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April 29, 2017
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OK. I registered to add my experience. I have used your forum for several days for research and here is what I discovered.
42 years ago a guy I knew peripherally asked if I wanted to buy his gun. I gave him $50. I shot it for a while on rare occasions, maybe 50-100 rounds. A box or two. I became concerned because the cylinder seemed "loose" and asked a couple gunsmiths if it was safe and was told "No". So I have had it all this time and never used it. I did shoot IDPA for a while with a 1911 Para double stack and have had a number of 1911s but was never a "wheel gun" guy. Recently I have been considering doing some wheel gun shooting and thinking about a S&W .460 or .500. Then I remembered, I HAVE a wheel gun. SO I dug it out and started rooting around trying to find out a few things.
One thing I discovered was that the current fantasy about cylinder floppiness is "a little is OK" as long as it doesn't spit lead and is accurate. Well I remember being impressed with it's accuracy from the get go. This thing hits what it is pointed at. So I began to reconsider shooting it. So I started doing more reading of your forum and noticed the Ser. # are on the right side of the frame. I thought I would see just when mine was made knowing it had to be before I bought it in '73 or so.
That is when I discovered it had no serial number! Just a blank space under "Dan Wesson MFG" and above Monson, MA. Hmmm. When did the ATF begin to require serial #s? I don't know. Hmmmm. I read on our forum "some early guns had custom serial numbers". Could one of them been ordered with no number? Finally, I took it outside in bright light and found the #. 21,XXX. And "15-B".
I have always LOVED the way the gun looked and if you ask me the DW 15 "Pork Chop" is what a revolver SHOULD look like. Anyway, now I am going to shoot the thing.
April 29, 2017
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Typo. I don't know where the 1 771 in the title came from...
March 25, 2008
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you'll be hooked soon
as you are finding out there are three serial no. locations newer era right side of frame, under the crane and on the grip post under the grip for earliest models. shoot and enjoy. Dayton
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Dans Club
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February 4, 2017
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Welcome aboard! I think having the thrill of pistol shooting is something we all enjoy here...regardless if it's a wheel gun or an auto loader.
I have found invaluable information here and folks willing to share a wealth of experience that cannot be found elsewhere.
Rimfire
"LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO SPEND IT WITH AN UGLY GUN!" - John Taffin
February 16, 2016
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Wastoute said
I took it outside in bright light and found the #. 21,XXX. And "15-B".
With those numbers, I bet you found them on the frame underneath the crane.
Dans Club
October 17, 2008
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Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Welcome to the Forum! I think you will really enjoy shooting your Dan.
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DWF Supporters
May 11, 2011
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Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Wastoute said
Typo. I don't know where the 1 771 in the title came from...
I changed the Topic Title to 15-1, I think that is the Model you have
Steve
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
April 29, 2017
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Nope. 15-B. Thanks for the help, though.
So much info to learn. I am surprised at the things I am learning. One innovation I can't believe others have not adopted is locking up the crane in front of the cylinder. It would seem like just pure physics but think about it. For maximum strength and stability one would want to have the greatest amount of mass in the cylinder between the points at which the cylinder is stabilized. Also, one would want the strongest of the two stabilizing/fixing points to be as close to the gap between the cylinder and barrel as possible. I can't believe the S&W and Colt style of locking the cylinder in place both neglect these two points and put the latch in back.
In regard to my gun's "floppy" cylinder I realize that because of the "latch in front" design the rear of the cylinder is less supported but this is unimportant as the critical alignment is up front and there the position is pretty stable. The more I learn about this gun the more I am fascinated. I just wish i could buy the "stuff" to recreate a pistol pack but getting the "stuff" to make a pistol pack for a pork chop model seems to be impossible. Too bad.
the other innovation that is genius is the barrel design. I guess the thing that does "shoot out" heavy magnum revolvers is bending the frame to open the gap between barrel and cylinder. This design makes that concern non existent.
April 29, 2017
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Stinger, as you posted. The serial number is under the crane, tucked up underneath the overhang so it is easy to miss unless the light is bright. Two lines there one is the serial number, the other is 15-B.
When gunsmiths told me it was unsafe I thought that perhaps a policeman had fired the gun so much it had been "shot out" but retrospectively I should have known better. The gun could not have been more than two years old when I bought it and looked new. How many rounds does it take to destroy a gun by shooting it? I don't know, offhand but I would suspect it is north of 10,000 unless especially hot custom loads are involved. So what is the chance that someone could have put that many rounds through it? Looking back I should have known better.
Another innovation that makes sense is the coil spring for the hammer. I can't believe no one else has done that.
February 16, 2016
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Wastoute said
Stinger, as you posted. The serial number is under the crane, tucked up underneath the overhang. Two lines there one is the serial number, the other is 15-B.
I have a 14-N and 15-N
April 29, 2017
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Are th serial numbers below or above 21,6XX? Especially on the 15-N. (Gotta wonder what the B and N are for.)
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Wastoute, Steve is likely right about the Model being 15-1. I believe the 15-B likely is a reference to a Model 15 in Blue. It could also refer to a modification that was made from the original design. Like the S&W 10-6, 10-11 etc..
December 19, 2014
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Welcome.
We need to see pics, especially of the rear sight. There are no-dash model 15's (porkchop with large adjustable rear sight), a porkchop model 15-1 that has the smaller adjustable rear sight, and a model 15-2 which is the non-porkchop model. The B is for Blue as snake-eye mentions, I believe the N's were nickel.
I have a 12xxx serial numbered 15 (no dash).
February 22, 2017
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middlecalf said
Welcome.We need to see pics, especially of the rear sight. There are no-dash model 15's (porkchop with large adjustable rear sight), a porkchop model 15-1 that has the smaller adjustable rear sight, and a model 15-2 which is the non-porkchop model. The B is for Blue as snake-eye mentions, I believe the N's were nickel.
I have a 12xxx serial numbered 15 (no dash).
We definitely need pics! (welcome, btw)
Jerry
10 Dans and counting...
April 29, 2017
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Sorry, I quit posting photos on the internet some time ago. Maybe I will try to re learn how. The -B and -N must have referred to the finish, nickel or blue. One wonders if it doesn't make a difference when fitting the finished guns together as the coatings would vary in thickness, I suppose.
The numbers stamped inside the crane are an upper line in a slightly larger font with the numbers not in perfect line and varying depths, like they were stamped one at a time. A lower line with slightly smaller font and very light but all in line "10D" and then in an in between font size and slightly deeper (but in between) impression is the "15-B".
The gun is a pork chop but with the newer flush barrel nut. The rear sight is the older, large screw type. The bluing is still good but for a bit of wear on each side of the muzzle from 40 years in the holster and a number of moves. Also, a fairly prominent cylinder ring because I was an idiot in my youth and didn't know better.
The photos on the internet just seem like a real bad idea. We know the damn cameras embed location info. Sure you can turn it "off" but is it really off? Seems just foolish laying out your firearms and then publishing for the world to see just what you have and where to find it. I appreciate that others have taken the risk and have made it possible for me to see these things and learn. I suppose I am just being foolish as more than likely in a few years my firearms aren't going to be where they are now, anyway...
December 19, 2014
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Sounds like a no-dash model 15.
If someone comes around my place with ill-intent they'll most likely have a bad day.
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January 24, 2009
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Okay I will then.
This is a model 15, serial #11229...
This is a model 15-1, notice the smaller rear sight & shorter front sight...
to the forum, Wastoute.
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