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February 23, 2014
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Hello from Texas folks!
I'm new to the forum, so here's a bit about me, I'm 27, married to a beautiful woman, nice little house, our three kids are a Mustang GT, a Shelby GT Mustang, and a Corvette. I'm currently five years into my career, and I refuse to jump through hoops, but I'm still a Lieutenant of Corrections who only answers to four people, basically I'm the lunatic running the asylum. I enjoy hunting, all sorts, shooting with my wife, sushi, bourbon and whiskey, working, cooking and anything that will give me an adrenaline rush.
I'm also new to Dan Wesson revolvers, or any in general, I know some basic revolver stuff that I've picked up over the years. So I chose a Dan Wesson Model 15 as the first revolver I'll own. I've seen it sitting in a pawn shop for three months before I picked it up for $400+tax. I've even pointed it out to my wife and told I wonder why that Dan Wesson is still sitting there.
It's old (older than me), late seventies early eighties, stamped Palmer, Mass. serial number is B00367x, in .357 magnum. It's got plenty of wear on it, nicks, dings, scratches, small rust spots around the stamping, and the blue is discolored a little in some places. One of these days I'll find someone to clean it up and re-blue it. It had come with the Hogue mono grip, but it was so dry rotted I replaced it with a Hogue Pau Ferro wood grip with a rich dark to sandy blonde coloring. She's been to the range once. I've put 50 rounds of 158 grain magnum loads through her, it feels just so right in my hand and while it's very accurate (had to play with the rear sight a little), I'll be damned if it didn't have a couple of problems.
First off the cylinder latch (bolt) and latch on the crane arm are a bit worn, they will hold the cylinder closed, but if you push, with a little force, the cylinder from right to left, it'll pop open. I do plan on using this revolver while hog hunting, so I kinda want the cylinder to stay shut should I be in a compromising position, but this isn't a huge problem.
Second is the issue that worries me, there are times when I pull the trigger, the trigger will travel about a half inch and everything will lock up, trigger, hammer, cylinder. Nothing will budge, I can release the trigger and pull it again, and it will still lock up. Eventually it will function normally for a while. I thought it was the brass from the cartridges expanding and deforming and stopping the cylinder, but it does it without any rounds in the cylinder. So I pulled off the side plate and cleaned it out, looked like the inside had never seen the light of day, but it will still lock up during trigger pull.
I'll post those problems again in another section of the forum, but if anyone has experience with that problem and can help me, I really would appreciate it.
An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
- Robert A. Heinlein
We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.
- General George S. Patton
In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.
-Erwin Rommel
Fight like a man, so you do not have to die like a dog.
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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to the
Looking at the innards, I would definitely blow it apart & give it a good scrubbing. That may fix your firing problems alone. Also check the barrel to cylinder gap...the front of the cylinder isn't always even, so roll it around 'till you find the tightest spot, you want it to measure a minimum of .002 to .003".
The frame latch issue is likely also due to gunk buildup. Use a fine-point scraper or scratch awl & dig out any gunk that me be in the groove in the frame, where the latch rests.
Also, lets see some 
of your three "kids"!
At the moment, I don't have any musclecars that move under their own power, so during warm months, my adrenaline rush fix is limited to the Aquamax...
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Welcome to the forum. Charger Fan has it right! Clean her up. The "average joe tuneup" works wonders but just a cleaning, lube and Wolff reduced power springs work wonders. While its apart you should replace the " small parts" with a kit from EWK. Don't screw on the grip any tighter than necessary or you will have problems with the hammer in SA and light strikes in DA. If you still have problems after a cleaning check with the forum. All kinds of help here.
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Welcome to the DWF. You DW appears to be of the fixed barrel type. So the cylinder gap will be set, but start with a good scrubbing and we will help all we can.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
February 22, 2014
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Welcome from a former West Texan (Lubbock area). Bet detailing the innards may do it. Best of luck!
- "The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." Thomas Jefferson
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Welcome to the forum from PA, that is a very cool fixed-barrel Dan. Looking at your serial # and the fact that it is a Palmer gun, I do not think it is as old as you think, I would say more like early 1990s.
I agree with the others, a thorough teardown and cleaning may do a lot for both your issues. Here is a great thread for you to help. https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/reloading/tuning-up-your-15-2-the-average-joe-method/
Also, I cannot stress enough, be sure your grip screw is not too long. If it is, it can interfere with the travel of the hammer spring. This could be contributing to your action locking up. The grip screw should not thread in more than about 6 turns before getting tight. If your Hogue wood grip came with a screw it is most likely too long. I have a couple and always the screw needs cut shorter.
The cylinder latch might just need a thorough cleaning too, could be some crud in the slot for the latch, or maybe the latch needs taken apart and cleaned and oiled.
Let us know how you make out, you picked up a neat one, the fixed barrel Dan Wessons do not show up often. I would have picked it up for $400 in a heartbeat. And I really like your grip choice, I have several Hogue wood grips and Pau Ferro is my favorite.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
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January 24, 2009
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I must be getting blind, I missed the FB part.
Woops!
December 4, 2012
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I missed it too. Blaming the little screen on my phone. Remember our gap advice on your next dan. You will want one with interchangable barrels. Take the grip off and see if the action cycles.
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DWF Supporters
October 11, 2009
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to Arlington Texas here, artex
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