I've recently purchased a Dan Wesson A2 1911 45 ACP parkerized finish. I haven't been able to confirm this via their website although I've read elsewhere that only 200 pistols will be manufactured annually. Does anyone have any information on this subject? If this is in fact a limited addition then might that mean 200 each of both the blued and the parkerized versions?
Dan Wesson 1911 A2
- Thread starter Ridg1963
- Start date
- Status
Last edited:
WVsig
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,063
DW is going through a lot of changes right now. They have discontinued the Valor and a lot of other guns. The Blued Valor was gone long before they discontinued the Valor line as a whole. The original deal on these gun IIRC was that they would be limited production but the real number was never confirmed. No set number on how many would be blued and how many would be parkerized. I know that they had problems with their bluing which was one of the reasons that the Valor blue was discontinued. Head over to the 1911forum and look for Keith and he could tell you the real scoop.
Mn Fats
Member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2017
- Messages
- 2,372
An A2 or a Heritage has been on my wishlist for 6 months or so now. I've only ever checked Buds and they've had the A2 in stock that entire time. They list the finish as matte. I assume that's parked. I haven't seen a deep blued A2 yet, actually didn't even know the A2 came in two different finishes.
WVsig
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,063
They are shipping in a parkerized finish and a bead blasted blue. They used a gloss blue on the Blued Valor.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,286
Ridg1963
That's a good looking 1911! Kind of reminds me of the Colt Government I bought back in 2011. Really liked the overall look and that it had "100 Years of Service" roll marked on the slide.
That's a good looking 1911! Kind of reminds me of the Colt Government I bought back in 2011. Really liked the overall look and that it had "100 Years of Service" roll marked on the slide.
I've been getting the itch for a blued 1911, and if they were still around, I'd likely jump on a Blued 45 Valor simply because I have experience with DW and sort of know the quality I'm getting. But I'm curious to know what problems they were having with their bluing? Some pictures they look nice and some the bluing looks kinda light.
JR24
Member
That's a fine looking Colt.
But I do prefer the mods on the A2, beavertail, safety, sights, are just how I prefer 1911s for my comfort. I do like the balance the DW A2 finds between the classic look and modern "upgrades" (subjective, I acknowledge).
The standard government setup slide bites me badly and my colorblind eyes HATE those bitty sights.
I really should think about getting one of those A2s
WVsig
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,063
Blotchy, cloudy discolored patches on the flats. If you are in bright light or shine a light on the flats you will see the imperfections. DW does not do their own bluing and they don’t know why it happens but it does.
For some people it is not an issue but I would not be happy at the DW price point.
First I've ever heard of this, but really good to know. I had been looking everywhere for one for awhile, but I would definitely not be happy with that for what they cost. A Colt Wiley Clapp Govt model is looking better and better to me now.
JTQ
Member
Does Dan Wesson have a "blued" 1911?
I'm not that familiar with the Dan Wesson line-up, so I had to look up the Valor ( https://danwessonfirearms.com/product/valor/ ) . It is available in stainless or their Duty finish. The Duty finish does have a reputation of getting 'blotchy" with some lube/cleaning products (notably BreakFree CLP). With recommended products, I believe Kroil and FP-10, I don't seem to recall issues with a blotchy finish.
It is a mass produced production gun... If you are expecting more you need to up your game.
I have a Specialist I'm quite happy with, and have no need to up my game beyond what these cost, but anyone willing to accept a poor finish on a $1500-1800 gun just because it's "production" tier needs to have their head examined.
JTQ
Member
I'm agnostic on Dan Wesson 1911's, but while there are quite a few issues reported with them (such as Duty Treat finish blotching and stainless galling), I'm not sure how much can be attributed to Dan Wesson and how much should be attributed to the owners.
Zerodefect
member
Half and half is a fair answer. In my experience, the galling was 90% operator error. But a few DW's got out, that were a bit tight.
They've been a bargain for a while, but not perfect. The duty treat is melonite, some cleaners may discolor it. I treat those DW's like Glocks and they look fine. If you get a decent one, to me, it's 99% to an Ed Brown, and 100% reliable. If I had more money, I'd have a dozen of them.
Wear free guns look lame to me. Like a rookie soldier.
I wish they'd try a .40 2011 with a more modern USPSA look, and SS grips.
They've been a bargain for a while, but not perfect. The duty treat is melonite, some cleaners may discolor it. I treat those DW's like Glocks and they look fine. If you get a decent one, to me, it's 99% to an Ed Brown, and 100% reliable. If I had more money, I'd have a dozen of them.
Wear free guns look lame to me. Like a rookie soldier.
I wish they'd try a .40 2011 with a more modern USPSA look, and SS grips.
I'm happy, but will not go so far to say they are perfect. Mine has been 100% reliable in 1200 rounds using only the DW mags, but I don't think I like the recoil characteristic and how it's sprung, and think I'm going to experiment with that soon. Also, as a lefty, every so often I get brass hitting off my left thumb knuckle and slicing me open and still getting brass marks behind the ejection port. Those are really only my 2 main gripes, but in the F&F dept, I'm satisfied.
WVsig
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,063
The owner of the gun talked with Keith of Dan Wesson and said it happens. We can reblue it but it will most likely come back. They stopped doing the polished flats and went to a satin. The Valor is now disconituned. The blued Valor was discontinued before the stainless or the Duty treat. This is what I am talking about. This however is not an issue on the A2s because they are bead blasted blue satin blue not a gloss blue.
The Duty finish is a melonite treatment and some oils like Breakfree CLP will cloud it but this is not what I am referring to.
JTQ
Member
Thanks for the clarification. The Duty finish issue was the one I was familiar with.
JR24
Member
I dont much care about scratches or whatnot on my guns as a whole. But that would bug the crap out of me.
Good thing my Valor and Valkyrie are the very nice looking Duty treat, accented with some nice holster wear.
Good, honest wear on my guns...no problem with. Only way to not put wear on a gun is put it in the safe and never touch it. But at least give me a nice base from the factory I can admire for a few days at least. If the Duty Treat is cared for as DW states, it's a nice finish and really like it so far.
So how is Colt's bluing these days?
So how is Colt's bluing these days?
Seems to me that it would be completely avoidable by buying one in person rather than online.
JR24
Member
WVsig
Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2012
- Messages
- 2,063
I agree to an extent but it really only shows in bright light. Unless you were outside or shined a flashlight on it in the shop you most likely would miss it. If it was my gun I would have asked for $$ and gotten it hard chromed.
- Status
