Dan Wesson 14-2
- Thread starter JonB
- Start date
JonB
Halcyon member
So, there was a Dan Wesson conversation going on over at the other place. I lamented the lack of easily available parts and aftermarket goodies. After which I went over to Fleabay for a look, since I haven't looked for 3 or 4 years. Low and behold, my favorite Thai grip maker is now making grips for DW small frame square post. I go up to the gunroom and dig out my 14-2 to doublecheck what I have (always a good idea when internet shopping late at night, LOL) and see I put a Pachmayr rubber grips on it...I had forgotten that, I guess I need to take it to the range more often, LOL. .
So, I put one of the Thai grips into the cart and slept on it, and placed the order today. I'm just giddy about it.
.
The Original wood grip that came with the gun are in pretty good condition, but is fatter than I prefer. This grip looks to be a copy of the S&W Target grips, which I prefer. The DW grip is one piece of wood and it looks that this Thai guy has glued two pieces together ...I hope he used some real good glue
since it mounts with one screw through the Butt.
.
Photos of actual grip from seller's ad.
So, I put one of the Thai grips into the cart and slept on it, and placed the order today. I'm just giddy about it.
.
The Original wood grip that came with the gun are in pretty good condition, but is fatter than I prefer. This grip looks to be a copy of the S&W Target grips, which I prefer. The DW grip is one piece of wood and it looks that this Thai guy has glued two pieces together ...I hope he used some real good glue
since it mounts with one screw through the Butt..
Photos of actual grip from seller's ad.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Those are nice looking grips !! I will look into some as the originals are getting so valuable I think is wise to keep them indoors.
Looks to me the second revolver is a model 15. The Upper photo is the M14 as there is no adjustable rear sight. But just because I have not seen a M14 without the adjustable rear does not mean there are not some.
Looks to me the second revolver is a model 15. The Upper photo is the M14 as there is no adjustable rear sight. But just because I have not seen a M14 without the adjustable rear does not mean there are not some.
Last edited:
JonB
Halcyon member
The first post is photos of my gun, model 14-2, yes fixed sight...and I am kind of fond of it.
The second post photos were taken by Thai grip maker with his gun, it's 22 cal, I'm not sure what model it is?
I just ordered the grip today, Orders usually arrive in 3 weeks from this Thai seller.
The second post photos were taken by Thai grip maker with his gun, it's 22 cal, I'm not sure what model it is?
I just ordered the grip today, Orders usually arrive in 3 weeks from this Thai seller.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Dan Wesson revolvers have a cult-like following in the DA revolver community. Dan Wesson never had the wide acceptance that S&W, Colt or even Ruger enjoyed, but their followers are a devoted bunch. There are good reasons for those devoted followers of the DW brand.
The engineering that went into the Dan Wesson DA revolvers was a big part of this respect. The guns are strong and have reliable actions. The use of the “Peg” style grip frame and the coil spring type hammer spring pre-date Ruger’s use of those features. The crane mounted cylinder latch provides for a very strong lock-up. Of course, the barrel system is perhaps the most notable departure from the conventional revolver barrel mounting style of the day. Interestingly, the current crop of S&W DA revolvers has embraced this barrel shroud and tensioned barrel system. (albeit not readily removeable like most DW’s).
Early in the history of the Dan Wesson company, they scored a minor victory over S&W and Colt. In the early 1970’s, Dan Wesson was added to the short list of approved revolvers that NYPD recruits could purchase as duty weapons. To secure this contract, Dan Wesson had to create a special model. The NYPD model was chambered in 38 Special, NYPD never authorized .357 magnum. The barrel was “fixed” and essentially non-removable (although it could be removed by an armorer if a replacement barrel nut was available). This Dan Wesson model was the Model 11. The two other approved revolvers during that time frame were the S&W Model 10 and the Colt Metropolitan MKIII.
From all accounts I’ve read and from personal conversations with retired NYPD officers, it is clear the Dan Wesson model 11 was not popular in NYPD service and the Dan Wesson revolvers were exceedingly rare amongst the duty guns of the era. However, this did give Dan Wesson some much needed exposure in the early days of the company’s existence. Some reports indicate the model 11 was very accurate and completely reliable, just not as popular as the S&W Model 10.
There are numerous legends as to why Dan Wesson was put on the NYPD approved gun list in the first place and most of the accounts are dubious, at best. I’ve heard several different theories and while some seem plausible, none can be confirmed. In any event, Dan Wesson’s days on that list were short. When the Ruger Service-Six chambered in 38 Special was added to the list, the fate of Dan Wesson’s relationship with the NYPD was sealed.
It's an interesting side note in the history of DW.
JonB - COOL GUNS!
The engineering that went into the Dan Wesson DA revolvers was a big part of this respect. The guns are strong and have reliable actions. The use of the “Peg” style grip frame and the coil spring type hammer spring pre-date Ruger’s use of those features. The crane mounted cylinder latch provides for a very strong lock-up. Of course, the barrel system is perhaps the most notable departure from the conventional revolver barrel mounting style of the day. Interestingly, the current crop of S&W DA revolvers has embraced this barrel shroud and tensioned barrel system. (albeit not readily removeable like most DW’s).
Early in the history of the Dan Wesson company, they scored a minor victory over S&W and Colt. In the early 1970’s, Dan Wesson was added to the short list of approved revolvers that NYPD recruits could purchase as duty weapons. To secure this contract, Dan Wesson had to create a special model. The NYPD model was chambered in 38 Special, NYPD never authorized .357 magnum. The barrel was “fixed” and essentially non-removable (although it could be removed by an armorer if a replacement barrel nut was available). This Dan Wesson model was the Model 11. The two other approved revolvers during that time frame were the S&W Model 10 and the Colt Metropolitan MKIII.
From all accounts I’ve read and from personal conversations with retired NYPD officers, it is clear the Dan Wesson model 11 was not popular in NYPD service and the Dan Wesson revolvers were exceedingly rare amongst the duty guns of the era. However, this did give Dan Wesson some much needed exposure in the early days of the company’s existence. Some reports indicate the model 11 was very accurate and completely reliable, just not as popular as the S&W Model 10.
There are numerous legends as to why Dan Wesson was put on the NYPD approved gun list in the first place and most of the accounts are dubious, at best. I’ve heard several different theories and while some seem plausible, none can be confirmed. In any event, Dan Wesson’s days on that list were short. When the Ruger Service-Six chambered in 38 Special was added to the list, the fate of Dan Wesson’s relationship with the NYPD was sealed.
It's an interesting side note in the history of DW.
JonB - COOL GUNS!
fiver
Well-Known Member
that's a good copy of the DW grips other than the gold medallian it'd be hard to tell them apart.
my DW 22 wears the same Grips as my 357.
the only way to tell the two guns apart when sitting side by side is the barrel shroud on the 22 is a bit thinner.
DW did make a thinner grip, but it had finger grooves and a kind of horn shape at the bottom, i had a set on my 4" 357 and was just about ][ this close to running them over the sander before i swapped it for something else.
should have kept that 4" barrel and put the spare NIB 6" barrel on it.
my DW 22 wears the same Grips as my 357.
the only way to tell the two guns apart when sitting side by side is the barrel shroud on the 22 is a bit thinner.
DW did make a thinner grip, but it had finger grooves and a kind of horn shape at the bottom, i had a set on my 4" 357 and was just about ][ this close to running them over the sander before i swapped it for something else.
should have kept that 4" barrel and put the spare NIB 6" barrel on it.
JonB
Halcyon member
I'm hopin' they'll be a little smaller than the originals. If not, I can always take a rasp to it.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Listening to you guys talk about how good they were, the only one I had was a six inch 32/20 target model. It would not shoot six inches at 25 yards. I even made a new barrel with a 1/10 twist with the same results. Cases came out of the cylinder crooked, I later found out. It was a piece of S**T that never did shoot anything. Told the guy I sold it to that it was a problem child. He sent it back to have it looked at the factory; they said they were only working on 1911's they were making at the time. He dumped on someone else, also at a loss. FWIW
fiver
Well-Known Member
yeah,, they had a period where DW was kind of uhh sh.. crap.
it was between the first and third operators and a move,,, thankfully it didn't last all that long.
he got unlucky with the factory because that was after the C-Z takeover, and it really wasn't their screw up to fix.
it was between the first and third operators and a move,,, thankfully it didn't last all that long.
he got unlucky with the factory because that was after the C-Z takeover, and it really wasn't their screw up to fix.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
So, never bought another, and told everyone they were crap.
I have a DW 44 Mag with a 10" barrel that my 140* wife and I shot IHMSA silhouettes with.
This thing had the ugliest bore you could find.
It was super accurate with cast bullets.
I have no idea why it shot so well with the looks of the bore.
We shot a 165gr Saeco GC bullet with a HEAVY load of 296.
It would outshoot my 8 3/8* M29 S&W and my 10 Ruger SBH.
This thing had the ugliest bore you could find.
It was super accurate with cast bullets.
I have no idea why it shot so well with the looks of the bore.
We shot a 165gr Saeco GC bullet with a HEAVY load of 296.
It would outshoot my 8 3/8* M29 S&W and my 10 Ruger SBH.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Your experience is similar to the reports I've heard from others. They can be very accurate revolvers.
But as Ric points out, there are likely some lemons too.
I'm not a DW guy but I've handled those revolvers and the design looks solid. If I had to guess, I would say they had production problems at some point but overall they seem to get good marks.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
DW's were / are like all other production revolvers. 95% of owners write little about them. But I can near guarantee the negatives will come out fast.
The real test is the actual winning of competition. DW still wins alot at the Steel Critter matches. Knocking over 50 pound rams at 200 meters is the test of a solid frame and design. That is the reason we bought DW. Still have all of our's. None are for sale also.
The real test is the actual winning of competition. DW still wins alot at the Steel Critter matches. Knocking over 50 pound rams at 200 meters is the test of a solid frame and design. That is the reason we bought DW. Still have all of our's. None are for sale also.
I always left the barrel gap at the recommended 6 thousands.
If it was tighter, it could and did bind up shooting cast with 50/50 lube.
We took an inch pound torque wrench and messed with the tension.
We started not so tight and started shooting groups tightening little by little.
When it got to the point where it shot the best group we stopped and noted the pressure.
If you went beyond that point the groups started getting bigger.
I believe barrel tension was a big factor in its accuracy.
If it was tighter, it could and did bind up shooting cast with 50/50 lube.
We took an inch pound torque wrench and messed with the tension.
We started not so tight and started shooting groups tightening little by little.
When it got to the point where it shot the best group we stopped and noted the pressure.
If you went beyond that point the groups started getting bigger.
I believe barrel tension was a big factor in its accuracy.
JonB
Halcyon member
WOW, the Thai Grip arrived this morning. 10 days from the other side of the world (other Thai grips I bought took 3 weeks.) The package must not have had to go through Red Sea/Suez Canal.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
First corn cruncher I shot with a center fire in ILL-Nois was with our 375 DW. Found a load that near duplicated a 38-55 as I always wanted to pop a bean eater with our 1896 Winchester 38-55... but ILL-nois has always been an issue...
I agree the Supermag frame DW's are not for CC or plinking all day long. But they sure will make easy knockdowns on 55 pound steel rams at 200 meters.
I agree the Supermag frame DW's are not for CC or plinking all day long. But they sure will make easy knockdowns on 55 pound steel rams at 200 meters.