Dan Wesson 15-2

[Gene L]

Back in my police revolver days, I tried a couple of DWs. They were accurate SA pistols and widely used in handgun silhouette shooting because the barrel/cylinder gap was adjustable. Plus, you could get long barrels for them, affordable. I don't know if that game is still going on, but if it is, I'll bet DW revolvers are still being used.

Despite their SA accuracy and lower cost, no one carried them as personally purchased duty guns, and we were allowed to. Never saw a LE agency that issued them (or any other revolver other than Smith and Colt.) Main reason if my experience is typical, is they had an awful DA trigger. And we were taught only to shoot DA.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Barrels interchange between the older DW M-12 and M-15, as do most internal parts, barrel shrouds and side plate screws do not.

 

[upcountry]

My wife has a .357 pistol pack, I have a .44 mag and a .22.
If I saw that one I'd grab it and add it to the group.

 

[joe44va]

Had a 715 Pistol Pack. Barrels were very rough and difficult to clean. Shot it loose and sent it back to the factory. They tightened things up but the barrels were still rough. Traded it. It was very accurate however.

 

[whitestang]

Whitestang—Why was the Sheriff opposed to the the cylinder release being in front of the cylinder? Training issue with everyone else in the department with S&W? Or maybe he thought it was dangerous to put your hand forward of the cylinder?

He said it would take longer to open the cylinder with the release in front unlike a Smith or Colt. He was old school only tried and true weapons. I got a 39-2,which was approved as the ISP had carried them for a number of years.

 

[Retired W4]

I don't know about this particular model but it appears that the people who designed the action on DW revolvers must have been experimenting with psychoactive drugs. Get ready to play in the puzzle palace when you take the side plate off. In my opinion there must be worse designs. I just haven't seen them.

 

[stansdds]

I don't think it is any more complex than that of the Colt Trooper MK III.

 

[Retired W4]

I don't think it is any more complex than that of the Colt Trooper MK III.

My point exactly. I have detail stripped S&W, Colt, DW and other revolvers and DW's are among the worst I have been into I often tell people that Colts are for looking at, Smith & Wessons are for shooting. I ripped that quote off from another member years ago.

Here is a shot of my one remaining Dan Wesson's, a D-11. I keep it for sentimental reasons.

 

[stonebuster]

you stole it

The barrel on that gun is worth $100 more than the $250 you paid. Great score. The 15-2s (I have two) were built so the owner could easily disassemble them without needing a gunsmith. The large frame(44 cal) are a different story. I disassembled mine today to replace the mainspring and reassembled it in about 25 minutes. Barrel, shroud, grip, trigger, connector(transfer bar),trigger return spring, hammer, and mainspring out and back together in that time. Check out the DW site for the "poor man's guide" to disassembly. BTW, I bought a 8" heavy barrel yesterday for $100 more than you paid for your !5-2. Have fun with your DW.

 

[stonebuster]

There is a Dan Wesson forum that will answer any question you might have. As torizus said get a proper barrel wrench for the .357 if the gun didn't come with one and a .006" shim to gap the barrel. If you want other barrels and shrouds they are out there.

An inexpensive set of automotive feeler gauges and an EWK barrel wrench($26) is what I use. Allen wrenches for side plate screws, grip screw, trigger over travel screw and front sight screw.

 

[hemiram]

I don't know about this particular model but it appears that the people who designed the action on DW revolvers must have been experimenting with psychoactive drugs. Get ready to play in the puzzle palace when you take the side plate off. In my opinion there must be worse designs. I just haven't seen them.

That's what I thought the first time I took an S&W design gun apart. The DW action is simple and basically unbreakable. The only thing I've ever broken on the dozen or so 15-2's and a 715 is the hand spring on one, and the bolt spring on another one. Both had been "adjusted" by the previous owner. I don't understand the "puzzle palace" comment at all. Where is the puzzle? Karl Lewis knew what he was doing.

 

[hemiram]

To the OP:

You made a major score! My first and best GB deal was for a DW 715 in 2006. It was in the box with 3 grips and a crappy barrel wrench, along with some spare parts, for $269. You came close to that 15 years later, and got your gun for about 1/3 the going price. The scratches on the side plate are common. I lucked out, neither my 715 or my pretty 15-2 have them, but my rough 15-2 does have some. The grip screw causing problems is a common thing too. I blew a hole in the range roof about 1980 or so when I tightened the screw just enough to cause the gun to have an unsafe SA trigger. I cocked the gun, and while the muzzle was raised, it went off. Embarrassing.

The EWK wrench is the way to go, much better than the ones they(CZ) sell now.

 

[Dieseltech56]

I have three model 15-2s. An 8" heavy, 2.5" vented non heavy and a 3" fixed barrel. I also have a newer 715

The only issue I've had is a few guns had excessive carbon buildup in the yoke barrel/cylinder area and removing the cylinder and disassembling is not as easy as a S&W. The ejector rod with the knob on the end will require some thought to remove, I used a drill chuck in my hand.

 

[roundels]

Dan Wesson

I remember handling this type at gun shows back in the day. I never bought one because of the DA pull and also because in my hands they had the worst factory grip I'd ever felt. Had Pachmayr or Hogue come out with grips soon enough I might have bought one out of curiosity.

 

[Grayfox]

There's a 4" DW 15-2 on the local Armslist here. No box, papers or extra barrels. Asking price is $900.

 

[penmaker]

My wife bought me a DW 15-2 heavy ventilated pistol pack. It came with 2.6, 4. 6 and 8" barrels and shrouds. It also has a cobbat grip as well as several front sights white, red and yellow. I find that it has almost as good single action trigger pull as my S&W's and actually beats S&W in the double action pull, IMO. My particular one is a very accurate revolver and a pleasure to shoot. If memory serves me right, she paid around $300 for it. The blue and grips are in almost mint state. I do really like the option of removing the barrels for cleaning. When the company was in operation back in the "old" days, you cou get barrels of various lengths up to 15". I always wondered if a 15" one with a scope would be a great varmint pistol. Sorry I didn't pursue that idea.

 

[needsmostuff]

EWK does not seem to be making barrels/shrouds anymore and that's a shame.
It always brought something different to the table.

For the lovers of 3"

And the uber heavy 4".

 

[ord03]

DW 15-2

I've had the Pistol Pac (same revolver with different length, interchangeable barrels) for years.
I can tell you it's a great revolver. You definitely got a deal on yours. Congratulations.

 

[KertP]

I own a Dan Wesson Model 744 that I purchased before Dan Wesson was bought by CZ. It has, bar none, the best single and double action of any revolver I have ever owned. I have hunted with it, carried it when in bear country, and it would be the last handgun I would part with. My sons will inherit it when I die. You got a steal for the price you paid. I passed up on a Dan Wesson Model 15 Pistol Pack back in the 1970's and have kicked myself since. Those pistol packs came with 4 barrels lengths, three different front sights, two grips and all the tools needed to change barrels, sights and grips. In those days I was into Pythons. Silly me. Wish I could have a do-over on that one.

 

[mgobrad]

Can anyone tell me what is the current worth of a DW Pistol Pack including all four barrel sizes?