Calling all 1911 experts and fans.....Dan Wesson

[TheNewbie]

Dan Wesson 1911s are interestingly priced compared to other production guns and semi custom guns, and seem to be of a higher quality. However you don't see just a ton about them review wise or mainstream use wise.

The DW Specialist looks like a good option, but you can get a TRP for less I believe.

What are your thoughts and experiences with the brand?

[Haraise]

Make sure you shoot both. I really really like how the Valor is put together, but found myself surprised by how much I didn't get along with the curve of the Dan Wesson's beavertail, rather happier with the Springfield. Had no idea until I actually fired the guns, holding didn't inform me of this.

[Sigfan26]

6 of one half dozen of another. Slide to frame fit and barrel fit seem tighter on the Dan Wesson in my opinion.

[SecondsCount]

Dan Wesson uses more machined steel parts in their guns than Springfield who uses cast or MIM parts.

Fit and finish is also nicer on the Dan Wesson. Both of them have been proven reliable if that is what you are looking for.

[JAD]

I carry their CCO every day, more or less. The thumb safety needed radiused at the axle and the included Checkmate mags didn't run. Once they went over the berm the gun has been completely reliable. Excellent trigger. Very well executed pistol for the money.

[Eternal24k]

I absolutely love my Valor and the Specialist is a damn fine 1911. Between that and the TRP I would go with DW every day. The fit and finish and parts quality is extremely nice for the money, even after they raised their prices (appropriately).

[DGI]

The DW Specialist looks like a good option, but you can get a TRP for less I believe.



Depending on what features your looking for, you can also get a MC Operator for considerably less. Price difference can be used towards training, ammo, better sights, etc...

FWIW: I never liked the way the rail was done on the specialist... how it has that cutout where it meets the slide.

[TheNewbie]

Thanks for al the replies.

I am actually getting a second job to have a little more money coming in just because I have the free time. Figured there was no more wise an investment than an expensive 1911......kidding of course.

The 1911 platform is new to me, and I actually took a 1 on 1 training course with Randy Dehay from Craft International (who is an amazing instructor). In the course I decided to use my Ruger SR1911, and it actually performed very well and the platform worked great for me.

Now I am trying to decide if I want to send the Ruger off for custom work or just go ahead and get something like the DW, TRP, or as DGI said the MC Operator.

[BWT]

As someone with a Dan Wesson planning to buy a SA TRP down the road.

I'd vote TRP.

Just my .02$

There's a lot of bogus warranty stipulations for a pistol over a $1,000.

A TRP grouped 4" for an end user after 700 rounds, he called SA, they replaced the bushing, barrel and slide.

I broke portion of the spurred portion of a hammer on my CBOB. I bought it LNIB and they did me a favor by replacing the hammer.

I wasn't the original purchaser. That seemed to be a big deal. It's also a 5 year warranty. TRP? Lifetime warranty.

Here's an example of their CS.

http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?7913-Cracked-SA-TRP-barrel

I can search for the thread I cited above.

I'm very underwhelmed with DW support.

Perhaps that's changed, but that's been my experience.

[Hooper]

As someone with a Dan Wesson planning to buy a SA TRP down the road.

I'd vote TRP.


+1 from my experience. But my DW CBOB is about 6 years old, made before they increased the asking price for their pistols by about 50%. Maybe the extra cost allowed them to actually spend time fitting parts to the pistol somewhat carefully. Mine needed a replacement barrel bushing, mag release, and a chamber reaming out of the box.

[BWT]

+1 from my experience. But my DW CBOB is about 6 years old, made before they increased the asking price for their pistols by about 50%. Maybe the extra cost allowed them to actually spend time fitting parts to the pistol somewhat carefully. Mine needed a replacement barrel bushing, mag release, and a chamber reaming out of the box.

Mine was about that time frame as well. It retailed about $949.

I have no experience with their new forged frame and slide pistols.

[JonInWA]

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending somewhat upon one's timing) the vicissitudes of a given 1911/1911 manufacturer seem to fluctuate. And forecastability seem to be at about the same level as world oil prices (and logic about the same).

I very fortuitously lucked out with my "Gen 2" SIGARMS GSR XO-and SIG has been very forthright in standing behind it, resolving both some immediate issues and one issue several years after its purchase. But I'm simply not comfortable in recommending them today in their current state of manufacture and component selection as a "hard use" 1911.

Ruger seems to have hit the sweet spot regarding an affordable, reasonably equipped and built 1911, as well as having a well-regarded customer service department.

Colt seem to be pretty consistent (in a good sense) today.

I have a close friend who bought a TRP. Springfield has stood behind it, but it's been a bit of a journey, and judging by an issue that he had in our last IDPA match, I'm somewhat doubtful that he'd trust it as a hard use or carry gun.

In a relatively inexpensive 1911, I'd probably recommend Ruger. In the next higher price tier (which really isn't that much higher), Colt. Otherwise, I'd go the semi-custom to custom route, like Nighthawk Custom or Wilson.

Regardless, I'd stick with a 5" gun.

Best, Jon

[BWT]

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending somewhat upon one's timing) the vicissitudes of a given 1911/1911 manufacturer seem to fluctuate. And forecastability seem to be at about the same level as world oil prices (and logic about the same).

I very fortuitously lucked out with my "Gen 2" SIGARMS GSR XO-and SIG has been very forthright in standing behind it, resolving both some immediate issues and one issue several years after its purchase. But I'm simply not comfortable in recommending them today in their current state of manufacture and component selection as a "hard use" 1911.

Ruger seems to have hit the sweet spot regarding an affordable, reasonably equipped and built 1911, as well as having a well-regarded customer service department.

Colt seem to be pretty consistent (in a good sense) today.

I have a close friend who bought a TRP. Springfield has stood behind it, but it's been a bit of a journey, and judging by an issue that he had in our last IDPA match, I'm somewhat doubtful that he'd trust it as a hard use or carry gun.

In a relatively inexpensive 1911, I'd probably recommend Ruger. In the next higher price tier (which really isn't that much higher), Colt. Otherwise, I'd go the semi-custom to custom route, like Nighthawk Custom or Wilson.

Regardless, I'd stick with a 5" gun.

Best, Jon

I can't get excited about Colt either. They have a one year warranty.

Found the thread on the inaccurate TRP.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=310940

I don't expect perfection, but it's nice to see them make it right.

ETA: They replaced the barrel, refit the slide, reamed the chamber, and installed new sights.

They did not replace the slide or bushing.

My mistake.

[farscott]

I have only had one DW 1911, a Razorback 10mm from the original limited release, and the quality left a bit to be desired. Nothing major, but the rear sight dovetail was too large for the sight by about 0.002", the mag catch needed some relief to allow the magazine release to function, and the fit/finish was not quite there. DW was a bit balky on the fixes. QC and attention to detail may be better today.

SA is top-notch with the warranty and customer service, so the poorer QC (and SA misses a lot on the production guns) is not such an issue. I have sent back two guns to SA with very quick and effective fixes. as the result

[NETim]

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending somewhat upon one's timing) the vicissitudes of a given 1911/1911 manufacturer seem to fluctuate. And forecastability seem to be at about the same level as world oil prices (and logic about the same).

I very fortuitously lucked out with my "Gen 2" SIGARMS GSR XO-and SIG has been very forthright in standing behind it, resolving both some immediate issues and one issue several years after its purchase. But I'm simply not comfortable in recommending them today in their current state of manufacture and component selection as a "hard use" 1911.

Ruger seems to have hit the sweet spot regarding an affordable, reasonably equipped and built 1911, as well as having a well-regarded customer service department.

Colt seem to be pretty consistent (in a good sense) today.

I have a close friend who bought a TRP. Springfield has stood behind it, but it's been a bit of a journey, and judging by an issue that he had in our last IDPA match, I'm somewhat doubtful that he'd trust it as a hard use or carry gun.

In a relatively inexpensive 1911, I'd probably recommend Ruger. In the next higher price tier (which really isn't that much higher), Colt. Otherwise, I'd go the semi-custom to custom route, like Nighthawk Custom or Wilson.

Regardless, I'd stick with a 5" gun.

Best, Jon

Yep. +1

Not an expert. Just a fan.

[holygoat]

I have a CBOB that's a few years old. It's reliable over a few thousand rounds, and interior build is good. I needed to round off the back of the thumb safety after it ate my hand during a long class; not excellent fit and finish there. Slide to frame fit is very good, and it's slicker than my Baer.

One negative for me: the grip safety disengages very easily, and the thumb safety doesn't put up too much of a fight. Between those two I'm somewhat hesitant to carry it these days. YMMV.

[JAD]

Since I've elsewhere sung the praises of Springfield CS, I should briefly mention my experience with the CCO. It too had an unradiused safety axle that I had to file and re-durakote, which I think sucks. I wish people would figure that out. It shot 6" high for me, and when I tried to dismount the grip bushings to mount slims one of them stripped the frame.

About the time I figured all of this out, dw's factory burnt down. It was a many months wait for them to get back up to deal with my issue. Once they were ready, they fixed the grip bushing and the sights in two weeks.

For comments on the respective warranty lengths of various manufacturers, please see Tommy Boy.

[1911Nut]

My EDC is a Dan Wesson Guardian in caliber .45 ACP. When I purchased it new, the POI with 230 and 200 gr. ammo was significantly high. I returned it to DW for a taller front sight and they replaced the front sight and returned it to me in less than two weeks total turnaround time. POI matches POA now and the pistol has functioned flawlessly ever since with many different kinds of ammo. Highly recommended.

[Sensei]

I'm not a 1911 expert, but I own a couple of semi-custom pistols including 2 TRP PROs, and Ed Brown KC, a Wilson CQB, and a Les Baer TRP. The range up the street from me, Sportsman's Lodge, carries a wide array of Dan Wessons in their inventory. I'd say that the DW Valor is as close to these semi-custom guns as you are going to come in a production pistol. I've had some range time with a friends Valor and the difference between it and my PROs is very slight. I'd still much rather have my PROs due to the excellent warranty which I had to use once; the Springfield Custom shop paid shipping and had the pistol back in my hand with 2 spare mags in under 3 weeks.