Dan Wesson Pointman Major 1911 in .45ACP

[richyoung]

...just bought one of these. As best as I can tell from the web, its an Essex cast frame with Chip McCormick guts and a Jarvis barrel. Looks nice - barrel is fighted very well - 2-3 thousands play in the slide. I probably paid too much - $545 at a gun show for the peice, one mag, platic case with all the goodies - it's been fired some, but no real wear & tear that I can tell. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet - does anone have any experience with these? Fit and finish seems very good - slide fit is a little looser than I like, but I'm spoiled - I've seen Wilsons and Kimbers that were just as loose. Does anyone know who makes their slides, etc?

 

[TonyT]

I purchased a new one about a year ago from CDNN for about the same price. My son enjoyed shooting the Pointman to the point that I had to "give" it to him and buy another. They are a great value for the money. I also picked up the same model in 9mm.
Tony

 

[richyoung]

Thanks for the info...

 

[jem375]

the most accurate handgun I own besides my hunting handguns is the Dan Wesson Pointman Major 45ACP........with all the match equipment on it, I guess it should be

 

[Murphster]

I had a Pointman Major for awhile. Liked it a lot. Good trigger, accurate, and pretty. Had to reglue the DW insignia on the grip - fortunately that was just within the realm of my gunsmithing skills. As I recall, it was a little more particular about magazines than was/is my SA Mil-Spec. All in all, I was very satisfied with it.

 

[baker]

They were getting forged slides and frames from S&W a while back, but not sure where they get them now. They've always done their own machining from what I understand.

 

[richyoung]

This particular gun was sold new in August of 2003 - I don't know how to tell a casting from a forging in stainless - I will say the machining appears to be first rate - very tight barrell fitting, just enough clearance on the slide rails to rock a couple of thousandths - I would have prefered tighter, but probably won't make a difference to accuracy. If I had to guess - I would say it looks like a forged slide on a cast frame. Can't wait to go shooting...

 

[stans]

Castings usually have a pebbly texture in the areas that are not machined and you can sometimes find a mold parting line that runs lengthwise with the part. The early DW Pointman Minor pistols were all cast metal, the Pointman Major had a forged frame and cast slide, higher end pistols were supposed to be forged frames and forged or barstock slides.

 

[richyoung]

thanks stans - the arm is at home - (I work on a military base - they refuse to honor my state's CCW at all, even to leave locked in the trunk...) so I can't look at it right now. I will say just from impression, I would have thought the frame was cast and the slide forged, rather than vice-cersa. I couldn't see any parting lines or casting flash on any parts except the mainspring housing, which I slightly cleaned up with a flat needlefile. 2003 wasn't that long ago - perhaps I have an all-forging gun? The workmanship and cosmetics seem incredible, much nicer than any Kimber, Colt or Springfield I saw. Unfortunately, the previous owner seems to have NEVER cleaned the gun - when I disassembled the factory mag & swabbed the inside of the mag body, the patch turned instantly black (maybe he didn't know how to dissasemble a mag with a welded base plate?) & I had to scrape crud off of the breach face, feed ramp, & other parts. Also looks like I may need a new extractor fitted - but that's not the gun's fault. I have heard differeing opinions on the quality of the barrels. Does Jarvis really make them, & if so, how good are they? I certainly can't complain about the fit - it's perfect.

 

[rbert0005]

You should like it a lt. Here is a target that I got out of mine.

Bob

 

[stans]

the Pointman Major had a forged frame and cast slide

OOOPS! my mistake, the Pointman Major did have a forged or barstock slide and cast frame. See, this is what happens when I post before my second cup of coffee!

Don't sweat a cast frame. A well made cast frame is every bit as durable as a forged frame. Caspian has fewer returns on their cast frames than on their barstock frames. As for cast slides, I have one, an Essex commander size. It is ok, but I don't expect it to last as long as a barstock or forged slide.

 

[richyoung]

I will say this - if this frame is a casting, (and I think it is...) it is the most dimensionally accurate casting I have ever seen - real precise. Unfortunately, I can't get the gun to feed when cycling the slide by hand or by tripping the slide release - not even with brand new Novak mags. I suspect a worn, badly fitted, or both extractor, as extraction/ejection is iffy, as well - no big deal - I will try to get it to one of the local smiths today. I'm still pleased with the construction overall - and that is one KILLER group in the picture. So why do people rag on the DW 1911's so much???

 

[rbert0005]

It is the uneducated. Seems to me that what I hear is Kimber or nothing.

Check the classifieds.

Bob

 

[Marshal]

I purchased the Pointman Minor when they first came out. I was not happy with it at all. The day I got it new, it had alot of play in the slide, the trigger was not fitted well at all, as in very loose from side to side. I have heard that the Major is way better, but why would Dan Wesson, build something like the Minor being so poorly built. I paid $400.00 and you get what you pay for, but that was just plain crap.

Im thinking of looking at the Major myself and am glad to read this thread to find more out about it.

 

[baker]

Dan Wesson has lifetime warranty, even if you bought it used. You might try the factory for service.

 

[Marshal]

Thanks for the info Baker, but I sold it the day I got it. I understand the lifetime stuff and all, but for them to let that out of the factory the way it was, no thanks. Quailty control was not in place at that time. Not to knock them as I stated I am looking at the Major, but hey I had a Springfield V-10 Ultra Compact and after 200 rounds the slide had alot of play on it as well. I did send that back and they took care of it.

 

[baker]

Sorry Marshall, I was referring to the original poster, not your post. I'm with you on the Minor. I don't think I would have tried a salvage operation on that one, either.

 

[Vic303]

FYI, This info came out at the SHOT Show, that CZ-USA bought out Dan Wesson.

 

[stans]

I purchased the Pointman Minor when they first came out. I was not happy with it at all. The day I got it new, it had alot of play in the slide, the trigger was not fitted well at all, as in very loose from side to side. I have heard that the Major is way better, but why would Dan Wesson, build something like the Minor being so poorly built. I paid $400.00 and you get what you pay for, but that was just plain crap.

Some of the early 1911's built by DW had quality control problems, but I think the newer ones are much better.