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December 25, 2014
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I've been a member here for a couple months waiting til I actually had something Dan Wesson to add to the forum. I am approaching 60 and I have been in love with these revolvers since the late seventy's-early eighty's. That is the time-frame when I purchased my first DW. It was a pistol pac (15-2V) but sadly I only kept it a few years.
I got into a different hobby and that has taken most of my time and money until recently. I've started to sell off those items and concentrate on firearms.
I will quit rambling and get to the point. I recently purchased a DWA .22. I found it locally online, met the owner, checked it out and made the purchase. I was really looking for a .357 but I could not beat this deal. The pistol has a very low serial number-under 2300. It has a non-vent, non-heavy (standard?) 6" barrel. I bought just the firearm, nothing additional as the seller had nothing more. I am going to purchase another firearm (not a DW) from the same person so I plan to ask if he has any additional details on the .22 that he may have since remembered. It was a safe queen to him and is in excellent condition for it's age, although not flawless.
I have a short list of firearms I want (still have two to get) and then I plan to collect various Dan Wesson revolvers. Pics are from the ad I purchased it from.
I was looking at the Full Serial Number registry and have a few questions. I'm not trying to be picky here, I'm just trying to date mine with nothing from a previous owner to go by. jon reese shows his as a 1978 and it has a 5 digit sn (12,XXX) based on others and two listings down Drumwheel has one with a four digit sn 80XX based on paperwork. Unless I'm mistaken shouldn't the lower sn come before the higher one? Does anyone know when the first .22s were available?
Lets Go PENs!!!
Range Officer
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Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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to the 
.
We base our serial number table on when the guns were purchased new. We have no way of knowing how long a particular gun was in stock at a particular dealer. That may cause some anomalies.
-Mike
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Welcome to the forum for the other side of the sate (Harrisburg area)! Thanks for joining and posting pics right away. That is a very nice looking 22 you found. I'll let SteveCT, our resident serial number list expert, answer your date question, but I will add that Dan Wesson serial numbers are still somewhat of a mystery that we are solving a little at a time.
I have seen quite a few nice Dan's for sale on Gunbroker out of a shop in New Castle, PA. Since its not too far from you, it may be worth a drive up to check out the place. They have been listing a bunch since late fall.
Post a range report when you get a chance.
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
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Some strange (unverified) data has crept into the S/N Registry, but I can tell you that entries for Karl D and drumwheel are valid.
.22's were definitely in production in 1979, possibly in late 1978.
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
December 25, 2014
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I appreciate the input. I have seen here that the serial numbering is a bit of a question mark.
Scoripo, I just spent some time going through all the DW revolvers that were on gunbroker. I didn't find a listing from New Castle. If you see where they list something, please give me a heads-up.
I will have a range report as I plan to try her out in the next week or two.
Lets Go PENs!!!
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Also no idea how long some frames sat in the wharehouse before being assembled/shipped. Could have been years.
SHOOT
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Here is a link to a recently completed auction they ran. You can get the contact info from the description.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=466398201
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
December 25, 2014
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Thanks Scorpio, I added them to my favorite sellers. I drive for a living. I have made and printed a list of the gun shops that are in the areas I normally go to. My plan, when the budget allows, is to stop at them looking specifically for Dan Wesson revolvers.
Steve CT, Thank you for your reply. The gentleman that I bought it from said he had gotten it a long time ago at a gun shop that went out of business way back when. He said he had gotten no paper work (or anything else) when he purchased it. I will try to find out if he remembers around what year he bought it.
Lets Go PENs!!!
November 27, 2014
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Welcome to the Forum...if ya have a bad case of DWAS this is a great place to be with the best people on the net welcome Hick
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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The guys have you covered, I'll just say welcome and add; if you're looking for something DW, place a Want to Buy add in the Wanted section of the Classifieds
Regards, Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
Dans Club
April 18, 2014
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As a reminder, here is the forum link where Eric Wesson posted some relevant dates and serial info. This may be of some help for all to recall.
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/reference-files/early-dan-wesson-serial-number-information/
Welcome to DWF. Serial numbering is hard to put in some real order. You will start to get a sense of things after you've spent some time here reading and studying. It is an adventure worth taking though.
Cecil
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Member AAGSR Member AGA #83120600233
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
Richard Henry Lee
American Statesman, 1788
September 1, 2010
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Good looking Dan you have there, thanks for the picture.
December 25, 2014
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rwsem, Thank you for the link. I think I will try my gun shop shopping first. There isn't anything in particular that I am looking for right now in a DW, just a good deal if I come across one. I have to do this as time and budget allow. I will also keep an eye on the for-sale/trade section of this forum. Yes, I am looking forward to my tax refund.
ese927, I appreciate the link but, at least on my computer, it comes up as an "ERROR 404-Page not found".
Thank you to everyone for the kind words and input.
Lets Go PENs!!!
January 22, 2008
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Welcome from South Carolina.
…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/
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