What is the word with Dan Wesson revolvers

What I have read is that CZ will be relisting the revolver line "later this year". I do not know if this is true or not so I purchased a couple of the "always wanted" DW revolvers lately.

Better safe than sorry? Maby Its that Boy Scout training.
 
Considering the cloudy past Dan Wesson has had over the years, i wont recomend them. They've never been what i would consider, real high quality handguns....fuctional, but there are better out there for the price.
 
Many people turn their noses up at a DW (most have never had any experience with them), but they are a strong accurate revolver that has it's name listed many times in the records of the handgun silhoulette shooting sport. This was when the real high quality S&W was shooting itself loose trying to compete.
For the price (since DWs have low resale value) they are great bargains considering their strength and accuracy.
 
I agree. Their 22s and 41s have been good in competition. Their 38s have a spotty reputation though. 357s I have had were excellent except for changing barrels and resighting. Dan Wessons are excellent quality in my own experience overall.
 
IMO Nothin' better than a Monson, Mass DW revolver. 'Cept a whole safe full.

Majic is indeed correct about IHMSA competition. You shot a DW if you were serious, period. The S&Ws were not bad accuracy wise, but shot loose quickly under the pounding of the hot loads. My old Model 44 silhouette gun is still just as tight as when I bought it decades ago.

Please don't let out how great these guns shoot, I kinda like accumulating them at bargain basement prices

Direct from the rumor mill, the revolvers are going to be reintroduced around the first of the year is what I have heard.
Take Care
 
My experiences with the Big Dans about the same. Fired many heavy bulleted rounds out of # 001291 with superb accuracy. DW's would outshoot SuperBlackhawks and outlast m29's. Wish now I hadn't let mine go.
 
Bought the 44 in the 80's and loved it so much I bought the .357. The 44 has the best finish of any revolver I own and the smith who ordered it for me commented about the beautiful finish and was supprised since he had never seen one before that. You have to expect to resight it if you change barrels. The 44 is magnaported with a SS barrel insert and eats 200grJHP with 28 gr of 296 for lunch and is a pussycat to shoot.
 
I just wrote an email to CZ/Dan Wesson to see if they still offer barrels and shrouds for thier revolvers and they replied:
" All parts and service is still being handled by Dan Wesson in Norwich NY.
You can call their parts dept. at 607-336-1174 ext 21 " Thats good to know!
 
They are solid well built accurate guns.

This is the problem with them also, because they are solid guns, they last forever, don't take much parts, rarely need smithing and so they don't have a following out there.

I like them. Accurate, overbuilt, easy to clean and shoot well. If there was ever a gun to try and make full power 357 mag loads, this is it. Mine have taken some really hot test loads with no problems and just keep perking right along.

Like was pointed out above, in the hey day of silhoutte, you saw DW's everywhere. The S&W's could not take the pounding and the Rugers did not have the raw accuracy. Also note that DW still makes the 357 MAX and Ruger dropped it quickly and S&W never even tried.

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50 shots 15 yards, single action, great gun!
 
Dan Wesson revolvers

I have had a Model 12 since 1975 and a Model 15 since 1979 and I will not part with either of them. I had problems with the M-15 shooting high even with the rear sight all the way down, my then gunsmith corrected that with a
little work on the frame. I have not dealt with the Norwich company in a few years, they were VERY helpful and friendly, they returned all my calls and answered my snail mail VERY promptly. Even sent me a FREE Millett rear sight
when I told them of my sight adjustment problems. Likewise very good and exchanging replacement replacement barrels that didn't fit. Only thing they couldn't help me with was with a spare outside barrel nut-my Model 12 came with one of them. So I have nothing but good things to say about this current incarnation, and someday I will get others.
 
I started out in silohuette shooting with a DW, thing is built to last..put some hot reloads through that thing and I still have it today !
 
My DW .357mag has been a super gun. When I got a 1911, I almost went with DW again, but opted for the S&W instead. DW does make some good 1911s, from what I've read and heard.
 
Back in the early 90s I had a DW 357 that came in a case with 4 barrels, 3 grips and several front sight inserts. It was built like a tank and there isn't a trip to the range that I do not regret parting with it! I traded it in to get a Colt Delta Elite (10mm 1911) that is to this day my primary gun. I live the Delta but know that I will one day, when old and gray and have the cash, find another DW pistol case like the one I let slip by...

It was tough, attractive, accurate and damn versatile betwen the assortment of barrels and grips. There were 2", 4", 6" and 8" barrels along with a wood ergonomic grip, checkerred wood presentation grip and rubber ergonomic grip. The fitted case was a nice touch. Chalk it up to youth and stupidity... :(
 
Dan Wessons have a reputation for being a very high quality firearm. They are as strong as a Ruger but, unfortunately, much more expensive. I, personally don't care for the look and feel of them but that's just personal preference.
 
My experience mirrors many of the posters here (especially those who wish they still owned one).

My first DW was a 6" Vent-Rib Very Heavy Barrel .357 w/ presentation case. Python looks and finish, Ruger strength, better-than-S&W trigger (at least compared to the Models 18, 19, 65, & 57 Smiths that I owned at the time).

That gun was, hands down, the most accurate unscoped revolver I have ever owned. Stupidly traded it on a Gold Cup (and don't have that one any longer either).

I have zero experience with Dan Wessons after the late '70s other than handling used ones for sale (and not very often.)

The .22 version is high upon my "lust buy" list for the future.
 
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