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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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So I picked up this beater 14-2 for $230 total... Sellers description;
"hello. i have for sale a used DAN WESSON 357 MAGNUM. it is a model 15. it has a 3 inch barrel. has hogue grips. does not come with tool or anything else. this gun is being sold AS IS!!! the problem with it, is that it works fine in double action, but in single action it cocks really hard. i havent fired it, and reccomend a gunsmith look at it first. i have no idea what is wrong with it. i put some oil in it, and that helped quite a bit. maybe it just needs a good cleaning? it is being sold as is. "
Ok, yes I understand "as-is"...but when I took this thing out of the box I was in awe. It wouldn't cock for any reason, single or double... blue is horrible also. I wish it needed a "good cleaning".
Once I had a beer and took a hard look at the gun, I noticed the crane was bent so bad the cylinder was binding on the inside of the topstrap. Blue is all wore off rear end of cylinder.
But it gets better 
...
Some genius decided the best way to fix it was to grind away the topstrap...
So I fired up the lathe and made a gauge to see how much it was really off... the answer was half the diameter of the cylinder ball hole.
So I made a jig to bend the crane back in shape...
the result 
As you can see, she lines up perfectly now. I'm going to give it a quick reblue and tune it up. Should make a "nice beater" when i'm done with it.
SHOOT
July 7, 2011
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Excellent work bringing that DW back! 
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Very nice work Shoot. I saw that one on the auction site but passed it up, and I figured you had picked it up on the BIN. I think it went to the right home where it's getting the tlc it needs. Around here with those issues it would have been a paperweight.
Maybe soon you should be known as the Dan Wesson Doctor! Or the Dan Wesson refuge and rehab center for abused Dans.
Of course we will like to see pics of it when it is back in action.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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I was so ticked off when I saw it, I immediately tore it down and didn't take any before pics– it is in sorry shape to say the least 
…
the way I figure it, for $230 I got a 4" BA, a set of grippers, and a set of spare parts…I can live with that.
SHOOT
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Welcome to the beater world Shoot! Gotta love 'em as no one else willl!
October 13, 2009
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Wow, one does get a sinking feeling after getting something like that that "may" "just need a good cleaning".
But great work in getting it back in running shape-the right way!
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Shoot,
I like Lonwolf's new title for ya, The DW Dr. If you ever need a second handle, I think he nailed it.
Glad you spent the effort to salvage the poor 14-2, very few others would have.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
December 26, 2010
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EWK_Stuff said:
Wow, one does get a sinking feeling after getting something like that that "may" "just need a good cleaning".
But great work in getting it back in running shape-the right way!
You're making me nervous Eric. I'm currently high bid on one that "just needs a good cleaning". 
May 10, 2011
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Dude...I'd just leave it torn up and weathered, just the way it is. I'd like to have a gnarly old specimen such as that for cc. Everybody knows how bad it is when something gets it's first scratch, right? Damage already done! Drive it like you stole it!
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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I really need to get that project done--It has been sititng on the bench waiting to be polished/blued.
Maybe Wednesday I'll try to squeeze it into the schedule.
SHOOT
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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OK--She's done
I'm not sure which I enjoy more--just buying DW's in general, or getting to work on them... I really do love working on the guns and making them the best they can be.
This one has the crane repaired, a quick Oxpho blue, tuned and lubed... Should make a great trail gun. She won't win any beauty contest, but she's as smooth as smooth gets !!!
SHOOT
September 1, 2010
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Great looking finished pistol, you do very good work.
July 7, 2011
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She's looking pretty good now! 
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