the view from my stand in the deep woods

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The .357 model 715 would be? Is this considered large frame?
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Small frame. The grip should pull off, you may need to twist it a little as you pull down.

Watch Gunbroker for the barrel you want.

People are catching on about DW, prices have skyrocketed in the past two years. They used to be the best value in revolvers by far but they are starting to get up to S&W prices. I should have bought more.
 
OH hell ,some sick guys here. Just to many danwesson in some of your house's. I only have 2 a well shot but prurty 357 with a couple barrels and a 44 that has the purple frame and 2 barrels. Both very early 80 models. I have shot many thousands of rounds in the 357 and still the best shooter i have ever touched and the 44 ain't no dog in its own right. Naaaa, don't think anyone here like DW's.
 
Jart is on the right track, however a lot of what he talks about can be said about most other brands of revolvers, or firearms in general. I think research is always needed....just look at how many different models and variations there are of S&W revolvers :eek:

They are excellent revolvers, no mater which one you have :D

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Beautiful guns.

I don't like them. The cylinder latch is not where it ought to be on a revolver.
My brother has a mint, early 80's model 15 in .357 and it is tight, accurate and a really nice gun. I can't get over that latch though.
 
Colt46,

The latch placement was considered revolutionary when it was first done and it a much stronger design than when the latch is mounted behind the cylinder. Freedom Arms even took the design for their guns....
 
I dont think they are bad looking, this .357 has a great trigger, accurate and soaks up full house .357s with no problem. Remember that a DW .357 is SW N frame size or a little bigger.




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Freedom Arms even took the design for their guns....
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? Freedom Arms does not make a double action revolver.
Remember that a DW .357 is SW N frame size or a little bigger.
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I think you meant K frame. S&W N frame on left, DW 357 mag on right.
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Jim
 
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The 357 DW is a L like a 686 size for holsters and some k sized will work sometimes. Only a mid sized gun .
If a shooter is right handed and not to clumsy after shooting all rounds as you release the revolver into your allready on the gun left hand and with only one hand you can finish pulling down the latch then useing your middle finger push the cylider through tilt and push the rod to dump brass. Right hand should be grabbing speed loader with right hand . Dump and close, one handed, ready to grab with out any fumbleing around. Works well with not to stuck on typical designs. But i have had one for 30+ years.
 
Also about the latch located in the front. I've noticed that it encourages people to catch the cylinder, since their hand is already in position (novices at least), rather then letting it flop open and possible damage the crane. For what its worth.
 
laytonj1 - you're right .... not sure what I was thinking... the old Triple-Lok was the first to have the front latch, I believe...

The front latch helps assure positive alignment between the cylinder and the barrel. It also keeps the latch out of the way of the shooters thumb while firing, eliminating the possibility of accidentally opening the cylinder during recoil. The cylinder/crane assembly locks shut to the frame with its latch in the crane itself, not at the rear of the cylinder and the front of the ejector rod or at the rear of the cylinder alone. Rear lockup is equally strong; a spring-tensioned ball bearing in the frame that snaps into a perfectly machined recess in the center of the solid extractor. Systems that latch the cylinder only at it's rear or in conjunction with the ejector rod allow the crane to move slightly away from the frame under stress. This results in varied chamber alignment with the barrel and loss of consistency in round-to-round accuracy. This locking configuration also allows one-handed opening and extraction while the other hand prepared for reloading, so necessary in timed competition shooting.
 
I once owned a 15-2 357 magnum Dan Wesson with the six inch heavy barrel shroud that was the finest shooting revolver I have ever shot.

It was a beautiful deep blue.

I must have temporaily lost my mind when I sold it.

Now,I am again looking at Dan Wesson's and thinking my life will not be complete without a 44 magnum version .

GREAT handguns.
 
Some firearms have no "cachet", no "mystique", they are not associated with anyone prominent hence they get little "air time", so to speak. The Colt Trooper is one, the Ruger Security Six is another. Dan Wessons were popular with the IHMSA shooters when that sport was more popular or at least received regualr coverage in the gun magazines. I have an M-12, with the original outside barrel nut, a Monson M-15 Pistol Pack, first $10,000 gets them. Both have what is superb accuracy when I do my part. Those in the Know know that they are superb revolvers, will do anything you want them to.
In 1997 when Dan Wesson rose yet again-like the Phoenix, I contacted them, their customer service was SUPERB. They returned my calls, left messages on my answering machine, I spoke to their head gunsmith or whoever he was.
 
I saw a beauty today at the store, it was tagged Model 715, but was blued. I have since learned the "7" in "715" means stainless. Beautiful bluing job though. It was a 6" vented rib, no extra barrels, had tool and instructions no box. They wanted $549. Seemed steep, I'm still tempted though. It just felt "right".
 
As someone else in this thread said, Dan Wesson was purchased by CZ Arms and for a long time the Dan Wesson double action revolvers were not being manufactured at all.

CZ is now bringing back the 15-2 357 revolver in stainless steel.

I have a 1980 vintage Dan Wesson 15-2 357 and it is one of my favorite guns. What they say about the accuracy is true. You can buy barrels for the Dans from EWK Arms (link at the Dan Wesson forum) or, so I understand, from CZ/Dan Wesson.

Some pics of my Dan:
This is my Dan with an original DW 4 inch barrel. I got this barrel on E-Bay from a cop, and it was in good shape excepting for a few holster nicks.

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Here is the same revolver with an EWK 2.5 inch snubby barrel and shroud. I love this configuration:
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This is the same Dan with the original 6" barrel. By the way, my Dan is one of those made in Monson.

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This is a little off-topic, but here is my Dan Wesson Pointman-7 .45 1911:
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