What is this Dan Wesson?

[Professor Frink]

Gents,

Was hoping someone here could give me a little info on this.

Picked-up this Dan Wesson very inexpensively. I've never owned a Dan Wesson revolver so I took a chance. Its interesting, fun to shoot, and seems way overly built for a snub, six-shot .38 special.

Can anyone tell me a bit more about it? Things like when it was made, why was it made (i.e. why did Dan Wesson think a big .38 special snub was a good idea), does it have any value beyond that of interesting shooter, and how many were made (I doubt this info is out there, but maybe).

All I've found is that its a "Palmer" gun and those tend to be less well thought of than a Monson built pistol. Added a 10-5 for size comparison, and my apologies for the lousy pictures, no clue why one is upside down.

Thanks much.

 

[Model52guy]

I have collected some Dan Wesson models for a few years but not one like yours. I believe it is a model 8-2? ( Fixed rear sight) it is the 38 special service model. I’ve seen a few of them at guns shows over the years but not many. Most of the collectors prefer the target models. Yes the Monson models are more collectible than the Palmer. You might look at the ‘Danwessonforum.com” and get a little more information about this particular model.
George

 

[824tsv]

It's a DW Model 8-2, .38 Special service revolver. Lot's of information can be found here:
The Dan Wesson Forum | The Legend Lives On…

 

[bigggbbruce]

.....................

 

[824tsv]

Model 14 have the fixed sights, Model 15 adjustable.

What's a model 8..?

The Model 8 was only produced as the Model 8-2. It's a .38 Special service revolver with fixed sights.

 

[oink]

Looks to be in very nice condition.

 

[torizus]

Great guns! I have a few and will never sell them. Started with my first about 1975, model 15-2VH and continued on. Probably one the most accurate guns I've shot when its configured right.
In my opinion Dan was was ahead of the curve, today you find more than one manufacturer building off his original features such as:
-barrel within shroud
-interchangable multi colored front sights
-full barrel lug
-ventilated top rib
-center cylinder lockup
-short trigger
-38.357.44 mag & 45 colt calibers
-excellent bluing
Maybe missed one or two but these guns are super accurate and the ability to control such things as cylinder to barrel gap, weighted front end choices are a big plus.

Pick yourself up a barrel wrench and caliber specific guide for it and your good to go. Wrench is simple hex type and the nut or guide id relatively inexpensive and a few after market sources are out there. You could also make your own

One you become familiar with it's design and features,it's hard to not like it.
Currently sold thru CZ. Have fun.

 

[hardluk1]

Never seen a 38sp model . My mom had a 14 years ago . It was 4" 357mag . Good trigger and strong handgun .

I bought a 15-2 357mag in '76 , a 22lr 4" in '77 and a 44mag in '78 .

Sold the 44mag but hunted with the 357mag for many years . EWKarms has most any part you would need to maintain your DW and if you want larger wood grips LBcustoms can cover your needs . Mine wear hogue rubber grips .

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a 14 4" I got in 1983, my first 357 Mag revolver. I traded it on something and wish I still had it.

Ivan

 

[824tsv]

The Model 8-2 is seldom seen these days. You will need some good luck finding another proper barrel/shroud for it. I'll go out on a limb and say they weren't very popular (not sure why because any DW is a excellent revolver) and were made with law enforcement in mind. I've seen more of the earlier pork chop barrel Model 8-2's than one like yours.

 

[Arm]

I only own one DW revolver, nowhere as nice as yours. Mine is a 15 with the pork chop barrel. It is pitted and ugly but....it can hit a target accurately every time. I like it, I think they are great revolvers, you got a winner there. can I ask what you shelled out for it?

Here is my ugly ducking:

 

[silentflyer]

I knew they made the 8-2 , but have never seen one other than photos.

I have several of them and wish I had kept some of those I sold over the years.
Most accurate big bore handguns I own....

 

[stansdds]

The DW Model 8-2 is rarely seen and, unfortunately, the Palmer guns had real spotty quality. If you get a good one, it's a keeper, but you are pretty much stuck with whatever barrel length it came with.

 

[hardluk1]

EWkarms did make an adaptor to the later model barrels and shrouds .
If not shown ASK .
Dan Wesson Porkchop Shroud Adapter - $35.00 : EWK Arms

 

[824tsv]

The early 90's when DW was taken over by the son Seth Wesson the business was moved to Palmer, Mass and re-started. The quality, as pointed out by stansdads was indeed spotty. The Model 8-2 was dropped shortly after. I've seen the 8-2 in 2 1/2" (like the O.P.'s), 4", 6". I have a 1979 catalog price list and the retail price of a Model 8-2 was $186.50

 

[Jaymo]

EWkarms did make an adaptor to the later model barrels and shrouds .
If not shown ASK .
Dan Wesson Porkchop Shroud Adapter - $35.00 : EWK Arms

I need to get one of those. I have one of the High Standard Sentinel 3 marked DWs with the pork chop barrel.
It's a snub and I'd like to get a 4" barrel for it.
Now, I can.
Of course, it's "finish challenged" which means it's going to get blasted and reblued.

I also have a snub 14-2 in gorgeous condition that I picked up a few years ago. It's a great shooter and I love the factory combat grip.

 

[dpast32]

Good Lucjk with your recent Dan Wesson revolver. From my experience, the early through middle years of production exhibited quality mfg, & were nice guns. Many, if not all were of the interchangeable barrel type, IIRC. ( The ended to be their primary & best sales point. ) Although they were decent enough revolvers initially, a few issues soon began to plague them. You had to 'set the barrel / cylinder gap' correctly, which required a special 'key', similar to a spark plug gapper. ( Again, IIRC ? ) In addition to that, they also had to compete with a good many other manufacturers of relatively high quality revolvers. ( Colt, S&W, High Std., the Brazilian & Spanish imports, & I'm sure I may have a few. )
And, if those concerns weren't enough, IIRC, the Company may have been experiencing business / financial issues. All in all though, they did have a good run, at least for a while anyway. A few years ago, one of my partners picked up a really nice D/W, complete w/ both 2.5" , 4" & 6" bbls, all in a hard case. They stole it for @ $ 200 or so !! The only problem I recall was, as usual, the darn factory 'Gapping Key' was missing. No problem though, a call to Numriclh / G.P.C. & they had a new key. Take care,

Best, dpast32

 

[stansdds]

There is no gapping key. The gap is set with a metal leaf feeler gauge. You can buy a nice feeler gauge set in any auto parts store and maybe even the big box hardware/appliance/lawn&garden stores. You do need the spanner wrench to loosen and tighten the barrel nut, that's really the only specialized part.

 

[hardluk1]

I run mine at 2ths for hunting and a tight 6ths for range fun and after a while you no difference between to tight and to loose . Feeler gauges are not hard to find . All us older types have one in a tool box for setting point gap . That should have the younger generation scratching there heads !!

dpast32 You really need to EWKarms for parts and there spanner wrench is a better than stock part anyhow