Dan Wesson PM-1S where can I get sight parts????

[bspencer121]

I recently acquired a Dan Wesson PM-1S. It is missing the rear sight elevation screw, ball, and spring. I called Dan Wesson and they haven't made the gun since '04, bought by CZ in '05, and the warehouse that they had parts for the older non-production guns burned down several years ago. Does anybody have any ideas? The local gunsmith told me he would machine down the top of the slide and cut a dove tail that would fit standard 1911s, but, as you can imagine, that's pretty pricey! Also, does anyone have any idea what these guns go for in good-very good condition? I know they use to sell for $600-700 10 years ago, but DW 1911s are going for a lot more these days.

 

[Shipwreck]

Someone else on the 1911 forum stated that they had a similar problem - Dan Wesson lost older parts in the fire. I think you will have no choice but to have the slide cut for another type of sight/brand of sight

 

[CWL]

If the parts still exist , Numrich will have it. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/

Their search feature is just plain bad, so you will need to play with it for a while to get Dan Wesson and then scroll through all of their DW offerings to find anything you want though. It will help if you have the original part numbers, so if you have the owners manual giving parts #'s, you can enter those directly into the Numrich search window.

You may also try and call CZ/DW again and ask if they can give you part numbers, or if anyone there would know if that sight was used on multiple guns (so you can search for multiple models).

 

[bspencer121]

Thanks for a point in the right direction. Numrich didn't have it either. I will give DW another call to see if they can give me any additional information in regards to the sights. Any ideas about what this model is worth?

 

[CWL]

They probably used that sight on more than one model. If you can find someone at DW who's been there a while, he/she might be able to list other gun models with the same rear sight. You may be able to find the same parts under a different gun/PN.

Value? No idea.

 

[bspencer121]

Thanks CWL. I did in fact find out the rear sight is a Millet 360. I was told that Millet no longer makes the sight but uses the same elevation screw in their other sights and should be able to send me the replacement parts I need for about $15.

 

[Steve CT]

I own a pretty early PM-1S (it actually uses the DW revolver interchangeable front sight system), easily the most accurate centerfire pistol I've ever owned.



For the seller, PM-1S usually undervalues in the marketplace, it's a largely under appreciated DW 1911

 

[bspencer121]

Nice looking DW Steve. I wish they kept that front sight. The front sight on mine is entirely too high which is what probably led the previous owner to blowing out the elevation screw. To get it to shoot at point of aim the screw is only holding about half a thread. So, my new issue is now finding a front sight to work with it. Dan Wesson used a proprietary dovetail so replacement is not going to easy to find and of course they don't have any replacements since they were all lost in the same fire that took the rest of the parts. Going to see if Dawson Precision can make one for me.

 

[Zach S]

If the front sight is plain, why not file it down?

 

[Steve CT]

Nice looking DW Steve. I wish they kept that front sight. The front sight on mine is entirely too high which is what probably led the previous owner to blowing out the elevation screw. To get it to shoot at point of aim the screw is only holding about half a thread. So, my new issue is now finding a front sight to work with it. Dan Wesson used a proprietary dovetail so replacement is not going to easy to find and of course they don't have any replacements since they were all lost in the same fire that took the rest of the parts. Going to see if Dawson Precision can make one for me.

Mine is a great shooting pistol. The only problem with the DW revolver front sight that it is held in place with a setscrew, if the setscrew is not secured with Lock tite, the cycling on the slide will shake it loose within 50 rounds.

The good news is that I can get front sights in a variety of heights, Patridge, colored insets, fiber optic, etc

 

[bspencer121]

Zach, it's a white dot missing the dot. It also has a set screw on top. I would have to file it pretty far though the recess for the dot and would also have the set screw to worry about. I could probably still file it down and maybe find something to fill what would be left of the recess but I'm not sure.

Steve, that's pretty neat you have all those options and I think a little bit of Loctite is a pretty fair trade for that. Mine also shoots really tight groups.... just happens to be at the bottom of the target.

 

[Zach S]

When I first read your post I was thinking you could just file the rear of the front sight to a sharper angle to clean up the dot. But after zooming in on the pics, that looks to be a pretty deep recess.