1911 Dan Wesson vigil commander

[sharp tooth]

So after much debate for the better half of the year I’ve settled on what 1911 I want, the Dan Wesson vigil commander in duty black 45 acp. I’ve found a few for sale on gun broker. Dan Wesson discontinued this model I came to figure out…… so now I question if I can’t seem to locate one in a store and Dan Wesson making a short run of this specific model is there something wrong with it that I am overlooking it’s on the cheap side of the Dan Wesson line too

 

[nettlle]

I have a Duty Treat Dan Wesson Vigil Commander in 9MM. There's nothing wrong with the Vigil's and from what I have read those that own both Vigil's and Valor's can't see any difference. My Vigil is some of the best gun money I have ever spent. I also have a Colt and a Kimber 1911 that cost about the same as my Vigil. The quality of the Vigil is twice that of either the Colt or the Kimber.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

One big difference between the Valor and the Vigil is frame material, the Valor is steel, while the Vigil is aluminum. I carry a 9mm 5" Vigil and love it. The round butt is a big improvement and is not available on the Valor (though you can get a bobtail).

Have you considered the Guardian? Very similar to the Vigil.

 

[sharp tooth]

I did not like the way they bob’d the guardian but yes I was considering that if I can’t get a vigil
Nice fun frogfurr

 

[sevt_chevelle]

So I have 2 Dan Wesson 1911 pistols, a Hertiage their entry-level and the Valor the top level gun.

They are of the same quality, same build of materials the only difference is the features on the pistol.

 

[JTQ]

... I want, the Dan Wesson vigil commander in duty black 45 acp.

I'm sure they're great guns, but do a search for issues with the Duty Treat Finish. It's probably a great finish, but if you want to keep it looking good, make sure you read the instructions in the owners manual.

 

[dumbhunter]

Hi there. No experience with the Vigil, but I have the Valor. It's a full size (Gov't size) in 9mm with the Duty Coat finish. It's an amazingly beautiful gun and super accurate. The Duty Coat is great, but there are some chemicals that will damage it (cause discoloration) so be careful there.

 

[Lo-Profile]

Have a Dan Wesson Guardian in 9mm.
It's my favorite 1911 to shoot.
(10 in 5 different calibers)

 

[sharp tooth]

Thanks for the info on chemicals and he finish I’ll research that when I locate a gun

 

[sevt_chevelle]

You can head over to the 1911 forum, go to the Dan Wesson section and see what Keith whom operates DW has to say about chemicals to use.

 

[JTQ]

You can head over to the 1911 forum, go to the Dan Wesson section and see what Keith whom operates DW has to say about chemicals to use.

Even that is confusing.

Avoid using brake cleaner, most likely. Avoid using BreakFree CLP, also probably true. Everything else, who knows.

I believe they recommend cleaning with Kroil, and lubricating with FP-10.

 

[Zerodefect]

Kroil and engine oil. There is no need for strong degreasers on any pistol.

The DT spots easy. Gets less glossy, flat black spot. But is still protecting. I think spray from a suppressed AR spotted mine. Might have been Pepsi.

Who cares. Run your DW hard like a Glock, and you'll love it even more. Dont hide it in some safe.

 

[sharp tooth]

2 kids and a wife that stays home with them makes a lot of hidden gems in my safe that need to see some daylight

 

[browneu]

I have the suppressor ready Dan Wesson Vigil in 9mm. Haven't had a chance to shoot it since my suppressor just got released from jail. It's too bad they're hard to find but you won't go wrong with it once you can find one.

 

[Nature Boy]

“Duty treat”? Sounds more like marketing than ready for duty if you have to baby it.

 

[nettlle]

Here's what I use to clean and lube my Dan Wesson:

Shooters Choice FP-10 for lube.
Kroil for a gun cleaner.
Kroil for a bore cleaner.
G96 Complete Gun Oil for wiping the gun down.

These are all Duty Treat friendly chemicals and are easy to use.

 

[nettlle]

“Duty treat”? Sounds more like marketing than ready for duty if you have to baby it.

It's probably the toughest finish out there as far as handling and holster wear. The wrong chemicals can discolor it. It's such a beautiful finish we do try to take care of it.

 

[Nature Boy]

Just my opinion here so all you Dan Wesson owners please don’t take it personally, but if it comes with a list of gun cleaners that you shouldn’t use or it damages the finish then call it “pretty finish” or “beauty finish”. A “duty finish” wouldn’t care.

 

[nettlle]

I have a Colt 1911 that is impervious to any chemical on the face of this earth. No thank you. I'll buy another Dan Wesson.

 

[JTQ]

Just my opinion here so all you Dan Wesson owners please don’t take it personally, but if it comes with a list of gun cleaners that you shouldn’t use or it damages the finish then call it “pretty finish” or “beauty finish”. A “duty finish” wouldn’t care.

It's only an issue if you want it to keep looking pretty. Use whatever chemical you want on it and the finish still works, it just won't be as pretty as it was when it came from the factory.

 

[Demi-human]

A “duty finish” wouldn’t care.

It doesn’t. The steel is Salt Bath Nitride, I don’t know what the aluminum ones are.

The listed cleaners and lubed just don’t evaporate, leaving a film that lets the light waves pass through the mineral film build up.
“It looks cleaner because you can’t see the dirt!”

Everyone thinks break cleaner is a pure chemical. It isn’t. There are many dissolved petroleum distillates in it as well as the lipids that are on the gun from handling. They may only be trace amounts, but make up 100% of the deposits when the solvents evaporate. These are dissolved easily and are carried away, to create a film over the entire surface as the solution dries. Much like Teflon dry-lube.
Or leave spots of deposits that don’t reflect the same as the remaining surface.

It’s merely cosmetic, and impermanent. It’s a tough as any other ferritic-nitrocarburization process, like Tennifer or QPQ. Just as tough as any AR product. The chemicals are not touching it until they are 1000°.