A Model 15...but different...

[CajunBass]

I saw this one stuck in the back of the case at the LGS not too long ago. I've been a fan of these for some time, but have never actually owned one in 357, so I had it stuck in the back in the layaway bin that I'm sure just has my name on it.

A Model 15, Dan Wesson, with a 4" barrel, in 357 Magnum. For you younguns, Dan Wesson (grandson? great grandson? of Daniel B. Wesson of Smith and Wesson fame) came on the scene back in the 80's I guess with a line of revolvers that featured interchangeable barrels. Now, I personally never found that interesting in the least. If I want a gun with a longer, or shorter barrel, I'll just buy another gun, but some seemed to like the idea. Dan Wesson sold them in a "Pistol Pack" with four different barrel lengths, barrel wrench, etc., in a nice aluminum case. Those sell for big bucks. This is not one of those.

Excuse the poor pictures.





In addition to the interchangeable barrel, the cylinder release was on the crane, in front of the cylinder, and the grip was a one piece unit that was attached to a stud with an allen screw through the base. Sights were adjustable, also with allen screws, to hopefully make it harder to "booger" them up. Front has a red insert, rear a white outline, a very popular color combo back then. There are a couple of allen head screws on the left sideplate.

A little bigger than a K-frame Smith and Wesson...about the size of a Colt Python I suppose...maybe a little smaller. The trigger is VERY smooth. My gague only goes to 8 pounds so the D/A pull is heavier than that. The S/A on the other hand is a very nice 3.5.

I've owned a couple of Dan Wesson 22 Rimfire revolvers over the years, but never one in a centerfire. The only problem with the rimfires came when you holstered them and

I got it home, gave it a light buffing with Flitz and Ren Wax. A microscopic patina of plain ol' rust rolled off, and the Ren Wax just made the old girl POP!

For those who know about Dan Wesson revolvers, it is a "Monson gun", made in Monson, Mass., the first and widely rated as the best manufacturing center of Dan Wesson.

 

[UncleEd]

Did you get it with the wrench?

 

[ontarget]

I have yet to see a Dan Wesson revolver of any flavor in any of the dozen LGSs that I haunt.
If I do I will give it serious consideration based on their reputation.
Yours looks like one I'd really like to find.
Congrats!

 

[CajunBass]

Did you get it with the wrench?

Nope. No wrench. I've owned three or four DW's over the years, all 22's, and I don't think I've ever even seen a wrench.

 

[UncleEd]

No wrench, that would be a "no buy" for me.

 

[ontarget]

No wrench, that would be a "no buy" for me.

Again, I've never even seen a DW in the flesh, but if you don't have the extra barrels, why would a missing wrench make it a no buy for you? Do these need periodic adjustments?
Seriously, not being sarcastic, I don't know.

 

[UncleEd]

I'd be afraid of what the previous owner(s)
did in affixing that barrel to the frame
including barrel gap or whether the barrel
might come loose because of poor
adjustment.

If wrenches are easy to get I suppose no
problem.

The DWs from Monson are excellent guns and I
hope OP has years of enjoyment with it.

 

[swoter]

Several years ago I bought a Dan Wesson 357, also made in Monson, with a 2.5 inch barrel. I ordered a six inch for it, and after shooting both, I prefer the 2.5 inch. It’s just as accurate and balances better in my hand. Mine didn’t come with a wrench either, I ordered one from EWK arms, along with an extra barrel nut, and bag of small parts, none of which I have needed. They’re just great guns, even without interchangeable barrels.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I'd be afraid of what the previous owner(s)
did in affixing that barrel to the frame
including barrel gap or whether the barrel
might come loose because of poor
adjustment.

If wrenches are easy to get I suppose no
problem.

The DWs from Monson are excellent guns and I
hope OP has years of enjoyment with it.

Original vintage centerfire wrenches are all over Ebay, but can be pricey. Aftermarket units are available and not too bad. The .22 wrenches are a little tougher to find but do come up from time to time.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Again, I've never even seen a DW in the flesh, but if you don't have the extra barrels, why would a missing wrench make it a no buy for you? Do these need periodic adjustments?
Seriously, not being sarcastic, I don't know.

I dunno about a deal breaker, but you can use them for adjusting the B/C gap as well as actually changing barrels/shrouds.

Love my DWs....the .357 came wih the original wrench- and wrench protectors! I've never actually had to remove the barrel on that one, though.
I did have to get one for the .22 because the previous owner had set the gap way too wide.

 

[Pat Riot]

Congratulations on your new (to you) Dan Wesson.

My favorite gun store in Fairmont WV has 2 DW’s in their “used” gun displays right now. It seems they always have at least one. I truly don’t know much about Dan Wesson revolvers so I don’t know if their prices are reasonable.

 

[stonebuster]

CajunBass, That's a nice Model 15-2. You're lucky to find one without side plate scratches from the ejector star and I'm sure you want to keep it that way. My first 15-2 came without a barrel wrench too so I bought two EWK wrenches for @$26/each https://ewkarms.com/zen8. For $6.95 you can get all the allen wrenches plus the the .006 gauge you need too. It's a good idea to take the barrel off occasionally (IMO). I use a set of automotive feeler gauges to set gap. DWs are known for their accuracy and with extremely simple internals so easy to take apart(and back together). CZ/USA sells new barrels that are a lot less expensive than originals. You can pick up a 2.5" for $190 making for a fun snub. Have fun with it.

 

[CajunBass]

Congratulations on your new (to you) Dan Wesson.

My favorite gun store in Fairmont WV has 2 DW’s in their “used” gun displays right now. It seems they always have at least one. I truly don’t know much about Dan Wesson revolvers so I don’t know if their prices are reasonable.

I don't either. This one was TAGGED at $700.00 and had just come in a couple of days before so it probably hadn't been in the case very long. Still the store knocked the price down a little to make me think I was getting a "deal." Generally speaking, they run a little less than a comparable (Model 19/686) Smith and Wesson, just due to the fact that most people don't know much, if anything about them.

View attachment 1148483 CajunBass, That's a nice Model 15-2. You're lucky to find one without side plate scratches from the ejector star and I'm sure you want to keep it that way. My first 15-2 came without a barrel wrench too so I bought two EWK wrenches for @$26/each https://ewkarms.com/zen8. For $6.95 you can get all the allen wrenches plus the the .006 gauge you need too. It's a good idea to take the barrel off occasionally (IMO). I use a set of automotive feeler gauges to set gap. DWs are known for their accuracy and with extremely simple internals so easy to take apart(and back together). CZ/USA sells new barrels that are a lot less expensive than originals. You can pick up a 2.5" for $190 making for a fun snub. Have fun with it.

Thanks. I decided to go ahead or order a barrel wrench "just in case." I've got feeler gauges and allen wrenches, but I have about as much chance I'll ever pull the sideplate as I do of flapping my arms and flying to the moon.

I doubt I'll ever change the barrel...No, I can say with confidence I never will. I have a "thing" for 4" barrel revolvers. Longer or shorter barrels just don't interest me. Nor do full length underlugs (with the notable exception of the Colt Python). If this gun had the full length underlug, I probably wouldn't have given it a second look.

It will be fed a semi-regular diet of 148 grain wadcutters, with maybe a few magnums tossed in, just to say I've done it. And when I say "Magnums" they're really more of a P+ 38 in a 357 case, with a 158 grain Berry's RN plated bullet. Paper targets don't take much killing.

I just checked in my "bag O holsters" and found a couple of models that fit it like a glove. Not that it will ever be carried in one. It's a "range bag in a gun sock" gun.

Now, I'll need to load a few more wadcutters this afternoon.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Congratulations on your new (to you) Dan Wesson.

My favorite gun store in Fairmont WV has 2 DW’s in their “used” gun displays right now. It seems they always have at least one. I truly don’t know much about Dan Wesson revolvers so I don’t know if their prices are reasonable.

What are they asking?
It depends a lot on if they include the wrench and any extra barrels or grips.

 

[Pat Riot]

What are they asking?
It depends a lot on if they include the wrench and any extra barrels or grips.

I actually don’t know. I could find out if you like.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I actually don’t know. I could find out if you like.

Oh, Im good, lol!

I took it to mean you were interested in them yourself.

 

[Pat Riot]

Oh, Im good, lol!

I took it to mean you were interested in them yourself.

No, I never got the Dan Wesson bug. I am lusting after other metal marvels.

 

[hemiram]

Actually, the gun the OP bought is a 15-2. A 15 is an earlier version, called a "Pork Chop" gun as the back of the barrel has a tang that was eliminated when the -2 models came out. It's only important to know the difference for buying some parts and the barrels, of course. I've owned DW 15-2's and 715's for over 45 years now. I have 3 now, 2 pretty ones, one ugly one. No pics of the ugly one, it's buried in the back of the safe, waiting for me to get some money to just blow on getting it hard chromed or electroless nickeled.

Back in 2006, I got this gun in near mint condition, the box, the sales receipt, 3 grips, parts, and a junk wrench for $269. My first and best GB deal.
This one cost $300 a few years later for the insanely dirty frame and $105 for the barrel assembly. I have a 6" that I had to use a torch on to get the loctited nut off it, too.
I bought an EWK wrench as the junk plastic ones I had were going to break. Now I have a factory metal one to go with the blued one here. Ebay to the rescue.

The ugly one (4") was $300 total, and it shoots fine, but looks pretty rough. There's a big gouge from the cylinder whacking the side when the stop fell out. And it's got specks all over it where blue is gone.

 

[Riomouse911]

I bought my first DW 15-2 back around 2002-ish. I paid $745 for a very clean 4-barrel Pistol Pak set off GB. This came with 2-4-6 and 8 inch VH barrels/shrouds.



I later bought a 15-2 frame for $250 off GB, and added an EWK 3” VH shroud back when EWK had them in stock.



My third DW is a .22 LR, it came with a 6” V shroud, I found a 4”VH set on the CZ website back when DW revolvers were in production



If I could only find a .32 and a .41 for something less than a mortgage payment.

Nice pickup there. OP!

Stay safe.