Dan Wesson revolver quality control?

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Scout21

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I'm hoping to buy a Dan Wesson Model 15-2 from a family friend in the coming months. I checked it out a while back, but I don't remember where it was made. The person hasn't shot it, but it was used when they got it. I've done some reading on them and it seems that they had a hiccup or two in the quality department, particularly around the periods that the company changed ownership. It appears that the Monson made ones are best. Are the Monson made ones better quality revolvers overall, or is it that there is simply a better chance of not getting a lemon because of Monson's better QC? Should I be apprehensive if the revolver isn't Monson made?
 
A DW from any of the factories are some of the best revolvers out there, any blems from the early years were weeded out years ago. All mine were Monson and were all great, I have shot quite a few Palmers and they were as good as my Monson. Hope all goes well for you getting that DW, I'm sure you will like it.
Paul
 
Mine are all Monson also. All have been excellent Quality.
I can't think the Palmer or Norwich would be any less.
 
I have three small-frame DW of the Monson era. Other than a touch of purpling in the bluing on one frame, they look and shoot like new. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
I kinda like the purple hue. Its common on old German guns too.
Dan Wesson revolver? Yes please!
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My M15 is hands-down my most accurate centerfire revolver.
 
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I have three small-frame DW of the Monson era. Other than a touch of purpling in the bluing on one frame, they look and shoot like new. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
I had a 44 that had the purple plum color frame too, seems to be a early 80s thing, read somewhere it was the type of metal they were using at the time, heard Colt had some back then with the same tint.
 
No need to be apprehensive about where it was made. I own two Monson 15-2s and there are a couple things to be aware of like the barrel nut loosening and being careful not to scratch the side plate with the ejector star. Most used DWs I've seen have side plate scratches to some degree. DW small frame revolvers are very easy to disassemble/assemble by owners to clean or repair.
 
Had an HK P7 turning plum colored so I wrote to HK to ask about it. They replied that it, 1) could have been some change in the steel that they were using at that particular time, 2) or possibly some difference in the heat treatment with the steel, or, 3) there was a problem with the consistency of the bluing solution.

Of course it could also have been a combination of any or all of the three processes listed !
 
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It appears that the Monson made ones are best. Are the Monson made ones better quality revolvers overall, or is it that there is simply a better chance of not getting a lemon because of Monson's better QC? Should I be apprehensive if the revolver isn't Monson made?
I'd be more apprehensive of getting a "bad" S&W than a Dan Wesson...after the initial ones...from any of the factories
 
I've seen some from Palmer that had some issues, but the only Monson guns I've seen that were bad were abused or neglected. My problems in over 45 years of DW 15-2 ownership (about 12 guns altogether, but it could be a couple more) consisted of a clipped mainspring, a broken trigger spring, and a sight insert that fell out because the screw was missing. The only time a barrel loosened up on me was when I never tightened it in the first place. I don't count the doofus move of red loctite on the gun as any real problem. I only had it happen once. A little heat from a torch and the loctite loosened up and after a little cleanup, the nut went on and off like it's supposed to. I cannot understand how people ever have problems with the nut coming loose, it's never happened to me, period.
 
I have a late 70’s DW 15-2 357 pistol pack & CZ era 715 pack. No discernible difference in quality between the two other than the older one’s trigger is a bit smoother DA pull that’s been broken in more.
 
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