Picked up an unfired '76 Dan Wesson at Cabela's

Status
Not open for further replies.
Forgive me if this is staying too far off topic, but what's the general consensus on the new DW's post CZ?
Not too far for me since I own one of the few new 715's that they produced. There is no doubt that it's a quality revolver but the jury is still out in my mind as to if it can live up to my '76 model 15, which is the subject of this thread. I don't shoot it as well and there is something different feeling about the DA that I can't quite put my finger on. It may simply be that I don't shoot that 6" heavy barrel as well and maybe that extra length and weight changes the revolver characteristics more than I anticipated. Like I said, the Jury is still out. (picture below)

That's a gorgeous deep blue liquid finish. Even better than the old mid century S&Ws I think. Congrats on a great find!

How would you compare the double action trigger to a classic S&W K Frame trigger? better or worse?

I really like that smooth grip in the first picture. Do you know who makes it?
I've fired 2 model 19's and I can unequivocally state that the factory DA on this Dan Wesson is vastly superior to the two model 19's that I fired. Does that mean that this would be the case for all or even most S&W's k frames? I don't think 2 revolvers is a valid sample set so I would have to leave it at that. YMMV I can say that the frame seems a bit beefier than the S&W K frame and is on par with my Ruger's.

The smooth grip is the original Dan Wesson grip that came with the revolver. I didn't like the feel of it because it was HUGE and you would have to have hands the size of a very large man to grip it well. I would gladly trade them for a set of DW wood grips with the traditional shape and checkering.

DavWesson-715masked_SN.jpg
 
Last edited:
I've decided to spend some of my 2016 income tax return on a new (at least to me) handgun. Maybe I need to find a .357 Dan Wesson to go with my .44 mag. OP, thanks for the inspiration. At least it's an option to think about.
 
My blued DW is almost as pretty as the OP's.

My '80 vintage 15-2 is nowhere near as nice but I can tell that in it's prime the finish would equal anything S&W or Colt ever put out. As for shootability, I own several S&W revolvers & the DW gives away nothing to any of 'em.
 
I ordered a new, 2.5" barrel & shroud from CZ-USA and it came in today. I was concerned that the bluing wouldn't be as dark and would look inferior but I was pleasantly surprised. I think it looks as good as the original 4" and I love the option of having the short barrel. I didn't think it was possible but I love the revolver even more now.

DanWesson 15-2 w 2andhalf inch barrel.jpg
 
Last edited:
jertex

Looks great with that new 2.5" barrel; just like it left the factory that way! That's what I loved about the Dan Wesson Pistol Pac and how versatile it was with the different barrel lengths and grip options.
 
Forgive me if this is staying too far off topic, but what's the general consensus on the new DW's post CZ?
They have priced them to hi some you can NOT swap the barrels I jest traded my pistol pack off for a Arma Lite 15A4TBN with a match grade barrel I still have 3 DW one has a 8in the other has a 10in it is the 375 one has what ever I put on it it now has a 4in I have the extra barrels and shrouds fo 2 of them
 
They have priced them to hi some you can NOT swap the barrels I jest traded my pistol pack off for a Arma Lite 15A4TBN with a match grade barrel I still have 3 DW one has a 8in the other has a 10in it is the 375 one has what ever I put on it it now has a 4in I have the extra barrels and shrouds fo 2 of them
I think they're priced high as well but apparently the market doesn't agree. CZ had no problem moving the ones that they made and I'm a free market believer. If they can get those prices for them, more power to them. No one is being forced to buy them.

As far as changing barrels, I'm not sure what you mean that some can't swap barrels. This certainly isn't true with the new Dan Wesson 715 which has interchangeable barrel capability. Of course there were some fixed barrel Dan Wessons back prior to CZ ownership but that really doesn't apply to the question asked by botboostvr.
 
I think they're priced high as well but apparently the market doesn't agree. CZ had no problem moving the ones that they made and I'm a free market believer. If they can get those prices for them, more power to them. No one is being forced to buy them.

As far as changing barrels, I'm not sure what you mean that some can't swap barrels. This certainly isn't true with the new Dan Wesson 715 which has interchangeable barrel capability. Of course there were some fixed barrel Dan Wessons back prior to CZ ownership but that really doesn't apply to the question asked by botboostvr.

I was aware the new ones were backward compatible with the old ones, I was speaking more towards their actual shooting and handling characteristics trigger, ejection, sights fit and finish.

I've read a few reviews from the big website review guys, but few from actual owners. The general response appears to be that they're still very good.

But like I said, I've seen few people with much experience with the new ones.
 
I was aware the new ones were backward compatible with the old ones, I was speaking more towards their actual shooting and handling characteristics trigger, ejection, sights fit and finish.

I've read a few reviews from the big website review guys, but few from actual owners. The general response appears to be that they're still very good.

But like I said, I've seen few people with much experience with the new ones.
My experience with the new 715 is the following:

1. Fit & Finish - outstanding, exactly what you would expect from Dan Wesson
2. Customer service - I was having some light hammer strikes, contacted CZ-USA, they said it sounded like a head space issue, sent me a prepaid shipping label, I sent them the gun and they had it back in my hands with problem solved in less than two weeks - outstanding
3. Function - the trigger pull is excellent in both DA & SA, is almost identical to my '76 model 15-2, but it does feel a bit different in DA but I can't quite put my finger on it. It may be because my 715 has the 6" barrel and it makes it feel a bit more unstable when shooting freehand, plus I hate the Hogue monogrip. I plan on putting the 4" blued barrel on the 715 and the Pachmayr grips just as an experiment to do more of an apples to apples comparison. When I get around to that, I'll post the results. Everything else (shell ejection, detailed strip, etc.) seems identical.

I hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
You only purchased it so you could post here about it and make the rest of us desire as nice a pistol as the one you have. My dad sold his other Dan Wesson, but still has his 22 cal revolver. I always liked them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top