Dan Wesson

[Bellzy]

I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what price range a Dan Wesson in 357 and a 8" barrel with a finish at 98% be in. Went to gunbroker.com and auctionarms but I,m pretty sure those values are not accurate.

Thanks, Bellzy

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Went to gunbroker.com and auctionarms but I,m pretty sure those values are not accurate.

What would make you say they are not accurate ?
If a gun sells to the highest bidder and meets reserve and you see that same item time and time again, with-in a certain price range, I would say that that would be a very accurate way of telling a true selling price/value.
Unlike the Blue Book of gun values or the one guy that ran into his neighbor that needed money and sold him one for $100.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[GUNKWAZY]

Between $300-$400 depending on finish and condition would be my guess....

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=83126395

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=83723540

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=84981826


Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Bellzy]

I guess my comment was based on when I was shopping for a new SP101 and was reserching prices I noticed that peoples asking prices on gunbroker were a little higher than what I could buy one for at my local shop, Not by a whole lot but when you consider shipping and FFL fees the difference is noticeable.

 

[LubeckTech]

$350 would be about right BUT if you but from gunbroker make certain the seller will give you a 3 day nonshooting return option. Before making the deal have a gunsmith who is knowlegeable about revolvers lined up to inspect it. Dan Wessons are great guns BUT many were not well fitted and properly completed upon assembly. For example the Christmas before last I bought a DW 4" model 15 from a gunbroker seller for $235. The chambers were not properly cut so even mild .38 target loads would stick and it was out of time so when shooting it DA only about half a cylinder would go off. Both known are problems with Dan Wesson guns and are correctable. I would buy this gun for the same price again but would have been disappionted if I paid $350 or more for it. When buying used guns I no matter online or face to face I realize that I am buying a USED gun and it is very possible there will be problems and take this into consideration in deciding what to pay. New guns are a different story. I am a collector and everything I buy is a shooter, no wall hall hangers or safe queens - nothing wrong with that if that's what you're into. In purchasing an average of 10 guns per year and have learned to be a pretty good amateur gunsmith who loves to buy disterssed guns as projects so Midway and Brownells love me! I would NOT discourage you from a DW but understand what you MAY be getting into before making a decision.

 

[Bellzy]

I certainly appreciate the info. I had a Dan Wesson when I was younger in my Air Force days and it was a pretty good gun from what I remember, of course back then I was easy to please. As long as the gun went bang when I pulled the trigger I was happy.

 

[cpirtle]

When using any of the auction sites as a price reference you can really only get an accurate feel for pricing by looking at auctions that have bids on them, preferably no reserve.

Guys who start a gun at $800 that "streets" around $500 does no good. Even a $500 gun that is set to start at $500 may get no bids while the same gun closes on a no reserve/low opening bid for more money because there were 30 people competing for it.

Almost the same goes for reserve auctions, people do not bid as agressively when there is a reserve. So if a gun ends at $400 and the reserve is not met it does not mean the gun is only worth $400.

On a more rare (or less common) gun you may need to watch for a while to get a decent feel and you really need to be able to interpolate the info to come to a close conclusion.

 

[speedy396]

I just picked up a DW in 357 for $450 with 2 barrels in very good condition. Priced about where the auction sites were asking and it was local. Followed the THR sticky on revolvers and it checked out. Took it to the range and all I can say is it's a NICE revolver. Accurate and a really great trigger with the short action. Still seems like a decent deal considering a used Smith would cost as much without all the features. Good luck in your search!

 

[Firepower!]

How good are these Dan Wesson's?
Are they like first tier revolvers or not?

 

[230RN]

Lubeck Tech said

Dan Wessons are great guns BUT many were not well fitted and properly completed upon assembly. For example the Christmas before last I bought a DW 4" model 15 from a gunbroker seller for $235. The chambers were not properly cut so even mild .38 target loads would stick and it was out of time so when shooting it DA only about half a cylinder would go off. Both are known problems with Dan Wesson guns and are correctable.

Interesting that they're still having problems. I bought one about ten years ago and I could not get that thing to shoot accurately with the 6" bbl. Tried different cylinder gaps, different tensions on the barrel, different handloads, nothing would keep that thing on the paper at 50 yards.

I finally mounted a solid barrel I had threaded from the excess off another gun I was converting to .357. Still would not shoot.

I used it for a while to test out some experimental bullets I had made from .30 Carbine cases (why ruin one of my good guns?), but finally got rid of it, along with the extra solid barrel I had made for it.

There were only two guns I never regretted selling. The Dan Wesson was one of them.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

How good are these Dan Wesson's?
Are they like first tier revolvers or not?

Very good.
Yes.

The Dan Wesson is a revolver built for people who appreciate and understand revolvers and their idiosyncrasies. However, like any other machine, some fail, some break, and most work. No revolver brand or model is perfect. Same for pistols.

Is it top shelf? In such subjective terms as trigger quality and other fodder for gun shop dwelling old men's arguments, I couldn't say. But, for doing what a revolver was made to do- the Dan Wesson has a large following of owners who all tend to agree that it is a very accurate and dependable revolver.