[snooperman]

Since I have been on this web site for the past few months, I have seen a number of questions concerning good revolvers for a reasonable price, yet no one seems to mention one of the best deals out there, namely Dan Wesson.Many years ago while shooting in silhouette matches, they were all the rage, and for good reason, as they were more accurate than Ruger, S&W and Colt.Some of my most treasured revolvers are Dan Wesson. They are out there and prices are very reasonable too. Don't overlook them. Just my 2 cents. Good shooting to you, sincerely, Snooperman

[batmann]

I don't think they still make 'em, do they? Sometimes it is hard to get a gunsmith to work on something that is out of production and add the factory support in. They seem to be fine revolvers, but hard to compete in todays market place.

[Hawk]

...
Some of my most treasured revolvers are Dan Wesson. They are out there and prices are very reasonable too. Don't overlook them. Just my 2 cents. Good shooting to you, sincerely, Snooperman

Those that have a nice one seem a happy enough lot but they are now a footnote in revolver history. Doesn't matter how nice or how pleasant the pricing if they're not made anymore.

And, Grant Cunningham has stopped working on them.

Then there's the matter of remembering which incarnation represented the product when it was not at the top of its game.

The only way I'd buy one is with a firing inspection and good luck getting an internet seller to agree to that and there simply are none locally.

RIP DW revolvers :(


...just what we needed CZ / DW - yet another 1911 clone - thanks a bunch.

[Elbert P . Suggins]

Back in 1980-82 I was a reserve officer with the Idaho State Police and I was allowed to choose my weapon and I carried a 357 mag Dan Wesson. I also had to qualify on the pistol range with the rest of the troopers. On my first time on the range I shot better than 13 patrolman and only two scored better. They tried the DW and just loved it but were shooting the S&W and couldn't make the switch. Their scores ALL improved with my revolver. That speaks pretty much for it itself!

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

no one seems to mention one of the best deals out there, namely Dan Wesson


Shhhhhhhhh! Dangit, let's keep this quiet, so I can buy more at low prices! :)

[snooperman]

Hawk , I can only agree with your rationale only partially, and no offense intended, but suffice to say there are many Colt revolvers that are not being made either, nor some S&W models that I have, but there are gunsmiths, if need be, to work on them as well as Dan Wesson.I do not see gun buyers turning away from Colts and non-production S&W either, and Dan wessons are out there and are just as good . Sincerely Snooperman

[NGIB]

I have a pair of Monson-made Dan Wessons and they're the equal of any S&W. CZ-USA still supports these guns and parts are available...

[SASS#23149]

I sure wish I hadn't traded mine off several year ago.It was very nicely made and shot great.

[raskolnikov_22]

Absolutely agree. Strong as a Ruger, but much better fit and finish IMO.
One can still find Monson 15's and 44's on Gunbroker for < $500, and complete kits for around $700-$800.

[Hawk]

Hawk , I can only agree with your rationale only partially, and no offense intended, but suffice to say there are many Colt revolvers that are not being made either, nor some S&W models that I have, but there are gunsmiths, if need be, to work on them as well as Dan Wesson.I do not see gun buyers turning away from Colts and non-production S&W either, and Dan wessons are out there and are just as good . Sincerely Snooperman

Your point is valid but my remark isn't as inconsistent as you might think with respect to the other brands.

I have given up on Colts with the older lockwork. I have one DS and one remaining Python - the rest I leave to collectors and those shooters that worry less about maintenance. And, Colt is still making revolvers and servicing double actions.

S&W remains in the business despite the declamations of those passionate about locks and such and will still service firearms going back quite a ways - don't know exactly how far back but Bangor Punta era still gets you a prepaid UPS sticker via email (that you'll later pay for). Good luck with DW and anything similar.

DW split off from SW during the Bangor Punta era anyway so they don't even have stuff old enough to abandon support on based strictly on age - they've abandoned support on the whole revolver line.

Grant Cunningham, whose opinion I tend to respect, stopped working on DWs due to spotty QC and, though it may be easy for a dedicated DW fan, I find memorizing Monson vs Palmer vs Norwich a pain and couldn't remember which are more likely to need extra scrutiny anyway. And the real early ones were horrible ugly so there's at least some Monson I'd avoid. They're great if you get a good one but I've gotten dud Pythons in the past buying over the internet - that should give you some type of idea as to my "sight unseen revolver karma". Anyone that gets dud Pythons has no business rolling the dice on DWs.

I'd buy one in a heartbeat if someone came drifting into the forums crowing about their angelic sweetness and then offered to sell me one of theirs. But suggesting I go gamble on Gunbroker with my kind of luck? C'mon.

Yours for sale?

Take a look at the posts above: "I have a pair of Monson..", "one can still find Monson" - what does that tell you about Palmer and Norwich? Reason to worry?

[Maj Dad]

I have a Monson 44 pistol pac with 6" & 8" stainless ported & blue non-ported bbls. Haven't used the ported bbls in a long time because it just doesn't need the help - Leupold M8 LEER helps keep it down. Haven't shot it in a couple of years and it sits in the safe but it will knock the x out of the target if I pull it out. The quality of these is superb, and I would set it next to anything on the market today (some notable exceptions, Korth, maybe, but that's hardly a production weapon). These are high-quality user items with enough polish to make then attractive as well - mine turns heads at the range. Anybody know what these are going for anymore? I paid around $500 or $600 all told with the M8 & mount I think...

[hardluk1]

I have had a 357 with a couple barrels that is 30 + years old and still look better than whats in the market and will out shoot s&w's customs.I also picked up a 44 palmer DW a couple months back and did have to order a new nut and wrench for it . Old ones are partly broke . Lady a talked to yesterday said she would send parts or today and when asked about the DW revolvers not the super mag this or that she told me that we will see them again. The good old regular caliber 357 and 44 at least. And that they had enough people contacting them to shot an interest again. SO mail them guys and tell them what you would like to see but be real about it.

[snooperman]

I have only sent one revolver off to be worked on the past 40 years, namely a S&W model 19 that is notorious for going out of timing.Hence the newer L frame for 357 magnum. So there are gunsmiths that can work on any revolver, including any Dan wesson. I have a WW2 submachine gun that needed repair-- No problem, the gunsmith made a part quite easily and it was back in busiess with narry a worry concerning price .

[Hawk]

I have only sent one revolver off to be worked on the past 40 years...
In the past 5 years I've had to have 4 worked on. Does that answer your question?

Your cosmic good luck won't rub off on others just from telling them of your happy times.

It's not so much a beef as simple caution:
http://grantcunningham.com/blog_files/0b28854d1d96606764f71ed68ca7ebf5-455.html

Now for the bad news: I am no longer be accepting reservations for work on Dan Wesson revolvers.
....

Why? Simple: the quality of the DW guns is so variable that the amount of time I spend making them "right" results in big bottlenecks in my workflow. The harsh reality is that they often display worse fitting and quality than many Taurus guns (and you probably already know how I feel about those.) If the rest of my work is to get out on a timely basis, something has to give - and DW is that something.

If you have a DW on the list now, I'll of course honor my agreement to work on it. Once those examples currently on the list are finished, that's it for Dan Wessons.

I gather yours isn't for sale? ;)

[snooperman]

Hawk, you and I have different mind sets on this issue. You are not wrong in your thinking and neither am I. My brother, is much the same as you and we shoot plenty together. May all your shots be in the 10 ring. Sincerely , Snooperman

[hemiram]

I have two right now, I had 4 of them previously, and sold them off when I needed cash. A couple years ago, I got a near mint 715 with custom sights off Gunbroker, with 3 grips (Factory, finger groove and rubber), a DW gun rug, the box, manual, etc, (But no tool, boo hoo!) shipped and transferred for like $310!! The thing had one scratch on the barrel shroud, that's it. It came from a gun shop, so it was really dirty, but that was it.

Later on, I bought a barrelless model 15-2, shipped and transferred for less than $300. Other than a good cleaning, it's in fine shape, and shoots great. Not as smooth as the 715 though. Came with an odd grip, almost looked like a single action one, but since I had extras anyway, who cares?

I have pretty much 2 or three of anything that wears out on a model 15 or 715, and I can replace the parts in a couple of minutes, so I have no fear of buying one online. I also bought up a couple of barrel tubes, an SS cylinder and ejector rod, so I'm set for the rest of my life!


I've never bought a new DW anyway, and the biggest issue I ever had with any of the six used ones I've had was some idiot cut the mainspring down and it wasn't hitting the primers hard enough to fire consistently. A spring change had it going 100%. I have a very early 44 too, and it's pretty much perfect, except for the "plum" frame color. I like it.

[salvo]

I have three Monson guns that I bought in the late 80's a .22LR, .357SM and a .445SM all stainless with 8" barrels, they were my Silhouette revolvers and there not for sale Hawk!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d71/SeaOx/Dan%20Wesson/DanWesson722-1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d71/SeaOx/Dan%20Wesson/DanWesson740-1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d71/SeaOx/Dan%20Wesson/IMG_3501.jpg

[Hawk]

Hawk, you and I have different mind sets on this issue. You are not wrong in your thinking and neither am I. My brother, is much the same as you and we shoot plenty together. May all your shots be in the 10 ring. Sincerely , Snooperman

I'd bet we're agreed on one thing: if CZ let DW start making revolvers again, I'd buy one.

...they were my Silhouette revolvers and there not for sale Hawk!
Didn't your mama ever tell you: "...did you bring enough for the whole class?"
:D

[Waldo Pepper]

DW is still in business and will repair your revolvers if needed and are reasonable priced. Here are mine and they out shoot my S&W's easy enough and sometimes they out shoot rifles. The 722 out shoots my Marlin 1894M 22 magnum, and I have that same problem with my Marlin 357 and 44 magnums.

My DW M-15 357 tack driver.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x245/oldnavy6393/DW-35701.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x245/oldnavy6393/DAN03.jpg

Actual photo of my DW 715 (357) still NIB.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x245/oldnavy6393/DW71501.jpg

My DW 744 now with a scope instead of the red dot.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x245/oldnavy6393/DW-44-03.jpg

My favorite rimfire the 722(M) 22LR & 22WMR, it easy out shoots my S&W Model 48 no dash with factory LR cylinder.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x245/oldnavy6393/DW7224xLeupold.jpg

[snooperman]

Hawk I couldn't agree more about the originals. It is ashame someone can't start making them again.

[snooperman]

Thanks for the beautiful DW revolver pictures. Now that I am approaching my 45 wedding anniversary, maybe my wife will get me another Dan Wesson. You are so correct Waldo Pepper, they will outshoot any Colt or S&W I have on the Silhouette range. I have taken deer and Wild boar with one many years ago. Thanks for all your replies on DW revolvers. Sincerely, Snooperman

[warnerwh]

The OP is absolutely right. I cannot believe it either. These guns are the equal of any S&W or Ruger, many will argue superior to either Smith and Wesson or Ruger as would I. When silhouette was hot the Dan Wesson was winning 9-10 out of 10 matches. It proved not only the strongest gun but the most accurate of all of them. They are still unusually accurate and strong.

It's a good thing the masses are unaware of what they are missing. It keeps prices down.

[jbbaldwin]

I also have several Dan Wesson's and enjoy shooting them all. I haven't had to send any of mine back to DW for service but have bought several new barrels and shrouds from them and also had a brushed blue finish put on my 445 SuperMag and service was excellent.

If you want more info on DW's you might want to visit The Dan Wesson Forum (http://www.danwessonforum.com).

[M&PVolk]

My father has a Dan Wesson .357, and it is an amazing gun. The finish is spectacular, and their may not be a more accurate, better feeling revolver out there.