Dagger?

[JATA]

Ok, a few things have changed since I posted on here. Last time I logged on to this site, I had no Glock, didnt like really like em. Bought the 48 for my daughter, ended up buying a Gen5 G19 MOS for me son and..... somehow ended up with a Gen5 G19 FS for myself. I think I was mad about my qualifying score (issued a Glock) so I forced myself to buy and use one. Started liking it (kinda).

I saw the Dagger. Seemed pointless - I have a Gen5 why do I need a Gen 3 (other than my Poly 80) BUT.... curiosity was killing me - can it really be a quality carry weapon for $300?!?! Surely not. Well, yea, it is!

I have yet to shoot MINE. PSA sent me the wrong bbl, wouldn't send the right one until they got the wrong one back, they got it back last week, I got the "were processing your order" message. Hoping to hear something soon. I've dealt with them for years. To be honest, getting a human on the phone is an improvement in service, so..... baby steps I guess. Ya buy a burger at McDonald's, ya don't complain about the service, you wanted cheap, you got it. Is what it is.

Anyway, my friend was equally curious and I have shot HIS. It is actually pretty awesome. Imagine a Glock with great ergos, steel sights, and a crappy trigger that is deadly accurate and insanely reliable. THAT is his Dagger.

I have silencer hosts. I have optics pistols. I, until now, did not have a pistol that could support BOTH. To fill that void for 3 bills was impossible to pass up.

Who else has one? Which one? Slide type? Color? Etc? Where y'all at? I know I'm not the only one who clicked "add to cart".

[BK14]

[…] and insanely reliable. […]

I think the issues that have been seen with daggers is the general lower QC/QA, such as you experienced, as well as longevity. Most reviews I’ve seen involve a pin walking out, sights drifting, etc. after relatively low round count.

Can you quantify the insane reliability your friend’s gun has?

[LockedBreech]

The Dagger is a cool concept and seems like a viable competitor in its price range (Smith SD9VE, Ruger Security-9, Springfield XD9, etc.)

However, a Gen 5 Glock is around $525-550, around $600-650 with optics support. In a world where 1000 rounds of quality 9mm is over $300, I can't see not spending another $200-300 to get an actual Glock and have all the support, quality control, and pedigree that entails.

So, a solid gun in its price range? Seems so, time will tell but it seems so. A viable competitor to the Glock for actual heavy use and high round counts? Not to me.

Not trying to rain on any parades, I have a few budget guns that I have a real soft spot for and the Dagger seems like a very enticing package for the cost if it proves out over time.

[JATA]

My barrel showed upt, today!!!! And I have tomorrow off, oh yea 😎

They never sent me any notification via email and my profile still showed the pistol as my most recent order. Just showed up out of the blue. I'm not complaining, it was just unexpected.

I think the issues that have been seen with daggers is the general lower QC/QA, such as you experienced, as well as longevity. Most reviews I’ve seen involve a pin walking out, sights drifting, etc. after relatively low round count.

Can you quantify the insane reliability your friend’s gun has?

Plus there was an issue with the first batch. I'm guessing they'd rather fix the issue than keep getting pistols returned for the trigger pin drifting. I believe they're squared away now. As for quantifying the reliability- well "insanely" might have been a title awarded prematurely. We do not have very many rounds through it. I was basing that assessment on the fact he took it right out the box and started shooting it. I don't remember if we ever even put a drop on the rails AND we ran a variety of the cheapest ammo we could find without any of the stoppages that are normally explained away with "oh well they recommend a break in". It just ran out the box eating junk and the accuracy (or just shootibilty) was impressive. We had a large steel set up and I was taking 90yd shots on it.

The Dagger is a cool concept and seems like a viable competitor in its price range (Smith SD9VE, Ruger Security-9, Springfield XD9, etc.)

However, a Gen 5 Glock is around $525-550, around $600-650 with optics support. In a world where 1000 rounds of quality 9mm is over $300, I can't see not spending another $200-300 to get an actual Glock and have all the support, quality control, and pedigree that entails.

So, a solid gun in its price range? Seems so, time will tell but it seems so. A viable competitor to the Glock for actual heavy use and high round counts? Not to me.

Not trying to rain on any parades, I have a few budget guns that I have a real soft spot for and the Dagger seems like a very enticing package for the cost if it proves out over time.

Glocks do not cost me that much. I am allowed 2 "Blue Label" purchases per year so the price difference is actually LESS. However - Glock does charge apx an extra $70 for their MOS and then you still have to go find a threaded bbl (making guns since '81/'82 but can't seem to offer one of those) so there's an extra $120 - $200. So.... $400 pistol, $70 for the optics cut, $150 for the bbl brings me to around double the Dagger. Plus the Dagger actually feels better in the hand. Don't get me wrong - I will buy more Glocks (especially when the G20 catches up with the rest of the pack) but I plan on carrying this Dagger and putting cases through it. If I find any issues, I will definitely share them.

[LockedBreech]

I will buy more Glocks (especially when the G20 catches up with the rest of the pack) but I plan on carrying this Dagger and putting cases through it. If I find any issues, I will definitely share them.

Your point is well made and I look forward to the updates!

[LittleLebowski]

I'd buy one. It's a Glock under the hood, it can't be that hard to get running right if it's made well.

[JATA]

I'd buy one. It's a Glock under the hood, it can't be that hard to get running right if it's made well.

Ya got a good point! Pretty simple design, not a lot that can be out of wack AND most Gen3 parts are interchangeable, so.... if it ain't right, you could probably get it that way in short order.

I am waiting on my Daughter to get out of school so we can go hit the range. About to find out if mine runs like my friend's.

For the price, they just make sense like - extra one left in your glove box, stuff like that. I buy expensive stuff, too. I have the P320 X Ten and only passed on the Dan Wesson Specialist because of the wait time. However, there is something about running a budget gun that just seems cool (if youre keeping up with the guys who are drillin it with pricey guns).

I'm taking 3 or 4 different types of ammo and: Glock OEM, MagPul, ETS mags with me. If there is one hiccup, y'all will hear about it.

Side note - pulled the Holosun off the X Ten to put on the Dagger. That should say something (other than I'm low on 10mm ammo). The X Ten shoots great but is so LOOSE. You can shake it and it will really rattle (ironically, Sig makes a "Rattler" and this ain't it). Called Sig, they said it was "Normal". Guess I define that word differently because I have a few poly framed striker pistols, none of them have fitment this poor.

[JclInAtx]

Iirc the dagger isn't compatible with existing glock holsters? That eats into the cost savings for someone like me who would want to carry it.

[JB2000]

I have a black Dagger with the threaded barrel and the Tru-Glo suppressor height night sights. I shot it for 500 rounds before the first cleaning. The front sight came loose at the first range session - PSA didn't use thread locker. I had one instance of the slide not picking up the last round from the MagPul magazine. I'm up close to 600 rounds now and the only additional issues I've had were two instances where the slide locked back with one round left in the magazine. Also a MagPul magazine. It would probably function better with Glock magazines but that's not what they sell it with.

It's as accurate as I can shoot. The ergos are better than a Glock but the grip is still huge and non-adjustable. Mt medium hands much prefer my Walther. The finish on the metal seems a little thin. It's worn more on the barrel hood and barrel than I think is typical. No other issues I have noticed.

I swapped the magazine release out for a Ghost extended release, put a Vickers slide release in, and swapped the Tru-Glo sights for shorter Ameriglo GL-511s. The Tru-Glo sights were too tall to fit in any holsters. I've found the Dagger will fit and lock in a Safariland holster made for the S&W M&P as well as a Blade-Tech IWB holster for the same gun.

I bought a Dagger because I wanted a pistol that uses the same magazines as my 9mm AR and because they are so cheap and easy to customize. It's good for a range toy or a loaner for friends but I wouldn't pick it first for concealed carry. If someone were to ask me what pistol in that price range they should get for defense I would recommend a Canik, Arex, Beretta or a used gun before the Dagger. But that's just me.

[Joe in PNG]

For the price, they just make sense like - extra one left in your glove box, stuff like that.

I'mma hafta step in here and be akcsulllayyyy guy for a second.

(sad puppy music starts)

My friends, no matter how cheap and 'disposable' a handgun is, please don't leave guns in your glovebox. Or other parts of your car.
Too many glove box and other 'car' guns end up as hoodrat guns: Abused, used for crimes, run with bad ammo, left to rust in an evidence locker before being destroyed... that's a sorry end for any firearm.

Please don't let this happen to your guns. Keep them safe and secure in a safe.

Thanks, and sorry for the interruptn.