Register
Log In
Home
August 2, 2023
Offline
I have seen a few posts here about possible dates of 1978 for serial numbers starting in 16**** but I recently picked up a an old Pistol pack in the original brown Dan Wesson case with the factory ugly yellow covering over the foam. Mine is the full lug model 357 and my serial number starts off with 136*** and has Monson, Mass stamped above the serial. Under the foam I found a price list from 1978, the colored tri-fold sales flyer with the offerings from Dan Wesson, the instruction booklet and original lifetime warranty card. It appears this was manufactured in 1978 or later from what I found under the foam. The only thing missing was the feeler gauge and the belt buckle.
I have found where from 1968-1991 Dan Wesson manufactured in Monson, Mass before moving to Palmer in 1991
I have reached out to Dan Wesson well CZ USA to see if they have old records. I believe this will be around 1978 as a guess off the serial number and pamphlets.
Does anyone have any information on possible dates or any other information on these. It took forever to find one these in the right condition. Hopefully I will get out to the range with it this weekend. I haven't seen of shot one of these since 1983 when I was a teenager. I am glad to finally put one in my safe.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
Offline
Welcome to the forum from PA!!
Supporter
DWF Supporters
June 11, 2016
Offline
Welcome to the Forum from Wisconsin.
February 8, 2014
Offline
Welcome from Kentucky. I hope you enjoy your first "Dan Wesson". 
Steve S.
February 16, 2016
Offline
milner7 said
I have reached out to Dan Wesson well CZ USA to see if they have old records.
Nope. Everytime ownership changed, the ATF confiscated all records, so CZ has nothing historical.
to the 
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
Offline
Welcome from central IL!!
For decades people have been trying to do the same historical research on the old Dans they’ve purchased. This is the best place online to find the most accurate information, but it’s still not perfection. It’s unfortunate CZ USA doesn’t have any historical data. Most people join here after buying a Dan and their first posting is “what do I have?” I think I did the same thing a little over 10 yrs ago. This is a great place with great people, again welcome aboard!!
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
milner7 said
I have found where from 1968-1991 Dan Wesson manufactured in Monson, Mass before moving to Palmer in 1991
Yeah, sorry, our serial number registry is an absolute mess right now. The first year of production was 1970, so the two or three in the list that claim to be prior to that date is hogwash. Plus there are 4 or 5 in the list that are from obvious scammers, wanting to sell you Viagra or something. I am trying to work with Jody to help clean it up.
Anyway, your Pac was very likely born sometime in 1978, congrats on landing yours! If you have any more 
we would sure like to see them, we never tire of seeing new DW's around here! 
July 27, 2023
Offline
Charger Fan said
milner7 said
I have found where from 1968-1991 Dan Wesson manufactured in Monson, Mass before moving to Palmer in 1991
Yeah, sorry, our serial number registry is an absolute mess right now. The first year of production was 1970, so the two or three in the list that claim to be prior to that date is hogwash. Plus there are 4 or 5 in the list that are from obvious scammers, wanting to sell you Viagra or something. I am trying to work with Jody to help clean it up.
Anyway, your Pac was very likely born sometime in 1978, congrats on landing yours! If you have any more
I tried to input my info on the serial number registry. Looks like it's still down. Waiting for it to come back up so I can put my info there; this will be useful info for new guys like me. Using this serial number registry thru the process of elimination helped me narrow down my manufacture date to 1980. Glad to be part of this forum. -Mike
Supporter
Dans Club
March 25, 2013
Offline
A dated brochure is actually not a very good source. It could have been added to the pack afterward. And it is not an accurate date for guns made many years afterwards. Sales receipt, testimony of original buyer, correspondence from the factory, etc are more reliable.
The dash 2s debuted in late 1974 at serial number 50,000. They sold fairly slowly for a couple of years. By 1977 sales picked up until the introduction of stainless in 1982. I estimate 15-2 serial numbers were around 250,000 by then. In 1983 they started adding a letter to the serial number. In 1986 around serial number 375,000 they added the caliber (357) to the front of the serial number and the improved sideplate and knurled hammer tang debuted. Everything else is a known unknown.
1 Guest(s)
