Dan Wesson 15 deal?

Prof Young · May 17, 2017, 10:02 PM

I can get a used Dan Wesson 15 (357) with the rubber grips for $425. Seems like a good deal to me, but that is based only on a hour or so internet research.

Thoughts and opinions requested.

Life is good.
Prof Young

hemiram · May 18, 2017, 02:43 AM

If it checks out, that's a good deal. I have a 15-2 and a 715.

DWFan · May 20, 2017, 03:53 PM

That's a good price, especially if it comes with the muzzle nut wrench and barrel gap gauge. If it doesn't, www.ewkarms.com has that and other parts available. Any auto parts store can supply the flat feeler gauge. Gap should be set between .002" and .006".

damienph · May 21, 2017, 09:37 PM

I think that's a fair price. My 6" model 15VR is the most accurate .357 I own.
My others are a 2.5" S&W M66, 4" M686 and a 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk.

NoSecondBest · May 21, 2017, 09:42 PM

Personally, I wouldn't touch it. Out of business, no parts, no service? I owned one back in the 1980's and it was nothing but trouble. I sent it back several times and got it back still not fixed. I gave it to them at the 1990 IHMSA Internationals at their booth on vendor's row and they still couldn't do anything with it. It ended up going down the road. I know lots and lots of people who used them successfully so they weren't all bad by any means. However, if you have a problem with one now who's going to fix it? I don't see any of the used ones commanding very high prices.

bipe215 · May 22, 2017, 07:32 PM

Where I'm from that's a great deal. Had a bunch of them and they've all been outstanding.

hemiram · May 25, 2017, 01:59 AM

Nosecondbest. CZ owns Dan Wesson, parts and service, and new Model 715's are available. I can fix anything on a DW revolver in a few minutes. I don't see how you could have even had to send one back once to the factory, let alone twice. I've never had a real problem with a DW revolver and when I had a minor issue, it's fixable in minutes. But basically, they don't break.

Radny97 · May 27, 2017, 11:56 PM

My experience is similar to hemiram's. Plus CZ will service the older Dan Wessons.

SIGSHR · May 28, 2017, 03:15 PM

IIRC DW fans rate the Monson guns higher than the Palmer ones.

hemiram · May 29, 2017, 12:24 AM

I kind of do too, mostly because most of the messed up at the factory guns I've seen were Palmer guns.

May 17, 2017, 10:02 PM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Dan Wesson 15 deal? I can get a used Dan Wesson 15 (357) with the rubber grips for $425. Seems like a good deal to me, but that is based only on a hour or so internet research. Thoughts and opinions requested. Life is good. Prof Young

May 18, 2017, 02:43 AM	#2
hemiram Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Location: Toledo, ohio Posts: 762	If it checks out, that's a good deal. I have a 15-2 and a 715.

May 20, 2017, 03:53 PM	#3
DWFan Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 305	That's a good price, especially if it comes with the muzzle nut wrench and barrel gap gauge. If it doesn't, www.ewkarms.com has that and other parts available. Any auto parts store can supply the flat feeler gauge. Gap should be set between .002" and .006".

May 21, 2017, 09:37 PM	#4
damienph Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 319	I think that's a fair price. My 6" model 15VR is the most accurate .357 I own. My others are a 2.5" S&W M66, 4" M686 and a 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk.

May 21, 2017, 09:42 PM	#5
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Personally, I wouldn't touch it. Out of business, no parts, no service? I owned one back in the 1980's and it was nothing but trouble. I sent it back several times and got it back still not fixed. I gave it to them at the 1990 IHMSA Internationals at their booth on vendor's row and they still couldn't do anything with it. It ended up going down the road. I know lots and lots of people who used them successfully so they weren't all bad by any means. However, if you have a problem with one now who's going to fix it? I don't see any of the used ones commanding very high prices.

May 22, 2017, 07:32 PM	#6
bipe215 Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2008 Posts: 122	Where I'm from that's a great deal. Had a bunch of them and they've all been outstanding.

May 25, 2017, 01:59 AM	#7
hemiram Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Location: Toledo, ohio Posts: 762	Nosecondbest. CZ owns Dan Wesson, parts and service, and new Model 715's are available. I can fix anything on a DW revolver in a few minutes. I don't see how you could have even had to send one back once to the factory, let alone twice. I've never had a real problem with a DW revolver and when I had a minor issue, it's fixable in minutes. But basically, they don't break.

May 27, 2017, 11:56 PM	#8
Radny97 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2015 Posts: 1,021	My experience is similar to hemiram's. Plus CZ will service the older Dan Wessons.

May 28, 2017, 03:15 PM	#9
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	IIRC DW fans rate the Monson guns higher than the Palmer ones.

May 29, 2017, 12:24 AM	#10
hemiram Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Location: Toledo, ohio Posts: 762	I kind of do too, mostly because most of the messed up at the factory guns I've seen were Palmer guns.