Special run Jim Cirillo Smith and Dan Wesson hybrid

ramptester · Jan 27, 2011

I have an interesting gun that is clearly a post-lock Smith frame mated to a Dan Wesson barrel assembly. This is a gun completed by the Dan Wesson shop before the CZ takeover, while Bob Serva was still running DW. It seems that Dan Wesson got some of their frames and/or slides for a while from S&W, and this must have been part of that arrangement. Jim Cirillo mentions such a hybrid as an ideal "stakeout" gun in his book "Guns and Gunfighters".

I know there are at least 4 other guns out there, one in each frame size plus a couple of extra calibers. Unfortunately, I did not receive any paperwork with the gun. How would I go about getting a letter for this? Would Smith and Wesson letter the gun given the frame is clearly theirs? It is a very smooth action, clearly assembled and tuned carefully. The barrel does interchange with other shroud and tube assemblies from Dan Wesson's revolver line. (In fact, this gun predates the scandium modular barrel guns, and may have been a model upon which the 329PD was loosely modeled.)

Iggy · Jan 27, 2011

Fascinating. You might try contacting Bob Serva and see what he has to say about your gun.
[email protected]

Tell him Iggy sent you.

Shooting4life · Jan 27, 2011

Wow, I would love to own something like that. It is the first post lock revolver I am now lusting over. Keep us posted with what S&W says.

ramptester · Jan 28, 2011

Iggy, sounds like you may have one of these yourself?

Iggy · Jan 28, 2011

ramptester said:
Iggy, sounds like you may have one of these yourself?

No, I have talked to Bob Serva several times over the years. He is a really nice guy. He was the owner of DW when those guns were created, and I suspect he could fill you in on all the details of that revolver quite well.

mg357 · Jan 28, 2011

that is a very handsome revolver

Maximumbob54 · Jan 28, 2011

Can you set the barrel gap just like other DW guns? That would be an interesting option to have in any revolver.

H Richard · Jan 28, 2011

Since it appears the S/N was assigned by Dan Wesson, S&W would have no record other than perhaps some billing records for frame forgings and parts.

Very interesting gun! I would expect it to be one of the "Best of both worlds".

The first .357 I ever owned was a High Standard, but built with a Dan Wesson interchangeable barrel. Wish I still had that one.

ramptester · Jan 28, 2011

Yes, the barrel gap can be set where you want it. The barrel shroud is a bit harder to keep from turning in comparison to the DW revolvers I had previously, so I usually leave it alone. I think it's set at either 0.03 or 0.05" IIRC.

andyo5 · Jan 28, 2011

I checked the Dan Wesson (CZ) website. They currently offer a stainless model 715 revolver in .357 with a replaceable barrel. It comes with one 6" barrel, and two more sizes are available as options. Street price is probably around $870 or so. It looks similar to the Cirillo model shown, but the frame is clearly a DW design.

moosedog · Jan 28, 2011

I had no idea that these were out there. Thats a very unique revolver.
Hopefully CZ will have the old paper work or can hook you up with the former owners.

Geronimo Jim · Jan 28, 2011

What a cool revolver! First lock gun I would like to own. Thanks for posting.

badguybuster · Jan 28, 2011

I like the barrel but the finish could be better matched up. Very cool tho

p99guy · Jan 28, 2011

That is a really nice looking revolver! The user interchangable barrel concept was allways a good one, I just never could totally get used to the DW cylinder release on the crane(too many years with S&W's) but they had many good points.
S&W would make some sales if they produced that revolver in your pictures..I would line up for one.

Beruisis · Jan 28, 2011

Cirillo was a hell of a shooter & cop!
Too bad he went out the way he did. Was a shame.
B

scooter123 · Jan 28, 2011

What I find VERY interesting is the front sight. Anyone elso notice that it looks a LOT like the S&W interchangeable DX sight system.

firearmsunlimited · Jan 28, 2011

photoman · Jan 28, 2011

Cool gun. Too bad it's not in .44 Magnum. That's the caliber he mentions in the book.

k22fan · Jan 28, 2011

The concept is excelent and that is a very special collectors item. I find it interesting that at least one was done in each of 4 S&W frame sizes. N frames are realitively easy to adapt to Dan Wesson big bore barrel assemblies because Dan Wesson used a larger thread diameter than S&W for big bores. In the early 1970s George Nonte had a 57 rethreaded for a pair of Dan Wesson .41 mag. barrel assemblies for an article and my gunsmith used a custom barrel inside a Dan Wesson barrel shroud along with a custom cylinder to make his 29-2 more accurate for silhouette matches. However, K frames' barrel threads are a larger dia. than what Dan Wesson used for mid frame .22LRs, .38s & .357s. I owned a 4 barrel stainless .22LR Dan Wesson pistol pack for awhile. I hated Dan Wesson's DA so I looked into rethreading a K22 so that it could use the 4 barrel assemblies. It would've required a bushing.

safestop · Jan 31, 2011

Cirillo Hybred

Ramptester,
Can tell you a little about the Cirillo piece. I am the guy that was working with Jim on his "safestop" ammo and was working on a new pistol sight design when he passed. I spent a lot of time with Jim and his son.
Was working with Serva and his crew to try and buy all the frames and barrel set-ups for the larger calibers. They had 44 mag and 45 acp. jim had a 45 acp version. Well things did not work out and apparently DW decided to clean out the safe..
I do not get on line often but will try and fill you in on what I know.
Heard about this from a Brother in BC, so decided to log back in and see the wonderful pictures of your weapon.
Hope you all enjoy the Avitar I loaded up.
Hi Iggy
Regards
Fuzzy

Special run Jim Cirillo Smith and Dan Wesson hybrid

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