Hello all,

I am a fan of 1911 variations, and recently my attention turned to the current production CZ Dan Wesson offerings. I must say, they look really nice from photographs. I have not handled one in person.

I'm tempted to snag one, but I would like to hear any comments or criticism before I leap.

Any help out there?

Thx,
Curl

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Curly
SWCA #2599; SWHF #626

One of the finest 1911's you can buy and especially for the money....What a great value !!

Randy

I need a vaccine against buying them wherever they show up. I owned a good variety of all kinds of 1911s from various makers up to Baers. Now I only have 5 DW and they are tremendous guns in every aspect.

When you find that vaccine, let me know. Does it work against other guns too?

Curl

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Curly
SWCA #2599; SWHF #626

I’ve owned a 9mm Valor V-Bob for about a year and a half. It’s an older gun that was purchased used, but hadn’t been shot much. I typically take different guns when I work the pistol range, but this one seems to make it into my bag every trip.

Build quality is excellent. There’s virtually no noticeable play between the frame and slide and it’s very accurate. The fit and finish is superb, it has a great trigger and it functions flawlessly with everything but 115 grain Winchester white box. For whatever reason, it ends up with a fired case in the chamber and tries to feed another round out of the magazine. I’ve got 5 mag’s for the gun and it happens with each of them. I haven’t bothered trying different recoil springs yet, since I have other ammo to run through it. My other 9mm’s handle WWW just fine and I’ve got a good supply of it, so that’s a little disappointing.

Other than that, I love it!

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"I also cook."

I own a Valor in 9mm and it is an excellent gun. Very accurate and tight as one of the high end manufacturers products that sell for much more. The finish is excellent and it will be one that will never be traded or sold.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I love my Specialist Commander in 45 ACP. Great fit and finish, and the trigger is fantastic.

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I've had Five Dan Wesson 1911s over the years and all have been excellent. Fit, finish and performance right up there with the high end custom guns. Here's my current DW Guardian in 9mm.

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DW Guardian.jpg (157.9 KB, 65 views)

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Among serious 1911 enthusiasts, Dan Wessons are by consensus considered the best production 1911s made, and the last stop before you have to go high end (and significantly more expensive) to do only a little better.

If you have a line on one that suits your needs and budget, I wouldn't hesitate.

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Pickpocket

DW Valor in .45ACP, excellent fit and finish, a semi custom production gun.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Awesome guns




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I'd vote for a gently used Valor . They used to be fitted & assembled by one man per gun . Fit , finish far ahead of anything in its price range . Have been called " a poor mans Ed Brown ". Only disadvantage that comes to mind is the finish on some IIRC Duty Coat . If you're going to leave it stock factory OK , but any checkering etc will involve a total refinish . If you wish to modify get either the older carbon steel or matte stainless . IMHO a Dan Wesson 1911 is the gun that Kimber wants you to believe theirs are . BTW no MIM parts or non-Browning design horsefeathers either .

Here in California our choices are very limited (what the state allows us to purchase). Fortunately, a couple of Dan Wesson 1911s are on the "approved roster". I have two, the Pointman 7 and the Commander Bobtail, the only pistols that are marginally better cost two to three times as much. I haven't heard any bad reports about the fantastic Dan Wesson offerings, other than not having more of a selection in this state.

I bought a DW Vigil Commander .45ACP in Sep. 2020. During break in,
at about 350 rounds or so, the plunger tube worked loose. The LGS sent the
pistol in to DW for repair. The pistol came back repaired in about 3 weeks,
pretty good I thought. I haven’t shot it much lately, but the 50 rounds or
so I put through it after repair didn’t have or cause any issues. The trigger is very nice for a factory pistol.

Willyboy

Dan Wesson Classic
http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...1&d=1628217155

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What he said. I have three, 2 .45's and a 10mm. I also have Colts, Springfields and Les Baer. Love 'em all but it's generally one of the CZ's I reach for when I want to carry a 1911. They are, in my opinion, a high-end 1911 at a middlin' price. Absolutely one of the best.

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Everybody could shoot

I went to the range today, as a matter of fact, with the 9mm version of this pair of Dan Wesson ECOs, one in 9 and one in .45 acp. Wonderful pistols but the 9mm is a real joy to shoot. The .45 is more of a challenge, but it is certainly interesting playing compare / contrast with this eternal 1911 question of caliber in the same platform. Highly recommended, DW produces some beautiful pistols.

I have a few, they are all excellent in every respect. I have had no issues with any of them. The SSC (3rd from the left) is a CZ custom shop item in .40, Silverback is 10mm, and the limited run Valors with color case hardening are 9mm, 38 super, and 45. I've recently added the Vigil in 9mm to shoot suppressed. As I and others have stated, fantastic guns! The SSC gets used a lot in USPSA competitions too.

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	DW Family Photo.jpg (92.7 KB, 38 views)
	Vigil.jpg (161.5 KB, 29 views)

My son-in-law just bought one...we shot it last Saturday...very accurate...very well made 1911...NO malfunctions...extremely good looking...Dan Wesson have a winner in their 1911's...

I bought a PM-45 last year upon my retirement. The gun had absolutely everything I wanted in a 1911 (adjustable target sight, fiber optic front sight, Cocobolo double diamond grips, front strap checkering, and NO full length recoil spring guide rod). After a brief break-in period (to be expected in a pistol with tolerances this tight), it now runs like a top and is far more accurate than I am able to shoot it.

I recently had a Wilson Combat short trigger installed so I can reach with my stubby fingers, it is now perfection….

1E968E28-9FA2-4990-AFBA-6F2811873217.jpg

I have a PM9 and a PM45. I will have more DW 1911's.

By far, the absolute best 1911's I have ever owned or shot and there have been many, including custom builds.

The PM9 has been used heavily in USPSA in excess of 20k rounds and is still as tight as it was when new.
The PM45 has been used lightly in USPSA and a few other matches, goes to the range every time I go, and is my main carry gun in cooler weather.

The PM7 is the CA legal version of the PM45 so as far as function, they are the same gun.

As mentioned above, they build them TIGHT. Gun grease is NOT your friend with these.

I just purchased a DW 1911 Vigil Commander in 9mm. Put 200 rounds through it and it worked flawlessly. Very well made. Extremely accurate. I’m now a fan of DW and will be adding more to my collection.

Enablers!

But really, what did I expect?

Yesterday I put on my serious face and thought about all the 1911 type pistols I now have - last count in the teens. I lectured myself to the effect that I don't need any more and should learn to be responsible. I dug out my 1969 vintage Colt National Match and told myself that was surely "good enough." It will certainly shoot better than I can hold it.

So now, I go back to reading this thread and all my mature resolve of yesterday is away like a breeze.

I am thinking about the PM-C. I only have full-size 1911 pistols, so this wouldn't really be duplication. Right?

Curl

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Curly
SWCA #2599; SWHF #626

My suggestion:

Get both!

Very interesting comparing this thread with the CMP threads. Others no doubt consider all the paperwork / hoops one needs to jump through to get a rebuilt piece of history well worth the effort. But speaking just for myself, a brand-new top-quality 1911 sounds like the direction I would go.

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You're shy a few manners.

Dan Wesson has quietly gained a reputation for building high quality 1911 style pistols that are well made. They’re built to last. They don’t spend a lot on advertising like others. Word of mouth by 1911 lovers has done that for them.

All parts are machined from bar stock. Each gun is assembled by a master gunsmith. No assembly lines.

It is rare to experience a problem with their guns out of the box.

I like them because they look good but not flashy.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

My brother has a gun shop. The stainless PM45 was on sale a couple years ago. He begged me to buy one. Now we have sequentially numbered guns. No complaints. Everything meets expectations, except two things. Barrel lock-up and slide to frame fit….way tighter than I anticipated. Like others said, next stop: Les Baer & Wilson.

First off I learned to shoot a handgun with a 1911 almost 53 years ago at the tender age of 12 lol. It's still my #1 pistol and over the years I've probably every major brand a number of custom builds.

I had a stainless Valor I bought used about 4 years ago. It was a good gun but just didn't "speak" to me. Lately I've taken the plunge in to the 9mm 1911 world. I bought a Vigil Commander and it's a great pistol. So great when I found a second at a ridiculous sale price I bought it and sold the other for more than I bought the second LOL.

Accurate, reliable, easy to carry and even easier to shoot. I like .45 in my all steel 1911s but in a lightweight frame I prefer the 9, easier on my aging hand. With Gold Dot +p 124gr I'm not concerned about the "minor" caliber.

The one downside, at least for me, is that their Duty Coat finish can easily be ruined depending on cleaning agent. DW recommends FP10 for this finish so as long as you use that no problem.

I bought my Pointman PM-9 about 18 months ago with the intent to convert it to 38 Super, which I did after breaking it in, and adding a few goodies.

I'm happy with it. Shoots great even with hot 38 Super (+P) loads.

I think I'll go to a red front sight instead of the green though.

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DW PM-9 side view with new parts installed

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DW PM-9 with EGW Carry Bevel Bushing & Wilson Combat FLGR & Plug

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DW PM-9 with Pachmayr G-10 grips & Ed Brown Arched Housing & Magwell

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DW PM-9 with Pachmayr G-10 grips & Ed Brown Arched Housing & Magwell

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Waiting for the break of day

That's what I did, back when they were $800.00 each. I bought the CBOB first and then the PM 7. I also bought a 3rd model, called the Agent or Argent - don't recall, it's up in Oregon.

The DW 1911s are very spartan - not alot of lettering, slide slabs a cleanly brushed, no "spray paint" finishes or rounding like some other brands. Clean sights, excellent trigger pull.

Earlier I mentioned that I was trying to be a "responsible adult" and to realize I don't need another 1911. Didn't work.

Over the weekend I snagged a new DW Valor. It's a .45 and has the Black Duty Coat finish. It shipped yesterday, and I will see it in a day or two.

My resolve to "be responsible" evaporated as I watched YouTube videos about the Dan Wesson automatics.

There's a really bad side to this. At the range, my misses will all be on me.

I'll be interested to see how this new acquisition will compare to my 1969 Colt National Match Gold Cup.

Stay tuned!

Curl

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Curly
SWCA #2599; SWHF #626

In my post about my lastest acquisition of a Browning High Power I also said I was trying to be responsible. It didn't work there either.

DIBS on the DW Guardian Leo. I sorta been on the lookout for one. I have the Vigil and Valkyrie both 9mm commanders and they are both very good. Also have a blued pair of Valor's, one 9 and one 45. Again, both are excellent.

IMO, it's hard to go wrong with a DW.

Love my DW Guardian. My tastes do change and I have sold a couple of 1911s (a sig carry anda kimber) but the Guardian is not going anywhere. Its my go to carry gun.