Dan Wesson; What's to Know?

[Onomea]

I've been thinking about Dan Wesson revolvers. Other than that they have interchangeable barrels, I know virtually nothing about them.

E.g., do they have a good reputation? Robust? Accurate? Are they on par with Smith and Colt revolvers? Are early ones better than late ones? Which models are preferred and why? What is important to know about them when considering a purchase? What is the best book about them?

Etc.

Pix would be great, too!

 

[A10]

I can't answer all your questions, but I know they are solid revolvers. The lock up is very robust. Tension on the barrel nut can affect accuracy, but that is something you can play with to get your tightest groups.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In 1982, give or take a year, I bought a 4", matt finish, fixed sight model in the 15 Series (357 mag) for $158 OTD from a FFL at church. That was their answer to the model 10 S&W. Heavier than a Model 10 Bull barrel! Had a good trigger and shot much better than I did! I sold it down the line and don't miss it, because I have had lots of model 10's and 13's! I never bought the 44Mag target models and sure wish I had! Same for the 22 RF's, But what I kick myself the most over were the silhouette Models in 445 Super Mag (long 44 Mag), 375 Super Mag (short 375 Win) and 357 Maximum! Those guns had no problem holding up to those monster cartridges and barrel erosion was a simple barrel change to correct!

If I only had a time machine!

Ivan

 

[Sevens]

It's been my experience with two of them that if you are a genuine fan of the S&W double action, the Dan Wesson DA will be a bitter disappointment.

On the other hand, they are hell for stout and they are beautifully accurate.

After long dances with two of them and trying all that I could to fall in love, I sent both down the road and I'm over 'em.

I do worry that I could get sucked in to a CZ Dan Wesson revolver... but that seems quite unlikely due to the price.

 

[colt_saa]

The tensioned barrel design made them highly sought after for Metallic Silhouette shooting back in the day. It is a similar barrel design to the one that makes the current Smith & Wesson Model 327 TRR8 and M&P R8 revolvers so accurate.

The barrel nut is not an adjustment. It needs to be tight.

Dan Wesson did offer a fixed sight, 38 Special Model 8 that was more comparable to the Smith & Wesson Model 10 offering than the Dan Wesson target sighted Model 15. There was a fixed sight Model 11 and 14 that were chambered in the 357 Magnum cartridge. The 8 and 11 did have a windage adjustable rear sight for a while. The fully adjustable target sighted variation on these were the Models 9, 12 and 15 respectively

The Dan Wesson is a short throw Double Action so it feels heavier than the current Smith & Wesson Double Action, but it is also a faster action, less trigger time is required to make it fire. The Single Action is clean and crisp. There was also a Single Action Only revolver for a short period

Most models have four barrel shroud profiles to choose from. . . Standard, Vent Rib, Heavy and Vent Heavy. The blue 357 SuperMag pictured above is the Vent Heavy profile while the stainless version is the Vent Rib. The slots in the barrel shroud was to get the revolver below the maximum weight limit for Metallic Silhouette competition

The Dan Wesson revolvers are very solidly built and have been manufactured in many calibers from 22LR to the 445 SuperMag. In addition to the various SuperMag offerings there have been other odd balls like 32-20, 360 Dan Wesson and 460 Roland

Like Smith & Wesson, Dan Wesson has been owned by many different organizations over the years and collectors will argue for the good years and the bad years, etc. Just like we do on this Forum. Every era had good and bad firearms just like today. I have not noticed a significant pattern of good or bad with either Company and have no problem owning firearms from any era


The Dan Wesson design did let me channel my inner Maxwell Smart with my suppressed revolver

Of course it does not work, but it was cool to bring to the range

 

[Onomea]

Thank you, Colt SAA. I appreciate the informed detail.

 

[max]

My first revolver was a Hi-Standard marked Dan Wesson 15. It was accurate and well built. It taught me how to reload and a great deal about shooting. I traded it for a Ruger Security Six and wish I had it back.

 

[mtgianni]

They are stout and accurate as has been said. The cylinder release is funky enough that it takes a lot of practice to switch between it and a Smith if you carry both. It is easy and quick to use but in a stressful situation, you need to have practiced it. It does involve inverting it so it is rare to see any brass get past the ejector and tie things up.

 

[glenncal1]

The DW's are good revolvers, different from a S&W, but as stated well built and very accurate. The interchangeable barrels are a fun feature. Pictured below is my DW 32 that I have 4" and 8" barrels for. 8" for the range and 4" for carry. The cylinder was reamed to accept .327 magnum by Andy Horvath, and no I am not worried about the higher pressure.

 

[hdfinder47]

IIRC (and I often do not) DWA advertised years ago that their revolvers were the most accurate due to design features. S&W sued (I guess for false advertising or something) and DWA proved their claim in court. I would research this but my Google-fu is weak.
Ed

 

[duane_wade]

I've got 2 Dan Wesson pistols, a 15-2 (with 2½", 4" & 6" barrels) and a .44 with a fixed 6" barrel. Both will out shoot my shooting capabilities with handloads. I know that the .44 will shoot 2" groups at 85 yards (my pistol range) from a bench rest.

These are keepers for life.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[stansdds]

My first revolver was a Dan Wesson 15-2, 8 inch barrel, blued. I found the 8 inch barrel to be a bit long for open carry, so I bought a 6 inch ventilated rib heavy shroud and barrel for it. Great revolver, very accurate, easily achieving the same accuracy as the Colt Python and Ruger GP-100 that I later bought. In a moment of foolishness, I traded it to a friend who still has it and refuses to part with it. Years later, I found and bought another DW 15-2.

My second one is just as accurate as the first. The lock work is more akin to that of the Colt Trooper Mk III. The coil main spring creates a double action pull that stacks as the trigger is pulled further to the rear, something that those who are familiar with the smoother pull of S&W K,L, and N frame and earlier Colt revolvers that use a leaf spring do not always like. Single action pull tends to be very crisp, which greatly aids in accurate shooting. The tensioned barrel system is also said to dampen barrel vibration and improve the inherent accuracy of the revolver.

Stocks are easy to change, one screw that goes through the bottom of the stock and into the frame stud, but beware that if the stock screw is screwed in too far, it will prevent the hammer's spring guide and main spring from being fully compressed, so single action will not be possible and in severe cases, even double action is impeded. Washers placed on the grip screw are the solution to this issue.

Barrels and shrouds on most Dan Wesson's can be changed by the user. Some later DW revolvers had permanently attached barrels, but those made in Monson, Mass. had the tensioned barrel system.

Parts are usually available on eBay, but have become increasingly expensive over the last decade or so.

 

[sniper]

I've been thinking about Dan Wesson revolvers. Other than that they have interchangeable barrels, I know virtually nothing about them.

E.g., do they have a good reputation? Robust? Accurate? Are they on par with Smith and Colt revolvers? Are early ones better than late ones? Which models are preferred and why? What is important to know about them when considering a purchase? What is the best book about them?
Etc.
Pix would be great, too!

I still wish I had mine! But...the siren song of Newer, better, different was listened to! Accurate, robust, "Hell for stout" is how one gunzine Guru stated it! Couldn't do a comparison, but believe it to be the most accurate revolver I have owned. I'd own another, but they are much too expen$ive, nowadays.

 

[CajunBass]

I just bought my first Dan Wesson centerfire revolver, a Monson 15-2 with a 4" half length lug sleeve. I've owned three of their 22's in the past.. The interchangeable barrel feature has never interested me. It's an interesting feature I suppose, but not something I'd ever take advantage of.

I don't know the history of this gun, but it looks to have not been fired a lot, if at all. I took care of that and put 100 rounds through it over the weekend. Like most guns in the class, it really liked 38 wadcutters and 158 grain plated RN weren't far behind. The trigger is VERY nice. My gauge only goes to 8 pounds, and the DA is more than that...maybe 9 or 10, but very smooth. The S/A on the other hand breaks right at 3.5 pounds.

I said I'll never change the barrel, but will pull it and clean the threads and such, so I ordered a barrel wrench and a go/no go gauge, and a set of Allen wrenches for the sights, just to have them. They were fairly cheap from EKW.

Can't beat it for looks either.

 

[Model52guy]

Bought a DW 357 super mag back in the 80’s. Replaced the Ruger 357 super mag that was recalled. Best single action Ive ever shot. I was shooting ispc steel targets. Still have 2 super Mags plus 22, 357 and 44 mag pistols. Accurate, well built

 

[Shooter-2]

It's been my experience with two of them that if you are a genuine fan of the S&W double action, the Dan Wesson DA will be a bitter disappointment.

Yep, I bought one years ago and was disappointed.

 

[glenwolde]

I've had a couple of Model 15's over the years. Very accurate revolvers, as good as anything. Not as good workmanship to me as S&W but close.

The interchangeable feature is neat but not as handy as one would think. Every time you swap barrels it takes a little time shooting to get them settled back in. POI changes. Not a big deal but it's really not like you go to the range with the 6", go home and swap to a 2 3/4" and go to dinner, then swap to a 4" for a hike the next day.

Nice guns, and worth owning but I'm not paying S&W prices for one. They have kind of a weird DA. Very short stroke. O.K. let's not say weird. Let's say different. But they are hella accurate.

 

[TheTinMan]

The first iteration made in Monson, Massachusetts is the most desirable from a collector standpoint. The lockup is bank vault tight. Neither Colt nor Smith & Wesson double action revolvers lock up like this and I have more than 1 example of each. The double action triggers on my 2 examples are meh but the single action triggers are excellent. The cylinder release is weird until you get used to it but it’s actually very ergonomic IMHO.

My 6” 744 has a vented rib and standard barrel. When I want to shoot full house 44 Magnum it is my go to revolver. It’s that heavy and stout. I also have an 8” barrel for it but still haven’t got around to swapping it in.

 

[shamuscull]

I have a model 14 Still looking for a nice model 15-2 for a good price.

 

[Tex1001]

It's been my experience with two of them that if you are a genuine fan of the S&W double action, the Dan Wesson DA will be a bitter disappointment.

On the other hand, they are hell for stout and they are beautifully accurate.

Both accurate statements. I got mine in '76.
First thing I noticed was the hammer mechanics. Cock the
hammer on a S&W made after 1948 and the hammer rotates
back and down. DWs hammer pin is placed differently. The
hammer feels like it's coming straight back. Almost no
rotation.
Single action shooting takes getting used to.
Not bad, just different.
I, too, traded mine for a Ruger Security Six. I wish I had it
back.