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March 16, 2010
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Ok so after a nice extended day of shooting I went to take down my barrel and found that it was stuck shut!
I took a deep breath, and tried again to loosen the nut from the barrel. It was stuck, and more importantly, I had stripped it completely so it wasn't going to come off!!!!
I looked at the stuck barrel thread on here, and thinking I'm quite the handyman decided I could remove the stuck barrel myself !
I did
I also bent the frame pretty good, as well as somehow ruining the thread that the barrel screws into.
So now the cylinder does not rotate, nor line up with the barrel. I took it to a gunsmith and after a few days he gave it back to me telling me could not fix it.
He said it was repairable, but he wasn't the man for the job.
HELP!
What can i do now to salvage a "dead gun" ? 
March 9, 2010
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January 22, 2008
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I would suggest sending it back to Keith at Dan Wesson. Here is their contact info...
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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You wouldn't want to post a pic of the bent frame would you? Did you use a pipe wrench on it? I can't imagine bending a 15 frame...........
February 11, 2010
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Repairs may exceed the cost of a good used gun. You may have to "bite the bullet"
on this one and salvage what parts you can. Keith can give you a ball park number,
only you can decide if this gun is worth it to you.
On another note, I never tighten the barrel nut more than a little last "tweek" with one
finger and a thumb on the wrench. I usally run 250-300 rnds per gun before cleaning
and never had any of them loosen the barrel nut.
I suspect most DW barrels are overtightened just as most scope rings are. I would
suggest an adjustible torque barrel wrench to Eric but I believe he has enough
on his plate right now.
-Blacktop
March 16, 2010
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Thank you for your replys.
I will take a few pictures of the damage (as much as it pains me to) and post them so everyone can see my misery!
I now have a great 2, 6 inch and 4 inch barrel, internal parts and grips..... all I need is a frame in good condition!
I'm guessing I should just find another frame and save the internals for extras. Really a shame that my first DW would end up broken by my own hand while trying to fix her.
I already looked on gunbroker, and can't quite find "just a frame"
Any suggestions on where to locate one?
Thanks for your support ~ I need it right about now 
February 11, 2010
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Maybe none right now but there are two sellers on GB that regularly break up packs
and sell just the frames, barrels, ect. .. Just a matter of time before the next one comes
up.
-Blacktop
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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A frame will show up soon (cully, are you out there?). Maybe consider buying the next nice 15-2 8" that shows up, and part out your damaged frame here on DWF to recover some of the cost.
Final thought, anyone still using DW wrenches, put them away and use EWK wrenches.
Final/final thought-hurts to break one, I feel your pain
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
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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I have a few "spare" 15's.... 
. I'd be willing to part with a frame if you can't find one. To be honest, you can probably hold out for a while and find a great deal on another DW. DW's in my area are pricey, so my frames might be a little high for you also.
SHOOT
March 16, 2010
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Thank all of you for your support in my time of need
Well I'm in MD and things here are always overpriced.
Locally, a DW with 2 barrels in good condition is going for 599$
Same price ironically I paid for my own.
Pricey? I don't know really. Since I only really need a new frame I guess that's paying for more then I'm interested in. I wouldn't be heartbroken to have an entire new revolver though, and having a few extra parts wouldn't kill me.
Call me crazy, but I really fell in love with my DW. I actually feel sad for bending the frame and kinda mad at myself. I look at the speedloaders fulll of hollows and it kinda makes me slap on a sadface. I have a pistol and a few longguns but it's not the same as having my DW ya know?
Ok so crazy aside, I'll try to wait for another frame, but I really feel naked without having a working .357 in my nightstand. MY 357!
so on another note...... how much wood a nice blued 15 frame run me?
February 20, 2008
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...67, this is easy for me to say since its your money, but
go out and fall in love with another DW and bring it home.
You will now have some spare parts for it and you nightstand
will be hapy again~!
...and, stop beating your head agiainst the wall, learn from your
mistate. I remember stripping a few sparkplug holes in a '66 Cutlass
when I was younger....
Regards, Photo
If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
January 22, 2008
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Looks like anywhere between $250 and $300 on GunBroker (Plus shipping and fees).
October 13, 2009
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Blacktop is right-there is a lot going on here right now....plus I don't have an FFL at the moment, so I can't help you out directly with getting it fixed-but I believe it may be very fixable if you can find someone that is willing to try-and if the gunsmith said it is, it must not be too bad. The biggest thing will be having the tap to clean up the threads in the frame for the barrel since its a special one...might be why the gunsmith didn't want to do it. I have a tap you can borrow, so that may help you out. PM me if I can help-might miss it if you just post here.
Eric
October 13, 2009
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One thing I forgot-after straightening the frame, be sure to check the cylinder to barrel alignment with a gage to make sure its where it supposed to be.
Eric
March 16, 2010
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Eric you're a godsend!
That is the main problem ~ the threads are perfect after the fist few twists but I must have done something to gonch the first few up, preventing the barrel to thread on correctly.
I scored a deal on another 15-2 the other day, and in a week I'll have another Dan to compare against.
I have a feeling that it might not be the frame as bad as i thought, and might be the cylander latch more so.
Pics as promised!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4641903&id=704807780
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4572646&id=704807780
This is with the cylander closed, notice how it doesen't quite fit the way it should.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Can't see photos. I'm on Facebook but not authorized.
Photobucket?
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
March 16, 2010
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Ok I actually read how to post again so here goes!
Finally learned how to do it!
So here it is closed, and not the cylander does not line up, nor does the crane assembly!
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January 24, 2009
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Yep, that does look like it's a little off.
In case you're interested, there's a 15-2 frame on GB right now, with a few days left to go.
March 16, 2010
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That's the best timing ever!
BUT
I just purchased another .357 DW from gunbroker a few days ago ~ and in the great state of MD you have to wait a month 
But thanks for the info ~ I'll be looking in another month for my frame!
I'm glad I don't live there.
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