a Dan Wesson find.

[JonB]

In 1988, I bought my first Centerfire handgun...A Dan Wesson 357, I think is was stainless? I don't remember much about it, I only owned it for a year. While I liked it, I was wet behind the ears (in regards to my handgun shooting knowledge) and just had to have a 44...so I year after I bought the DW, traded it for a S&W 44 with 8 3/8" bbl. and all my friends were jealous, but that's another story. LOL.

Fast forward to last weekend:
Sunday, I learned of a first time gunshow in my county...I was surprised for sure. We had a snow storm, and once I shoveled out my yard, I drove to the Show. It was in the local Armory, and it was small, about 100 tables. If I knew about this show ahead of time, I probably would have got a table. Anyway, I found this neat Dan Wesson model 14-2, 357mag Blued with 6" barrel...it was priced reasonable ($489), although to be honest, I'm not aware of DW values, this was priced lots cheaper than any comparable S&W that were at the show. I haven't owned one, since that first one in 1988. It's a very clean gun, hasn't been shot much, I'd guess just a box or two of ammo. The machining lines on the front of the cylinder was the main clue. But it has more than it's fair share of handling marks and scratches. It did not come with any extras or tools or Box...maybe that's how it was stored? without a box or anything? and got banged around in the safe?
I tracked the Serial No for a date of mfg of 1979.

Also, one thing I thought unusual. This gun has a fairly heavy hammer pull.
Meaning it takes quite a bit of thumb strength to cock the hammer. But
the DA Trigger isn't that heavy, must be a lot of mechanical advantage in the design?
and a big plus, the DA trigger pull is very smooth. The SA trigger is sweet as a S&W.


I cleaned and oiled it. The action and cylinder was a bit stiff, due to dried oil I assume?
Anyway, it was much better after I applied some fresh oil. Then, I brought it out to the range
today, I shot some hot loads of H110 pushing the NOE 360-160-SWC. The gun liked it and so did I.
I was happy to see that load shoot at point of aim with the fixed sights on this gun.




Not the best group, I was shooting offhand at about 50 feet. It was 25º F, sunny and
breezy at my club's snow covered range. shown are the last 6 shots of the Day,
at the 1" circle in the corner of the paper target. I had put 50+ rds through
the gun today.


Lastly, upon close inspection, I find the inside of the barrel not finely machined,
meaning there was plenty of machining lines...same with the inside of the cylinder.
My OCD makes me want to polish those areas, but it shot fine, with no lead fouling.
So I will try to leave it alone, LOL.
I checked the throats, five were .3585 and one was .3590 ...funny thing, there was a
tiny mark on the one chamber that was larger.
It was a very good day

 

[Cherokee]

Seems to have worked out good for you. Enjoy it. Some prior owner may have marked the cylinder with .359.

 

[Will]

Nice revolver. Probably one of the best ever made.

 

[fiver]

you got the short shroud.
they make a full under shroud too.

they come in a Styrofoam box with an outer sleeve, the box had slots in it for different colored sight inserts, extra barrels if so ordered, and a sight/Barrel tool.

you can take the trigger group out of the gun without disassembly, but they take some serious jiggling and cussing to get back in.
as far as the hard hammer pull, check the sides of the frame and see if the trigger is rubbing,
they usually ain't but it does happen.
the other thing that happens is the rim of the case will rub on the shroud making it hard to turn the cylinder.
so will the ejection pin shroud being a little loose.

if you decide to do a barrel slug don't be surprised if you find the barrel is a little bugled most all of the barrels were made that way and there is nothing wrong with it.


oh and you got a good price.
the Dan's were hanging out around 300$ for like 30 years, then they suddenly become popular and doubled in price in like 6 months.
a common 357 like that is fetching about 600$ anymore.
heck just a barrel is pulling in 150- 250$ depending on what it is.
I'm pretty sure I have more in my 44 barrels than my 44 cost.

 

[Dpmsman]

It was nice to meet you at the show Jon. To bad I was in the process of packing up or we could have visited more. Anyhow I looked at that DW seemed like a good solid revolver.

 

[Ian]

Interesting. I've been avoiding learning anything about DWs because there's a nice one among the last few guns still for sale in my FIL's estate. It's a blued .357 in a wood box with four barrels and a team patch. I have no idea what it's worth but maybe I should buy it?

 

[Brad]

Damn Ian, get on that. Someday the kids will be happy you did.

 

[Ian]

MIL wanted it all gone, I did sell most of what he had and gifted a few to his special friends after wifey and I picked the "Never Sell" ones to remain in the family. I ended up buying a few of them myself that I couldn't stand to see go, for blue book prices and just gave her the money in most cases without telling her I was the buyer because I didn't want her arguing with me and trying to give them to me. She didn't need the money but the deal was to sell them, so I did.

Keep us in the loop, Jon, you may have cost me some more money.

 

[RicinYakima]

Ian, if you want to play how barrel dynamics work, buy it and make a fitting for the barrel nut to fit a torque wrench. You can pull the barrel, compress it and make new ones on a lathe. Problem is finding a good cylinder, as most are like Model 70's, pretty on the outside and made with a hatchet and chainsaw inside. Had a couple of 32/20's and 32 H&R Mags for hunter targets. IMHO

 

[Rick]

Ric, Your right but I think it depends greatly on the year of manufacture and does it have Monson on the frame. After Seth Wesson lost the company the new owners put the bean counters in charge.

 

[fiver]

I have been searching a box set DW for a number of years.
closest I have come is Styrofoam boxes, loose grips and barrels, a barrel tool once in a while, maybe a patch,,, or belt buckle that cost as much as the guns did when new.

 

[Wiresguy]

Nice find, Jon! I went about 0930 Saturday and it was really crowded, and difficult to get to all the tables without being a little too intimate with strangers.

One fellow on the back wall from the entrance had a nice Old Model Ruger Blackhawk .357 with a 9mm cylinder. I thought $845 was a little rich, but I also remembered I just don’t shoot the old XR3RED grip frames worth a hoot.

There were several round ball molds at a table towards the center, but nothing I was interested in.

Good to see another show in the area, though. Sorry I missed you!

 

[Bret4207]

A Dan Wesson 32-20! Another one of those guns I always wanted but never got...

 

[Dpmsman]

Nice find, Jon! I went about 0930 Saturday and it was really crowded, and difficult to get to all the tables without being a little too intimate with strangers.

One fellow on the back wall from the entrance had a nice Old Model Ruger Blackhawk .357 with a 9mm cylinder. I thought $845 was a little rich, but I also remembered I just don’t shoot the old XR3RED grip frames worth a hoot.

There were several round ball molds at a table towards the center, but nothing I was interested in.

Good to see another show in the area, though. Sorry I missed you!

That was me. I’ve been trying to sell those moulds for a couple of years now. They came with a large group of casting and reloading stuff I bought. I kept what I could use and try to sell the rest.

 

[Wiresguy]

Well, good to meet you, Dpmsman, even though we didn't really get to meet Maybe next time we'll have a proper introduction.

Some nice looking molds, BTW, just not any that I had a need for.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings JonB
Good to have another DW owner around. We bought our first in 1978 and still have it. Most accurate 357 we have owned. With the 10 inch barrel in place and laying on the back it will still lob 180 grainers GC pushed by a real healthy load of 296 into 6 inch groups at 200 yards.
But beware ! Those DW's will start calling you whenever they are laying on a table.

 

[fiver]

I knew if anything was gonna get Mike to post it'd be Dan Wessons.... LOL.


you home?

 

[Missionary]

Looking to be up north this June for 5 months.
DW's are / wear one of those unique innovations that came along. Adjustable barrel gap and barrel tension all in one simple package. Sadly the collectors have gathered up most everything.

 

[Bret4207]

Glad to see you Missionary!

 

[Wiresguy]

I must be the odd one out...

When I saw the subject line of Jon's post, the first thing that came into my mind was "Dang, there was a Dan Wesson 1911 at the show and I missed it?"