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October 17, 2017
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At the range last week I experienced a failure of the transfer bar connector on my 15-1. Broke down low where it connects with the trigger. Anybody else ever have this happen? A quick search on eBay got me to a vendor that had 4 of these, so I bought 2. In the meantime I borrowed the connector from my wife’s 15-2 and installed it on the 15-1 which worked perfectly. When the new parts arrived I went ahead and installed one of them on the 15-2, and to my surprise the gun wouldn’t cycle. A closer examination of the parts revealed that they were not exactly the same; the new part is longer at the top, and jams under the hammer (see photos). I reinstalled the original connector on the 15-2 which brought it back to working order. I then tried a new part on the 15-1, and fortunately it has just enough clearance to function even with the extra length. Go figure. Has anyone ever seen this before?
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Wow. That's a new one on me!
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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So far I’ve never had to take a Dan apart. Hopefully I never do. I envision springs flying out like one of those prank snake cans! LOL
October 17, 2017
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Need to finish the story on this. The breakage of the connector revealed itself as a failure to fire using ammo that I had never experienced one before. When I returned home I opened the gun up and noticed the connector at an odd angle which probably had prevented the hammer from fully engaging the firing pin resulting in a light strike. Further disassembly revealed the broken part. I fired the gun today, and all seemed well until I experienced another light strike. One more hit set it off, but I’m wondering if the new part is the culprit, or the ammo (only the second box I’ve ever shot; Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 148 gr. JHP). There’s plenty of clearance above the connector despite its extra length, so I’m doubtful this is a problem. I’ve never experienced a failure to fire using any other brand of ammo in this revolver.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Rick, you have a picture of the connector in the gun, with the sideplate off. I see a crane lock so I assume it is the 15-2. The hammer face is longer than the later 15-2s. Perhaps it is actually from a porkchop. Maybe that is why the connector interferes. I have all my guns stored so I can't check now. I will solve this mystery down the road unless you still have a problem.
October 17, 2017
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Interestingly, my 15-2 is a very early one (58xxx serial number), and when purchased it was very well used. With modular guns it’s not unusual to find many parts have been replaced, and now that we know there are at least two versions of the small frame transfer bar connector it’s more complicated than ever. Here’s a photo of my 15-1 with the same connector in place. It works. I always assumed that the lock work on the 15-1 and 15-2 was identical, but now we know differently. Next trip to the range I will try this same ammo in both my Colt Trooper MK lll and my DW model W12 to see if any failure to fire occurs.
August 8, 2016
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Yup I broke the connector on my Monson 715 back in 2019. Not entirely sure how but I just ordered a new one from Dan Wesson and was back in business. 
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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The Models 11,12,14 and 15 (not 14-1 and 15-1)
have the short, fast hammer fall. This was changed in the dash 1s because of a propensity of light strikes with some ammo. Later Dans still have short, fast hammer fall but not as fast as the previous ones. The short time between trigger pull and hammer fall is a big factor in accuracy. The early porkchops have perhaps the quickest hammer fall of any revolver. Manurhin MR73 is also extremely quick. The later Dans have the little ledge on the trigger that the trigger return spring rests on. That 1/16 of an inch difference made the hammer fall longer and solved the light strike problem. If you like the short hammer throw try different ammo brands until you find one that is reliable. I personally like it anything that helps my accuracy I like. You can use an early trigger in a dash 2 to convert your dash 2 to the early pork action.
October 17, 2017
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Just found out what may have caused the light strike that I experienced last range session. I went ahead and did some grinding and filing on this new connector to attain some extra clearance, and it still felt a little “spongy” when I let the hammer down slowly. Turned out the detent ball retaining cap wasn’t quite flush with the frame and so the connector was making contact with it just before the firing pin was fully depressed. Feels normal now, and hopefully the problem has been solved.
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