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January 22, 2008
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Okay guys, I've been working on this for a couple of weeks now and finally have something to share!
A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by someone who had two interesting DW items. Here's the email I received:
I have a 6 inch shroud I found in an old stamping machine
that I reconditioned. It was stamped at least three times with "Dan
Wesson Arms"".357 Magnum CTG" I found it stuck in the back of the
stamper. Also have brass plate from the stamper that says'Property of
D.W.A.' Interested?
Obviously we know the answer to his question. Turns out the shroud is an 8″ and has never been finished. We came to agreement on the price and I received the shroud and brass tag this morning. Here are some pictures:
Obviously ever who who was doing the stamping messed up and threw this back in the machine to cover up their mistake. You can see the bottom of the shroud needs some work as well.
Now I have an ethical question… The shroud has never been finished so I'm wondering should I have it cleaned up and refinished? I would like to have the stamping machined off. Should I do it?
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Blashphemy--- 
That's like finding Noahs ark and fiberglassing the hull 🙂
I'd keep the triple stamp and send it to Hotbluer--
SHOOT
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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Holy schnikeys, how cool is that??
Who knows, maybe a triple stamped unfinished shroud will be worth big bucks someday...sorta like coins that have been stamped twice. That brass tag is pretty neat, too.
Now, for the BIG question...what has the guy done with the stamping machine? Does it still have the roll marking stamp in it? Folks could get period correct roll marks done on brand new shrouds with that thing.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Jody-
DON'T DO IT!
If you collect coins, among the rarest items are double stamps and irregulars. I would not even re-blue (oops, I mean blue) it.
That is a true one of a kind, put it in a presentation case and put it on the wall, and check back on the die as Charger recommends.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Jody,
Yeah don't change a thing! It's a-one-of-a-kind. Now if you could find an unfinished frame! 
My next question is, how many boes of 357 MAX do you have? I have ONE only.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Ditto, leave it as is. Zoommb will be jealous as he is a roll mark stamped barrel fanatic!
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
March 25, 2008
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I agree leave the stamp alone but why not have it blued and use it also lets look at getting the stamp machine. then we can have eric finish the custome shrouds. May have to check on propritary rights from DW.
January 10, 2010
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Awesome score jody!!! the imperfection adds amazing character Im with everyone else theres a hundred 8 in shrouds out there but only ONE like yours>>>>>>>KEEP IT >>
lol
mike
November 28, 2009
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Nice score!!! But DON'T DO IT!!!!!! I dable in the antiques and the first rule of thumb is don't do anything to it till you find out what it might be worth. Cleaning refurbishing can deplete it's value. I wouldn't do anything to it what so ever keep it like it is. If you don't want it for the collection I'll give you the money for it just to preserve it as it is.....
like that is really gonna happen but had to offer any way. Awesome score!!!!!!!!!!! 
"I don't believe in repeat offenders I believe in dead offenders." Ted Nugent
January 22, 2008
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Shoot I deep down I knew it was Blasphemy when I wrote the original post! 
The guy I purchased this from no longer works for the company that has the machine. I believe the machine is now in Iowa.
I have emailed the gentleman back concerning the die and to inquire if he knows if the machine is being used by his former employer. I will keep you guys posted on what I turn up.
Jagg, I actually bought bought 8 boxes of brass probably 40 more pieces that were not in a box and RCBS 357 Max Dies from a member who posted the ad in the classified section a few weeks ago. I also just remembered that I bought 5 more boxes last year before I even had my 740!
Now all I need is primers, powder and bullets!
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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It sounds like the stamp itself may be long gone, then...but I'll hold out hope for it. Congrats again on that cool find, that is fantastic! And no matter what the price was, it was
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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Cool find, Jody. I hope you can trace the machine.
SMF — you got me. I just think the roll marks look better than the laser engraved stuff. The laser engraving is so light that it just doesn't look right to me.
-Mike
November 14, 2009
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It would be nice to see a pic of the machine the shroud came from. At least it would be good for the pic collection and history.
Nice find, makes me want a 357.
Happyness is a Hot DW and a pile of used brass!!! Rich
Range Officers
February 25, 2009
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Not to take away any of the cool factor but is the shroud correct in every way. I guess what I'm trying to say is it a reject and they were training a new guy at the press and it was for practice hence the tripple stamp???
Or a reject shroud and they were setting the pressure on a new die to get the correct stamping depth?? Looking at it, each of the 3 stamps are of different depths.
I'm with the majority, oil it up good and leave it as is. Or clear coat it to preserve it.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
~Thomas Jefferson~
January 22, 2008
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If you enlarge the 2nd photo you can see the bottom of the shroud needed some finish machining to smooth it out. Besides that it looks fine... I figured someone new was stamping and messed up and tried to re-stamp... but who knows?
February 20, 2008
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Frame it in a shadow box and hang it up
somewhere you can see it daliy~!
If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
April 25, 2008
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Cool find Jody...keep it as is.
The Savantist
January 22, 2008
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Guys, doesn't look like the stamping machine is available. Here is the email I received back.
I'll tell you as much as I know about it. The company I worked for is a
large machine shop and I was working in the maintenance/tool room dept. I
don't know who they bought it from other than it was a machine dealer and I was told they got it for next to nothing. So with that in mind they decided
to spend a significant amount of money and time to make it work for their
purposes. I was the person who's job it was to do this. I unwrapped it
when it came off the truck and did not find any dies. I completely
disassembled the machine, repainted and repaired or reproduced any parts
that were missing or broken and then made new fixtures and other
improvements in the design including repacking the cylinders and installing
all new modern pneumatic controls. After I did all this it was a shop
favorite b/c of it's rapid cycle time and ease of set-up and use, so I'm
fairly certain it's not collecting dust. It is a 'Matthews Marking Co.'
brand machine and you might be interested to know someone had either named the machine 'Ollie' or that was the operator's name, since it was painted (looked like with someone's finger) on the machine.
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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That's too bad that they weren't still in the machine. I assume that DWA made sure to remove the dies before the machine left, so fake shrouds didn't start entering the scene.
That's cool to know the machine's more recent history & what happened to it.
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