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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #51  
Old 06-03-2015, 07:33 AM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
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Originally Posted by John R View Post
Only had experience with one DW revolver and it was a piece of ****.
I wouldn't give ya a nickel for a bushel basket full of them.
Gotta just love the detail in that report, must have taken several seconds to come up with that. Also love the fellow who sent one back twice because it had "loosened up". Must have been just to much work to read the owners manual and the section on how to adjust the B/C gap and properly tighten the barrel and shroud to the frame.

The fact is the Dan Wesson revolvers were different in some key areas than most revolvers. The lock was on the crane because that location puts the lock at the location closest to the barrel, helping to insure accurate alignment between the cylinder and barrel. It also features a spring loaded ball detent at the rear of the cylinder so that End Shake just cannot happen. It also features a minimalist lockwork that is very easy to access and repair.

Downside is the leverage points for Double Action and the Coil Mainspring mandate a DA trigger weight much heavier than what can be achieved with a well tuned S&W. Sometimes and old fashioned Leaf Spring really is the better answer. The Barrel also needs to be checked for tightness at every cleaning, an easy task if you have the wrench originally supplied with these revolvers.

Sum it up and like any other revolver it's a mix of positives and negatives. Where the Dan Wesson's excelled was in Precision Single Action shooting. Some reports I saw and heard about back in the 70's was that with a scope and a sandbag a very good handgun shooter could shoot sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards.
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  #52  
Old 06-03-2015, 07:57 AM
silentflyer silentflyer is offline
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Well said scooteer123, if you never shot one under those conditions, a session at the range with a DW and a good hand load will make a believer out of you. Over the years I have had more than one guy try to buy one of mine after his seeing what they are capable of. Never shot a deer with one that took more than one shot to put venison in the dinner pot.
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  #53  
Old 06-03-2015, 09:27 AM
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Only had experience with one DW revolver and it was a piece of ****.
I wouldn't give ya a nickel for a bushel basket full of them.

They didn't come to dominate IHMSA by being junk. Only the strongest & most accurate survive in that arena.

Come on, CZ, the world doesn't need any more 1911 manufacturers. Give us the revolver!
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  #54  
Old 06-03-2015, 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by jtcarm View Post
They didn't come to dominate IHMSA by being junk. Only the strongest & most accurate survive in that arena.

Come on, CZ, the world doesn't need any more 1911 manufacturers. Give us the revolver!
If they were so great why are they not made anymore?

If you have one and it works, good for you..
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  #55  
Old 06-03-2015, 07:06 PM
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My only experience with them was year b4 last when the LGS asked me to go over one of the cased multi-barrel sets they had taken in.
Missing a barrel nut and dirty and never lubed.
Opened it up (allen head bolts on the sideplate -really?)
Lockwork looked to have been very crudely cast and stamped. Burrs and flash everywhere and what a Rube Goldberg arrangement it was.
Even the case was just cardboard covered with a vinyl skin.
Somebody bought it, however that was in the middle of a panic when people would buy anything.
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  #56  
Old 06-09-2015, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by John R View Post
If they were so great why are they not made anymore?

If you have one and it works, good for you..
Uh, because the company went under?

A great product is no guarantee of financial success.

I gotta agree with Scooter, your analytical skills are dazzling.
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  #57  
Old 06-09-2015, 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by jtcarm View Post
They didn't come to dominate IHMSA by being junk. Only the strongest & most accurate survive in that arena.

Come on, CZ, the world doesn't need any more 1911 manufacturers. Give us the revolver!
Don't they make a Dan Wesson Revolver now?

By the way, there are several 1911 Folks out there that feel Dan Wesson/CZ makes the best 1911 out there for the money. I believe it. I have 3 1911s, a Colt, a Kimber, and a Custom Caspian. My next gun is a Dan Wesson 1911 Commander that will become my Carry gun.
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  #58  
Old 06-10-2015, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom_R View Post
Don't they make a Dan Wesson Revolver now?



By the way, there are several 1911 Folks out there that feel Dan Wesson/CZ makes the best 1911 out there for the money. I believe it. I have 3 1911s, a Colt, a Kimber, and a Custom Caspian. My next gun is a Dan Wesson 1911 Commander that will become my Carry gun.

I think the last run was in 2012 and not that many.

I haven't really been following closely, so I can't say.

Sadly, I think they've found what I strongly suspect: the market for premium, medium to large frame DA magnums just ain't what it was in the 70s/80s and some of the 90s when IHMSA was in it's glory days and interest in handgun hunting and general long-range precision shooting were stronger. Just my opinion.
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  #59  
Old 06-10-2015, 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by John R View Post
If they were so great why are they not made anymore?

If you have one and it works, good for you..
If Colt Pythons were "so great", then why are they not made anymore?
Same logic.

I bought all three Dan Wessons brand new at the time; a .22/6", .357/4", and the .44mag/8" with both barrels (standard and ported barrels).

To be honest, I bought them as "shooters" so that I wouldn't put so much mileage on my other S&W's and Colt revolvers.
To my surprise, I got to really like the dam things.
Still look and shoot like new with the only blue loss from cleaning.

My question is: "If Dan Wessons are such junk, then why are they bringing some pretty decent prices on GB?"

I've since put a 4" barrel on my .22 and it's a heckuva lot of fun making coke cans dance all day for a few dollars worth of ammo.
Also; my .44 and me have the distinction of putting down 8 out of 10 rams at 200 yards with open sights. Not perfect, buy I am anything but perfect when it comes to silhouette shooting with a revolver.
Just sayin'...
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  #60  
Old 06-11-2015, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Decker View Post
If Colt Pythons were "so great", then why are they not made anymore?
Same logic.

I bought all three Dan Wessons brand new at the time; a .22/6", .357/4", and the .44mag/8" with both barrels (standard and ported barrels).

To be honest, I bought them as "shooters" so that I wouldn't put so much mileage on my other S&W's and Colt revolvers.
To my surprise, I got to really like the dam things.
Still look and shoot like new with the only blue loss from cleaning.

My question is: "If Dan Wessons are such junk, then why are they bringing some pretty decent prices on GB?"

I've since put a 4" barrel on my .22 and it's a heckuva lot of fun making coke cans dance all day for a few dollars worth of ammo.
Also; my .44 and me have the distinction of putting down 8 out of 10 rams at 200 yards with open sights. Not perfect, buy I am anything but perfect when it comes to silhouette shooting with a revolver.
Just sayin'...
I am glad you got some good Dan Wessons and enjoy shooting them.

Regarding why COLT does or doesn't do things, unfortunately that company is SO mis-managed that it isn't funny. Bad decision, after bad decision.

I, and many others, have been convinced that if Colt could come out with a 'New' Python that has the looks and blueing of the old ones, they would have a $1500 gun that people would buy.

As it turns out, an Italian company is going to turn out Reproduction Pythons:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearm...-python-2.html

Pietta P 1955

I live less than three miles from the COLT Factory. I have to go over there some time for a tour, if they do that.
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  #61  
Old 06-11-2015, 03:02 PM
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Something to consider..today at the S&W Performance Center there a few models coming out with sleeved barrels,sidelock cylinders,full lug barrels,short stroke actions.etc.. These were all features of the 70's era Dan Wessons.
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  #62  
Old 06-11-2015, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom_R View Post
As it turns out, an Italian company is going to turn out Reproduction Pythons:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearm...-python-2.html

Pietta P 1955
I'm skeptical, because it may look like a Python, but... you know how you can hold a Python up next to your ear while slowly cocking the hammer, and all you hear is.. silence, until it stages and locks?
And how all you feel is... butter?
And how you look into the finish and just see endless black with just a touch of blue?

Those are the tests I want to see when the Pietta P 1955 comes out.
If it passes those tests, then I'm in.

Last edited by Decker; 06-11-2015 at 03:30 PM.
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  #63  
Old 06-11-2015, 06:42 PM
Tradewind36 Tradewind36 is offline
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First gun I bought was a Hi Standard Sentinel MKII .357 4" in the early 70's, a friend said I needed a gun for home defense. I put maybe 50 rounds through it in the late 70's then stored it for around 30+ years while the military sent me here and there. Sold it 4 years ago and just recently became interested in firearms and bought it back last week.

I took it to the range today and put 100 rounds through it and it was extremely accurate. My buddy had his new-to-him S&W 19-5 and after firing both the trigger pull seemed a little more on the Hi Standard. A round jammed in his 19, gunsmith had to put a dowel down the barrel and tap the round back into the cylinder in order to get the cylinder to open.

As for extracting empty cases I found the Hi Standard easier once I got used to it because my thumb was not in the way.

I had thought about selling it and shopping for a 686 but I think I'll keep it and save up for a 686plus.

Last edited by Tradewind36; 06-12-2015 at 08:47 AM.
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  #64  
Old 06-13-2015, 04:17 AM
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First gun I bought was a Hi Standard Sentinel MKII .357 4" in the early 70's, a friend said I needed a gun for home defense. I put maybe 50 rounds through it in the late 70's then stored it for around 30+ years while the military sent me here and there. Sold it 4 years ago and just recently became interested in firearms and bought it back last week.

I took it to the range today and put 100 rounds through it and it was extremely accurate...
Some may not know that your Hi Standard is a Dan Wesson Model 14 in disguise - AKA the "pork chop" barrel model.

Please feel free to post up some pics, as I'm sure not to be the only one interested.
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