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December 10, 2016
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Hello,
Just purchased a used DW .44 mag with black matte finish. According to sites I have visited this finish was used for the top of the line revolvers. It's at the gunsmiths now and when I pick it up I will post photos. This is my 1st Dan Wesson and would like to find out any pertinent information about it. Feels like a very solid hand gun. With the gun laws today I'm lucky to live in Arizona.Barrel is vented and ported
Thank you Scorpio for replying. Just picked it up from my gunsmith(he does not recall seeing any of model with this finish)
Here are some pics. This also is
vented and ported
Staying warm in Arizona
October 1, 2012
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Hello John,
If there is another site that has information about Dan Wessons , I would sure like to know about it. What sites did you contact ? Thanks
Hugelk
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I am unaware of a black matte finish from the factory on the 44 mag. It may however be so or it could be a .445 supermag. They made a stainless gun with the black finish and a 4" barrel, maybe compensated, that is called the Alaskan Guide Special. It also chambers 44 mag and 44 spec.. Early ones may not be marked AGS. The cylinder and frame would be longer than a 44 mag. It is a top of the line gun. If it was sold as a 44mag you probably got a hell of a deal.
Not sure what the gunsmith is going to do. Most gunsmith are not very knowledgeable about DWs. If he is just checking it out and cleaning you are okay. DO NOT LET HIM DO AN ACTION JOB. They are not like Smiths or Colts and he can ruin it if he treats it as such. Filing and cutting springs is not the way to do it.
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January 24, 2009
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aboard, and thanks for posting 
That finish is not original to the gun, I'm sure some other members will be along shortly with some good guesses as to the name of the finish. You may be interested to know that your gun was made the first year DW introduced the .44 model, 1981. And being an early gun, yours also has the short hammer spur.
Pretty neat!
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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004953 was manufactured in 1981, and it would have been a blued finish. This looks like ceracote or parkerized.
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
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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That looks like it was Parkerized owing to the grey cast it has. As Steve said, it should have been a brite blue finish from factory. Tha is an early 44 though, nice find.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
March 25, 2008
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One question when you open the cylinder there is a casting mark under the crane latch area, is it a "s". if so it would be a stainless frame.
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December 4, 2011
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I don't see an S in the serial number though, that's why I believe it was a blue gun, but I could be wrong.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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November 17, 2008
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Short hammer spur. I don't believe any stainless revolvers exist with a short hammer spur. Then again anything is possible.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Charger Fan said
That finish is not original to the gun, I'm sure some other members will be along shortly with some good guesses as to the name of the finish. You may be interested to know that your gun was made the first year DW introduced the .44 model, 1981. And being an early gun, yours also has the short hammer spur.
Pretty neat!
Beat up Dove Grey maybe? I can't remember when the Dove Grey models were produced.
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December 4, 2011
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Serial number is too high for a Dove Grey model.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Dove gray were 1 to 500. First 250 were engraved. The shroud is ported but the barrel may not be. Better to not be. Power porting was not their best idea. The fumes filled up the space between the shroud and the barrel and deposited powder and lead if the bullets were not jacketed. About every 50 rounds one would have to remove and clean the barrel and shroud or they would fuse together with residue. There were 6 holes in the ported barrels and they did not line up with the ports in the shroud.
DWF Supporters
December 10, 2016
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So,
Do think as a replacement barrel it would be ok to use a modern non ported ? You guys are great, and for some reason I really like this .44. Have not fired it yet. Got it back from my gunsmith who did just a cleaning and over check out. Been seriously thinking it would be nice to have the xtra barrel. Also my barrel has slots around it not round holes.
PS. By the way I am also an ole timer joined the Navy in 65
Again Many thanks to all
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January 24, 2009
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johnbrandolino said
Also my barrel has slots around it not round holes.
That would be the shroud with the slots, the barrel inside may or may not have holes.
Get one of EWK's barrel wrenches (direct link in the tab on the right of this screen) to open it up & determine what you have inside the shroud.
DWF Supporters
December 10, 2016
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hugelk said
Hello John,If there is another site that has information about Dan Wessons , I would sure like to know about it. What sites did you contact ? Thanks
Hugelk
So sorry about to you. All I did was tried everything I could find over the net. And to be honest with you, I was born way before the computer age and and I am kind of a dinosaur with the new modern tech world.
Thank you for answering
DWF Supporters
December 10, 2016
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pops2 said
One question when you open the cylinder there is a casting mark under the crane latch area, is it a "s". if so it would be a stainless frame.
No S
DWF Supporters
December 10, 2016
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Ole Dog said
Dove gray were 1 to 500. First 250 were engraved. The shroud is ported but the barrel may not be. Better to not be. Power porting was not their best idea. The fumes filled up the space between the shroud and the barrel and deposited powder and lead if the bullets were not jacketed. About every 50 rounds one would have to remove and clean the barrel and shroud or they would fuse together with residue. There were 6 holes in the ported barrels and they did not line up with the ports in the shroud.
I had recently posted that I had just purchased a 15 2 W/4 barrels, case ,all the tools, buckle etc. for $650.00. It's like new.
My question is why such a revolver is so in demand that a national outdoor store would sell it at such a low price ? Maybe the salesperson made a big error.
You people on this forum are great.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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John: "And the Truth Shall Set You Free"
DW revolvers pretty much fly under the radar of people buying guns, because:
1) Revolvers are not "cool"
2) It's not S&W, Ruger, Taurus, or any of the other Big Boys
3) To get the very best performance from a DW revolver, you might need to invest some time and work
4) Original DW revolvers are a finite and non-renewable resource
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
DWF Supporters
December 10, 2016
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Thanks for your reply.
Going to take a CWP class and was wondering if I should use the 15 2 w/ 6" barrel or my S/W MP shield .45. Having used long guns most of my life I have not shot a hand gun for at least 2 years.
Could you elaborate more on your #3 answer. (invest some time and work)?
Thanks for your input
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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DW Large Frame disassembly will help you with a complete tear down and reassembly. A thorough cleaning, spring replacement, and judicious smoothing of mating surfaces is pretty straightforward.
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
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