Any Dan Wesson fans here?

madmikeb

madmikeb

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I was at the Kittery Trading Post last weekend and saw this Dan Wesson .357 on the shelf, perusing the internet the serial number seems to be from the early 80'S. It doesn't have a model number on it but as near as I can tell it is a Model 715.

It seems to be used but not abused, lockup is rock solid, single action is great, double action is smooth but seems to stack a little toward the end. I did detail strip it, clean and lubricate it. It came with a set of goodyears so I ordered up the Hogue's and just installed them. I didn't get a barrel wrench or anything, just the gun.

I know back in the day I used to hear good things about these. The price was $695 so I couldn't resist. If any has any info and personal experience with these I would like to hear your thoughts.

Thank you in advance!
 

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My first revolver was a DW 15-2. Foolishly traded it, but found another 15-2 years later. Yes, yours is a Model 715 and was made in Monsan, Mass. The Monson revolvers are regarded as being of better machining quality than the later ones made in Palmer, Mass. The Dan Wesson's double action trigger tends to be heavy and stacks as the trigger is pulled. Single action tends to be exceptionally crisp. DW's are usually very accurate revolvers and have been called the poor man's Python.
 
My wife has a .357 pistol pack, I have a .44mag (used by a 2X IHMSA with an 8") with a couple of other barrels one being a comp full lug, a .22 and just picked up a 2" stainless .357.
All Monson made. Everybody and their little brother is putting out varied and quality versions of the 1911, but nobody does what DW did with their revolvers.
I'd have more if they were still in production. Love to see them make a comeback.
 
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I'm a fan of Dan Wessons latest. The DWX Compact....

IMG_4304.JPEG
 
I’m a bit of a fan, mainly their 1911’s. I do have a 357 pistol pack but haven’t used it much. Their 1911’s are impressive in fit, finish and performance for me with one exception. I bought a heritage edition last fall and the bronze finish was missing along the edges of the slide. After the Holiday’s I contacted them and they sent a FedEx return form and away it went in January. They said 4-6 weeks turn around. It’s been 4 months and still not back yet. I called last week and they said a couple weeks more. I don’t know if it’s typical for them or not but just leaves a bad taste. I’ll bet your gun will be great. I haven’t been to KTP in years but it used to be great,
 
I bought a 357 magnum pistol pack revolver with the 4 barrels, the belt buckle, spare sights, patch, all tools, zebra stocks, and combat stocks. and paperwork. It is in the 70's/80's briefcase with yellow interior.

I bought it on Gunbroker for $1,600 recently with a one line description and sorry pictures. Turns out it is unfired and still had the plastic packaging behind the cylinder and showroom new.

The down side is I can't bring myself to shoot it. My son loves it, so I will leave it to him to decide what to do with it.

So congrats! They are a good shooter only going up in value.

I can't comment on the semi autos, I know nothing about them.
 
Have the M-12 and M-15, full selection of barrels. Accurate, smooth actions, the interchangeable barrels and shrouds are a lot of fun.
 
My first handgun I bought was a Dan Wesson after turning 21. It was a 15-2 vent rib heavy barrel 6 inch. I did not buy a pistol pack,wish I had.
It was a great gun to shoot,no matter if you shot .38 or .357 rounds.
I traded it for a different gun after about two years of owning it, big mistake.
 
I’ve posted these before. Dan Wesson 715 VH8:

thetinman-albums-dan-wesson-picture26125-dan-wesson-715-vh8.jpeg


I bought that at Kittery Trading Post a few years ago with the styrofoam box, cardboard sleeve, manual, barrel tool and feeler gauge for cylinder gap.

This 744 V6S came in years ago… off GunBroker IIRC. I found the V8H barrel in its original Dan Wesson box some years later:

thetinman-albums-dan-wesson-picture26126-dan-wesson-744-v6s-extra-vh8-barrel.jpeg


Forgive me for the blasphemy but it’s my favorite 44 Magnum revolver for shooting. It locks up like the proverbial bank vault and the single action trigger is darn near perfect for me. Oh and it’s wicked heavy which is not a bad thing when shooting 44 Magnum.
 
I have had a .357 and a .44 Monsoon made and regret selling them. I kept the .22 715 and still shoot it often. A 10mm Bruin as well as a Pointman have a spot in the safe as well.

The 1911's are nice clean looking tributes to the iconic JMB design and both are more accurate than me and function flawlessly.

The 6" 22 revolver is an excellent shooter and has a rich purplish color. The single action trigger is better than any Smith I have fired!
 
MadMike, you got a fine deal on that 8-inch, Sir. You likely could sell the barrel assembly for what you paid for the whole gun, LOL. That is, if you should ever decide to dive deeper, and get yourself a 4 or 6 inch assy. for it.

I would jump on the Ebay and find that dealer in Europe that sells the extremely well-made barrel wrench. {It's a satin alloy muzzle plug axis, and a straight steel bar that is either blackened or blued. }Reason is, they can loosen-up when shooting....no bueno.

You can find a nice .003 gap gauge from any decent Ace or Tru-Value.
 
And for $700 ? I would have jumped on the MadMikeb 's find with zero hesitation! Good find !
 
I bought my first revolver back in "76 and it was a DW 15-2 with a 4" and 8" barrel that turn out to be the only barrel used for 30 years , It wears the 4" barrel currently . I tried a handgun scout but did not care for it after adding a Beuhler no drill scope mount to it but in 1990 I bought a ultra dot 2moa red dot to the mount for hunting . My wife also owns a 15-2 6" bought a couple of years later but its been just a shooter . Today it also wears a 4" barrel bought thru EWKamrs .

Enjoy that fine looking SS 715 .
 
16 Responses and no one has a bad thing to say about their revolvers yet!

I guess I made the right decision and will get to the range with it in when I get a chance.

Thank you everybody!
 
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...
About 15 years ago. I was at a gun show in Manchester NH.
I had been looking for a Dan Wesson pistol pack for a few years prior. Low and behold, there is one at a small booth with a couple of other guns.
The guy that was selling it said he didn't even know why he had it. He didn't think it was worth anything.
I offered him $450.0 and walked out with it.
It is a fantastic gun.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
 
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I bought a new Model 15-2 Vent Heavy 6" Dan Wesson in around 1978. I later added a plain 8" barrel. It is one of those guns that I wish I hadn't sold. It just seemed to hit right where I was looking without concentrating very hard on the principles of good marksmanship which a lot of guns make you work at. It wasn't until I bought an S&W Model 586 that I had another gun that was as easy to shoot that well.

But like an idiot when the stainless Model 715 came out I decided that a stainless one would be even better. Mine was an early one, serial number less than 800 if I recall. And it was the worst gun I ever owned. For starters, the index pin on the frame that helped align the barrel was off and the barrel was canted several degrees. I sent it back to the factory and they actually had to make me a new frame with the same serial number.

When I fired it, things got worse. The chambers were so rough that any loads hotter than about a .38 +P had to be pounded out of several chambers. .357's were a total no go. How the gun passed their test firing is beyond me. I quickly got rid of it.

But if I ever came across a high condition Monson Mass made Model 15 again I would be hard pressed to pass it by.
 
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