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December 3, 2016
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Just moved from Cody, WY to Florida. Trying to get used to the heat, humid heat that is!
Hey! I've got two questions if this is the proper place. Does anyone know who were the first four employees of Dan Wesson, not including Dan? And does anyone know where the first model was designed?
Thanks
gunner
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Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Welcome and I am sure answers will come along shortly!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Welcome to Florida, and the forum. Hopefully you will learn to appreciate the warmth. Subzero back home now? Where are you located. We have members all over Florida. Big state. Karl Lewis designed the first Dan Wesson. The prototype was fashioned in his kitchen. It was a homely affair, as were the first production models, the 11 and 12, in 1970. Karl is considered the second most brilliant firearms designer, after JMB. He designed the modern revolver lockwork, made with MIM and much simpler than the dated and hand fitted actions up till then. He worked for Colt and he created the Colt Trooper mk iii. The same action is in the essentially identical King Cobra and the Anaconda. Parts were interchangable and drop in. That is one reason Dan Wessons are so user friendly. His interchangable barrel system was offered to Colt but declined. He then went into business with Dan Wesson in 1968. The interchangable barrels and grips eliminated the need for a gunsmith to rebarrel or change the grip shape. If a Dan Wesson Barrel gets shot out it is a simple matter to replace a tube. Gun and Pawn shops everywhere are filled with shot out Smiths and Colts that are not worth the money to ship to the factory for rebarreling.
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January 24, 2009
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to the
Along with the excellent info that Ole Dog provided, you may also be interested in seeing some photos of the first DW...the "X1" LINK
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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There may actually be one older DW than that one, it is a non serial numbered DW revolver that was used very early on as a demonstration display for gun shows and trade shows. The separate assemblies (frame, barrel assembly, grip, etc.) were displayed on a panel to showcase the modular design of the Dan Wesson revolver. To the best of my knowledge, that display still exists as a "not complete gun". The last I knew (several years ago) it was in the possession of a very early officer of Dan Wesson.
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 5, 2016
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I believe the design work was done in a shop on Toby Rd in Monson but the first guns were farmed out
to be manufactured.
Greasit
December 3, 2016
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Ouch! Homely, Karl is turning over. Both he and I had/have the skin of an alligator, so knowing Karl he would just smile, and say "Thank you."
Well Old dog, you are about 25 clicks from me so that's interesting, I'm in Dunnellon.
Okay back to my questions. The first four employees where Karl of course, he resided in Wethersfield, CT. Karl was the man, he described what he wanted and made it happen. The guy who actually designed the first Dan Wesson gun was Tom Brown. Now I know this is going to be hard to believe but....He, Tom actually designed more than half of the Colt. Karl got into other tasks, a Colt 12 Ga. shotgun, gun cases, ect, and handed the chore off to Tom. Tom lived in Bolton, CT
The draftsman was Bill McDonnell, he lived in East Hartford,Ct, also an ex Colt employee.
Lastly was Gene Rice, he was the model maker, and a good one at that. Gene actually lived in Monson, Ma. I believe he knew Dan.
The first gun was designed and models fabricated in Wethersfield, Ct. This was important to Karl, because the site was approved by the ATF, at the time for gun manufacturing, which aided him in the lawsuit with Dan.
So I'm sure you figured it out, I'm Tom Brown. Karl and I met at Colts. We started working together on the XM-148 Grenade Launcher, on the military side. We both then got transferred to the commercial division, and got stuck with the Colt revolver. We had to get the cost down to around $8-$9 dollars per unit, which happened. I can honestly say Karl and I had a lot of fun, we had our ups and downs, and ended up being close friends. We had a lot in common.
If anyone has any questions on the the companies first two years, or info on Karl and I at Colts, I can try to bring it in focus and share the times.
I should add I stumbled on this site looking for some weapons. Funny, never gave a forum a thought.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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I should add I stumbled on this site looking for some weapons. Funny, never gave a forum a thought.
Welcome to the DWF- most of us "stumbled" or were referred. Just a bunch of friendly folks who appreciate the DW line. Although not the launcher you worked on; I appreciate the M203- got me out of more than one hard place...
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
Dans Club
January 17, 2015
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Great info here, gents.
February 16, 2016
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to Tom, I look forward to more great stories and finally some first-hand answers to many of our mysteries !!!
December 3, 2016
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Since I'm no kid, I'll just jot some stuff down. I see there is a site for DW history maybe if i have time i'll post some stuff there. As far as the XM-148 vs. the M203, here is blurb on it. https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=XM148%20grenade%20launcher&item_type=topic. The "XM" stands for "experimental model". It never lost that prefix. Remember the M-79 was the alternative up to that time. I came in on the project about day 50. For any of us who never dealt with the military on what they desired, it was generally complete BS. At that time, Karl was in competition with Ford, GM, GE and the government. The unit was designed and built in accordance with the specifications-period. It was interesting to see the differences between the competition. What won the contract was the take down was accomplished withe a 5.56mm cartridge. Another interesting item was the sights The original had no sights. We had 10 days to put one together. You can actually see the round when fired against the sky. We asked Brainard Airport, across the highway from Colts if we could use their runway for test firing dummy rounds. Not a problem - try that today. We just had to watch out for landing aircraft. Anyway we quickly saw that round had hook in it as it traveled downfield. We put garbage cans from 50 to 400 meters and bore sighted M-16, which was mounted on a tripod, to each and fired the launcher. We then measures how much the round deviated from actual line of sight. Did that for 3 days compiled the info and came up with a sight. Next traveled to Picatinny Arsenal for testing. A gunny was the shooter. He fired it once and said "What the f..k is this!" Popped the sight off, eyeballed an old deuce and a half down range, and then put a HE on top of it. COOL! I'll never forget to face on the Major, who was in charge of procurement. Actually the unit was supposed to be used for special forces, but it got around.
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Welcome from another Florida member. We learn early that you walk on the shady side of the street. 
It looks like we will have a lot of great info to add to our History. Thanks for sharing with us. Your words are like water to a thirsty man!
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January 24, 2009
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gunner said
Karl was the man, he described what he wanted and made it happen. The guy who actually designed the first Dan Wesson gun was Tom Brown.
<snip>
So I'm sure you figured it out, I'm Tom Brown.
Well, hello Mr. Tom Brown.
Thank you for joining our forum & for sharing some of your experiences so far. I'm sure I speak for most of us here, when I say we would all love to hear more of your time working with and developing the DW handgun. We are all intrigued with the history of these fine guns, and always welcome anyone "in the know" to help shed light on many unanswered questions. Do you still have some experimental pieces & items from the early years? Do you have photos you could share? We all love 
in case you haven't heard.
December 4, 2012
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Gunner,
I feel like a kid in a candy store....Welcome, and can't wait to here more.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Welcome Tom Brown (gunner) glad to have you on the forum! You certainly have some unique insights into the formative years of DW. I can't wait to hear more. 
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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