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March 13, 2016
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Hi everyone. 🙂
Back in 1987, I went to a gun show in Shreveport, LA, where I met a man selling his Dan Wesson .357 pistol pack. A friend and gun collector observed that it was in great condition and a good choice for my first pistol. So, I bought it.
That part of Louisiana has some stellar gunsmiths. Much like when I buy a used car, I took my .357 to one of these to make sure the internals were sound and assure the cylinder timing. When I got the gun back, it seemed perfect.
I had an opportunity to perhaps put 100 rounds through it and then the cylinder bushing under the extractor came out. There was no damage. All I can think is that in the process of setting the timing, the tiny roll pin that was replaced by the gunsmith wasn't sufficiently expanded to create a sound mechanical joint. Unsafe, I did not fire the gun again. Shortly thereafter, I moved to Little Rock, AR, to join a small CPA firm. Cleaned and oiled, my .357 was stored away until I could get it to a gunsmith.
Long story short, my career has taken me from New Jersey to California and most major cities in between. In 2009, I moved back to New Orleans, LA, where I grew up. In April, 2016, I finally made the time to bring my .357 to a local gunsmith. The bushing is now safely set and my gun is in the same condition as it was in when I first bought it. Enough time has passed that it's now collectable, which makes me reluctant to take it out. So, I'm pondering.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Uh, pondering? Welcome to the forum, I think. To bad the forum wasn't around then. We could have fixed you up. Best not to let gunsmiths near a Dan. After God himself, John Moses Browning, the greatest gun designer in history designed the Dan Wesson revolver. Karl Lewis invented the Dan Wessons to not need a gunsmith for most things. If you are pondering whether to sell or keep it, I would say that most folks who sell them regret it.
March 13, 2016
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Thanks for the welcome Ole Dog. I have a third grip and holster too. To your point, I probably should have just enjoyed the gun way back when. I certainly didn't set out to have something collectable.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Well...I'll trade you a shooter grade for it- even up. I can be there in about 4 hours.... Welcome to the DWF from the other side of the state! On the other hand, I recommend you just go shoot and enjoy it; Laissez les bon temps roulez!
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
February 16, 2016
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to 
and thanks for the 
of your beautiful PP, which looks like circa 1978 manufacturing, with the old style metal barrel tool and brass belt buckle that has the same design as the patch. Go shoot it ... you won't wear it out.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Welcome from PA! Very nice looking pac you have. It's your call as to shoot it or not, but they are great shooters
. If you want a shooter grade, you could sell it, buy a shooter and pocket the difference. Or you could just shoot yours, which is what I'd do.
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 13, 2016
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Stinger said
Thanks for the welcome. From the Serial Number Registry, I put its manufacture at 1979. Wish I had the instructions that came with the gun originally.
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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aboard!
Great looking Pac you have there, thanks for showing it off!
DWF Supporters
February 1, 2016
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Nice pack, from Ohio, thanks for the
SIZE DOES MATTER
February 16, 2016
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Xandrosi said
Stinger said Your beautiful PP, which looks like circa 1978 manufacturing, with the old style metal barrel tool and brass belt buckle that has the same design as the patch.
Thanks for the welcome. From the Serial Number Registry, I put its manufacture at 1979. Wish I had the instructions that came with the gun originally.
180xxx - 208653
You can't just go off the Registry. 1978 to 1979 was a transitional period, with both the barrel tool and belt buckle changing style and being integrated into production. My 15-2V PP S/N crosses in the Registry to be manufactured in 1979 and I have the plastic coated tool and pewter belt buckle with the newer logo, that doesn't match the patch.
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DWF Supporters
March 17, 2016
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Welcome from Mo., Awesome looking Pistol Pack. I have one from the same year. Now go shoot that baby
she needs to sing!
March 13, 2016
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Thanks for the welcome and encouraging words.
This afternoon, while on the phone in my home office, my tenant texted my wife that someone had just attempted to break into her door and then my back door. This was then relayed to me. The guy evidently ran off when another tenant pulled up outside. I had heard nothing. Happy this didn't turn into a bad situation. A stark reminder of one of the reasons why I bought this gun in the first place.
January 22, 2008
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Welcome from SC. Copies of the manuals may be on this site, I just don't know where.
Here is pdf of the original. http://stevespages.com/pdf/danwesson_small-frame.pdf
And the one on the CZ site. http://cz-usa.com/hammer/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DW_SmllFrameRevolver_Prf.pdf
…he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22:36 Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project http://www.irenasendler.com/
USN-Vet, NRA, GOA, JPFO, SC-GRGR
July 3, 2014
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December 4, 2012
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Welcome to the forum from Ohio.
March 13, 2016
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Boss Dog said
Welcome from SC. Copies of the manuals may be on this site, I just don't know where.Here is pdf of the original. http://stevespages.com/pdf/danwesson_small-frame.pdf
And the one on the CZ site. http://cz-usa.com/hammer/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DW_SmllFrameRevolver_Prf.pdf
Thanks for the welcome and links. 🙂
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