Good Morning Gentlemen,

This morning I was in the process of cleaning up the serial number registry and noticed I didn't have a full list of models.   I have compiled a list to the best of my knowledge but I would like it if you guys could look over it and let me know if I have missed something!  I also included information that was compiled sometime ago concerning variations at the bottom.  If any of this needs corrected based on what we know now please point out the changes.

Thanks for your help on this!

Jody

Single Action
During the Palmer manufacture period (Wesson Firearms Co., Inc) there were some single action only 22 caliber target guns manufactured . These models were only manufactured in blue or stainless with 10″ barrel assemblies, either vent or vent heavy. The single action only guns were designated with a 6 before the model number.

Barrel Configurations
Because of the Dan Wesson interchangeable barrel system, when the guns were sold, the barrel size and type was usually part of the model designation. Obviously this would change if the user changed the barrel, but it is still an interesting part of the Dan Wesson equation.

• Standard barrels having the solid rib without the heavy underlug were usually designated by the barrel length alone. For example, as per the information posted above, a 357 magnum with adjustable sights is a model 15. The same gun with the standard 8” barrel becomes a model 15-8
• Barrels with the vent rib get a V prefix. So our model 15 with an 8” vent rib barrel becomes a model 15-V8
• The Heavy underlug adds an H to the designation, a Heavy vent rib 8” equipped gun becomes a model 15-VH8
• The slots cut on some of the silhouette shrouds add an S to the end. The most common was the 357 Supermag model 40 (or 740 stainless) So a model 740 stainless with the 8” vent rib and slotted shroud is a model 740-V8S.  Yes, there were even some heavy underlug slotted guns, then a 740 vent rib, heavy underlug, slotted shroud gun is a model 740-VH8S

In summary barrel configurations are:

• Early Pork Chop Shroud
  
• Standard 
  
• V = Vent Rib (The example below also has Power Ports)
  
• H = Heavy Underlug
  
• VH = Vent Heavy Underlug
  
• S = Slotted Shroud
  
  
  
• C = Compensated Shroud
  

Barrels were available in the following standard lengths:

• 2"
• 4"
• 6"
• 8"
• 10"
• 12"
• 15"

Also note the barrel length is the actual length of the barrel, from the forcing cone to the muzzle crown. The shroud length is obviously less because of the area the barrel screws through the frame.

The following image should be of some help in deciphering this information:

The Pistol Pac and Hunters Pac.

From very early on, the Dan Wesson Revolver has been offered as a Pistol Pac. Over the years, the contents of the Pistol Pac changed some, but most contained the following Items.

• Dan Wesson Revolver with an 8″ barrel assembly.
• Extra barrel assemblies in 2 1/2″, 4″ , and 6″ length.
• An extra grip
• 4 additional front sight blades (2 white or red, and 2 yellow)
• Belt Buckle
• Dan Wesson logo patch
• Wrench kit
• Carrying Case

Pistol Pacs were designated by a “P” then the model number of the revolver frame, then the barrel shroud type (blank) for standard, “V” for vent, “VH” for Vent Heavy. The following are examples:

• P-715 = Stainless 357 mag. standard barrel shroud
• P-41-V = Blued 41 magnum, Vent rib barrel shroud
• P-745-VH = stainless 45 long colt, Vent Heavy Pistol Pac

The Hunter Pac was offered in all Magnum calibers from 22 magnum up through 445 Supermag (even the 375 was a catalog item)

The Hunter Pac contained the following items:

• Dan Wesson Revolver with an 8″ Vent Heavy Shroud.
• A Vent 8″ Shroud (only, no extra barrel), equipped with Burris scope mounts and a Burris scope in either 11/2x-4x variable or 2x fixed. 
• Barrel changing tool 
• Dan Wesson logo patch 
• Carrying case

Hunters Pacs were identified by an “HP” before the model number and then a “V” for variable scope or a “2” for fixed power scope. Below are examples:

• HP22M-V = 22magnum blue with 1 1/2x – 4x scope
• HP744-2 = 44 magnum stainless with 2x fixed scope.

Other Interesting Information

The most common small frame guns are the model 15 and 15-2, the thought is the -2 guns have minor differences when Monson started manufacturing the guns and labeled it the -2. One of the changes noted is shape of the hammer.

When Bob Serva bought the Dan Wesson company and moved it to Norwich NY, he retooled the shop with all new CNC machines and the first guns he produced were marked “First issue” they went back to labeling the model 15 and 715 dropping the -2.

There is also a SuperRam Silhouette version available in many calibers, Norwich production with an under cut patridge front sight covered with a slab-sided hood, the rear sight is a Bomar with 18 clicks per revolution. These guns are marked with a SRS-1 on the barrel hood.

The Model 11 service and the model 12 target both had the pork chop barrel shrouds and the exposed barrel nut on the end. The early Model 14 and 15 had the pork chop barrel shrouds, but the barrel nut was recessed. The pork chop shroud was redesigned to the current style when the model designation was changed to 14-2 and 15-2.

The stainless 38 Special Action Cup with the large slab barrel shroud was just designated as the “Action Cup”, no numerical model number.

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