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April 12, 2009
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Hi everyone, just joined the group.Home is Montrose,CO. 20 years ago I saw my first pistol pak, but couldn't afford it. This week I found and bought the only other set I've ever seen. It was worth the wait. It is complete and 95% perfect. I stumbled around the internet for hours trying to get some info and finally found this site. It is nice to have so much info in one place. If possble, I would like to find out when the pistol was made, and get a concensious on how to improve the trigger action. The serial number is 357 S00569X. Thanks in advance for any help
February 4, 2009
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Welcome to the forums alanb, and glad to have you aboard.
Congratulations on your Pistol Pac- I'm still waiting for the right first Pac myself.
I can't really help you on dating your firearm although I know there are many folks here who should be able to give you an idea. If it's a Monson made revolver with a 4 digit serial, it has to be an early model, I would think. Somewhere on the forum, apparently it has been stated that the 715s were likely a later model than blued Model 15s. -See, I told you I'm clueless. As for your trigger, what is it you are looking to improve with the trigger?
I have a few Dans but only one has a really sweet trigger feel to it. They all have nice single action but only my 744, with pretty high mileage, has that buttery smooth double action. I think the key is to shoot the heck out of it and the trigger will wear in nicely.
Anyway, welcome….. and don't forget to post some pics of your Pac for us.
April 12, 2009
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Thanks CDF294. It is Monsoon made. I'll see if the wife can post pics.I'm not a computor guy if you haven't already noticed
December 17, 2008
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Welcome to the DWF Rich - you are in the right place and amongst serious Dan Wesson 'kin'…
Congrats on what sounds like a GREAT acquisition!
We'll need some more input from the other guys on approximating your date. You've probably read in the forum that all the records from the Monson years are in the posession of the BATF (when the business closed).
However, we know that the first SS revolvers began shipping in '82. Dan Wesson himself was against the use of SS and it was never used until several years after his passing (1978).
I would guess with the low Serial number that you have, that your Pac is an '83ish set - HOWEVER; where we need input from the other guys is on the Serial Number's “357″ prefix. I don't know if that indicates a later issue. I'm curious about the prefix because I have an '83 .41 mag Pac and the serial number is SC0018XX.
Pictures will help (there's a posting instruction under the FAQ heading on the right side of the forum page) and also any paperwork that may have come with the Pac (price lists, barrel wrappers, letters, etc.)
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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to the DWF!
These guys pretty much covered anything I was going to say, so that just leaves me to say welcome from the other side of the hill!
Out of curiosity, did you find your Pac locally, or did you buy the one that was on Gun Broker last week?
April 12, 2009
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Bought it locally.Tried to post pics, but with no success. There are no papers of any kind in the case It is a black case with grey colored eggshell foam.One thing that makes absolutely no sense is the fact that under the foam on the lid of the case was a rubber stamp date of Feb. 16,1970. What the heck is that?
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January 24, 2009
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That date could be one of two things.
Either DW bought a ton of those cases, to get a good deal on the pricing...or that Pac was put together by someone who found an early case.
I sent you a PM for some pic help, if you've already tried the picture tip in the "FAQ's" area at the right of this screen.
April 12, 2009
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Finally got the picture to come through, hope this helps. 
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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That set is soooooo gorgeous. Congrats on your successful application of DWAS!
April 25, 2008
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Welcom alanb! That is a great way to start a Dan Wesson collection. I'm still looking for my first pistol pack, and I have been shooting Dan Wessons for 23 years now.
The Savantist
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Nice starting pistol pack. Just for kicks I'll post my only pack, it is the little brother to yours, vented, not HV
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
April 12, 2009
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Looks like everyone on this forum is "plum proud" of their pistols by the the way the pics look.You take great care of them. There isn't a worn out pistol on the sight. I expect to have a few more nicks on mine in the coming years if the weather ever clears up where I can do some serious shooting. As stated earlier I am interested in when the set was made and any improvements I can make in the trigger action as it is currently a hard pull compared to my 686 S & W (which I had doctored in the 80's)
December 17, 2008
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Alanb - beautiful pistol pac!! Nice job on the pic too-
I am truly puzzled about that date stamp and wonder if those are old cases (as Charger speculated). Perhaps DW decided to use the black ones when they began building SS pistol pacs...?
I've never seen a blue set in a black case, they are all tan as far as I know.
But I also wonder about the lack of gold cloth covering the foam, which all pistol pacs of that vintage had, but pre '76 didn't (that also might support Charger's theory that those are old stock cases).
SMF - I assume yours is a factory assembled pac. Did you check the inside for date stamp? And do you have any idea if it ever had the cloth liner?
-->also, does your serial number start with '357'?
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Dusty,
No to answer the date stamp question. Where do you look? I'll check the serial number when I get it out. There was debate on my set too when I first posted it as to its age. I traded for it from what I believe to be the original owner, to my knowledge it was a factory pack, no way to prove it though.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
December 17, 2008
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SMF, alanb found his stamp under the foam on the inside of the lid - 1970!!
I remember puzzling over yours...will be curious about your serial number prefix when you have time.
-->this might be a good question to hang for Seth Jr - hopefully he stops by soon!
April 12, 2009
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I trully believe that the set came in this box as presented.The case has a factory decal on the outside of it that describes it as a 715 VH pistol pac. I am quite sure the set was not "assembled" because from what I see about individual barrel prices, it would have costs at least twice as much as I paid for it. It seems there is quite a bit of differences in how the factory did things. Maybe its because they were not doing well economically and management was changing after DW passing. I am sure there was never a liner in the case as the foam is machine cut to perfectly fit each piece. I really appreciate everyone's input. I am getting a DW education
December 17, 2008
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alanb - does the decal look like this? If it does, then the case is closed (if you'll excuse the pun…) as this is the label that went on all of the factory PP's.
If it's not the label you have, could you get a picture of yours and post it?
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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Well.
The foam in my pistol packs is cut perfectly to match the guns and spare barrels. However, my PP's were purchased in 1989. One is a 715 the other a 744. Now, when I purchased them, with the guns, I elected not to purchase the extra barrels too, thinking I would add them later. Later is finally here. Anyway, both of these came with SS guns. Both are the brown briefcases. Both have perfectly cut foam (assuming that the buyer would be buying all VH barrels). And both came with the gold cloth liners.
I hope that this contributes something.
December 17, 2008
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Thanks Zoom! -->is there a '357' prefix on your 715 serial number?
Good info on the pacs!
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