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First Dan Wesson, Need some advice, please help
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nam0626
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March 5, 2013 - 6:03 pm
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Hi everyone, I have recently acquired a Dan Wesson 357 revolver, I am a avid Smith and Wesson collector, and have always wanted to have a DW lin my collection. Now I have one, I also have a lot of question I am hoping y'all can help with. First of all I have a model 15-2 with a 4" barrel would like to get the 2/6/8 as well for it, from what I can tell as long as it is not the pork chop style barrel, will any barrel be interchangable that I buy? 2. While firing the gun it misfires horribly while shooting double action, how do I resolve that and what might be the problem. I also would liken to acquire the other barrels and restore this gun who would you recommend do the work as far as mechanically tuning it and refinishing the gun and barrels, as the guns finish may differ from that of any barrels I may buy? Thanks, I have lots but this would be a great help

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SCORPIO
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March 5, 2013 - 7:30 pm
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dwf-welcome to the forum from PA!  I'll start off with your misfire problem.  The first thing to check on any Dan that does this is the grip screw.  It threads into the mainspring seat and if overtightened, can interfere with hammer travel in DA.  I usually take it all the way out, then turn it in until it just gets snub, not tight.  Try it and see if it works better.  I usually take an allen wrench to the range with me and if I encounter a problem, I start backing the scew off a little at at a time until problem stops.

As to tuing the gun, there is an excellent thread called the 'Average Joe' tune up.  Its a sticky in the Small Frame topic.  It gives excellent step by step instructions on how to do the tune up yourself.  If you aren't mechanically inclined, any good smith should be able to work on it for you.  The factory in NY is another option, but they had a fire last fall and won't be open till spring and even then will be very backlogged with work.  I think you'll find that your gun is very user friendly and that you can probablly do what is needed yourself. 

All small frame non pork barrel shrouds will interchange.  That said, you want to try to get model 15 shrouds as model 14 shrouds have a different height to the rib and can cause problems with the sights and POI.  There are sight blades you can use to make a 14 shroud work, but it would be easier to just use 15 shrouds.  Ebay and Gunbroker and other online auctions are good places to find barrel assemblies.  The aren't cheap and lately there seems to be a big demand for them, prices are crazy.  I think you'll find that most blued barrels will match you frame finish quite well.  Its possible your frame has a purple hue to it, we call that Barney, after the purple Dinosaur TV character.  Its caused by  minerals present in the cast parts of the frame reacting with the bluing chemicals.  Its not uncommon on Dan Wessons, especially the older ones.  Even a reblue won't cure that for long, it can come back.  Some folks actually seek out the Barney guns, I don't really care all that much for them but I do own several. They still shoot just fine.

 

Make sure that you don't buy any large or supermag frame shrouds, they WON'T fit a small frame gun.  There is a 357 Supermag(Remington Maximum) that is a larger frame than the 15-2 and its barrel shrouds won't fit your gun, so watch what you are bidding on. 

I'll let others chime in and provide you with more info.

Welcome to the club!

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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Steve
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March 5, 2013 - 8:30 pm
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SCORPIO gave you some of the best advice you can get. DW revolvers, especially in small frame like yours, are remarkably "home gunsmith" friendly.

If you are ever in need of Factory original bluing, a well respected DWF Member (hotbluer) was a DW bluer and he will do great work for you.

And, Ask Away! DWF is about the most "user friendly" Forum you are likely to find.

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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DakotaJack
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March 5, 2013 - 8:38 pm
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Welcome and congrats. on your first DW purchase.  Scorpio pretty much covered everything except one additional piece of advice......create a separate bank account to fund the habit of collecting every piece of DW steel you can get your hands on.  It ends up being both a hobby and a challenge!! 

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rwsem
SOWELA (Southwest Louisiana)

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March 5, 2013 - 8:58 pm
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Well, you are definitely covered.  A seperate bank account that draws 70% interest is what you really need....

Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....

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nam0626
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March 5, 2013 - 10:57 pm
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Ok, first of al thanks, i will try the grip screw tension and go from there. I have also purchesed a 6" barrel as well as an 8" they should be here friday, also ordered a wrench both barrels are 15s so i am good there. And thanks for the lead on someone for the refinish, i will be in touch as soon as i see what ive got. The gun as is has some holster wear around muzzle and the cylinder has some of the finish completly worn. Most people would probably consider it in good shape and i would agree, however i am really excited to have this piece on my collection and want it to be as close as i can get it to the day it was made. Now for the classic question, do i loose value having it refinished? When it comes to Dangers wessons and value does it matter that the barrels were mixed and matched? Oh! I also bougght a set of tiger wood grips, id like to reassemble a pistol pac and if i do will have equal value to an original? I will post pics once i get all my goodies in and yall can advise on what you think of the finishes. One last? If the grip screw is not the problem, would the next step be to replace the springs, and if so where do i get them ?

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nam0626
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March 5, 2013 - 11:01 pm
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Sorry, for the typo, especially the "Dan Wesson part, traveling this week and my fingers are to big for the tiny screen on this phone. Thanks again everyone

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lonwolf93
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March 6, 2013 - 7:09 am
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Welcome to the forum. In my opinion you will not lose value by having it nicely refinished, especially if you end up sending it to forum member Hotbluer, he was a bluer for new Dan Wessons in the 90s so you could consider a reblue by him to be a factory job.

   If you want new springs, Wolff makes replacement springs, also check out EWK Arms site, he sells a spring kit. Everything from EWK is top quality and highly recommended.

-Lonwolf

 

"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"

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SCORPIO
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March 6, 2013 - 10:16 am
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In my opinion, a home built pack will have the same value as an original if you have all the parts correct and a factory case.  I have one I built and one I bought and they are indentical.  Some factory packs have the sticker with the serial number on it, but my factory pack is missing its sticker.  So in short, you will have a very nice and collectable piece when you are finished.  As for mix n match, thats the beauty of the Dan Wesson system, its so easy.  Don't like your shroud type? no problem, just get a different one.  Be sure to show us pics of the project in the works as well as the finished product.

 

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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lbruce
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March 6, 2013 - 10:44 am
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Welcome to the DWF. The guys have you covered so Ill just say welcome. Oh and now that you have found your DW you may soon throw rocks at the Smith's. He He He poke

 

LB

Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.

                                                                                                                             

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