Register
Log In
Home
November 23, 2011
Offline
I have purchased a Dan Wesson Model 11 and there lies my dilemma. This gun has spent her whole life as a safe queen. Not a scratch any where. I have always said I am a shooter, not a collector, but in truth I have guns that I have not shot. I have a Kimber Eclipse that I take out of the safe and just look at not unlike a bird stares in the eyes of a cobra. I keep saying I am going to take it to the range. So for it has taken me nine years to get it there.
So do I take this old gal out and put her to work, or install her as Queen of my Safe? R S
February 11, 2010
Offline
I vote shoot it ! I had some guns unfired, sold'em. I get more joy
shooting them than I do looking at them these days. 
-Blacktop
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
Rod, this is the hardest damn question to answer. You have a unique, interesting, historic revolver there. It's in perfect condition, and it's financial value is based in part on being unfired.
My usual answer is "If Daniel B. meant for it to a showpiece, he'd have put a picture hook on it".
In this case, I think that you can shoot .38 special from other guns. I'd preserve this exactly as is and treasure a very special gun (and even I'm surprised that I answered this way).
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
Supporter
Range Officer
Moderators
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
Offline
If its not been fired and you wish to preserve its value, don't shoot it. You can shoot 38s out of any model 14 or 15 so why mess up the value of this one. I have a 15-2 pack in pristine condition and I'm not going to shoot it even though it has had a dozen or two rounds down the barrel. I have another pack that is a shooter so I'll keep this one as near perfect as I can.
JMHO
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
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
Thanks Steve. You're making this really hard for me. I still have the two 7414's that are consecutively numbered and NIB.
Two years ago Phil loaded some ammo for me. I still haven't shot either of them. I have sworn that one of them will get fired this spring.... I hope, at least that's my intention.
We have some friends who have recently become shooters and always want to go to the range with us. I've got to have time alone so that I can appreciate the 7414 without attending to someone else's needs. So it's got to be just me and my wife.
I'm still going to try this spring.
Wish me luck.
-Mike
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
Offline
To shoot or not to shoot! My question first off is: is this a true 38sp? Have you tried 357s in it?
Now with that being said don't shoot it! I have 2 safe queens of the Dan style one a 15-2 another 44 mag both shall, as long as i own them, be looked at cleaned admired and put away! Oh a couple others though won''t mention here as they are not True Dan's!
So keep it Like new! Sell it to a collector, start your own Unfired collection!
Keep us posted! 
May 3, 2011
Offline
That is a really nice DW you have. I would preserve it too and not shoot it. I have guns I have never shot. I'm sure it was shot at the factory for testing though. If you shoot it you have something everyone else has: A fired pistol. If you don't shoot it you have a rariety. Tough choice!
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
zoommb said:
Thanks Steve. You're making this really hard for me. I still have the two 7414's that are consecutively numbered and NIB.
Two years ago Phil loaded some ammo for me. I still haven't shot either of them. I have sworn that one of them will get fired this spring.... I hope, at least that's my intention.
We have some friends who have recently become shooters and always want to go to the range with us. I've got to have time alone so that I can appreciate the 7414 without attending to someone else's needs. So it's got to be just me and my wife.
I'm still going to try this spring.
Wish me luck.
-Mike
I'm also going to throw out the other side of this decision. My son bought S/N 000001 New in Box unfired of the 445 SM in AGS finish. It remained unfired only as long as it took to get ammunition loaded up for it and get to the range. If you own it, you gotta decide what to do with it.
I have a well used and shot 15-2 that I had refinished in bright nickel. It gets shot very rarely now, but after all, I do have a lot of other .357's I can shoot 
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
November 23, 2011
Offline
Dave asked My question first off is: is this a true 38sp? Have you tried 357s in it?
No I have not tried a 357 Mag round in the cylinder. I will and let you know.
I am reluctant to remove the barrel as there is no marking on the barrel nut.
I do want to take it down and clean it and do a little work on the bolt so it will not mark the cylinder.
I had no idea that this gun was in this condition when I bought it on Gun Broker.
I am leaning on making this Dan a safe queen. You are much wiser on all things Dan than I am, and I greatly appreciate your advise.
What do you think a new mod 11 is worth to a collector. I am not planning on selling it but I am inventorying my guns to help my wife and my son when I go to the big range in the sky. Thanks for you help. R S
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
Okay...
Let's try & keep a handle on things here, let's keep things in perspective.
I have 4 'ol DW's I've never fired.
Let's say that you acquire a cool old 1970 Porkchop that's probably never been fired outside the DW factory. That in itself is really cool. A gun that hasn't been fired in 41 years? WOW! That's not something that is considered insignificant & obviously much different than an old DW that's got a bunch of range-friendly miles on it.
So you come across an "ol Porkchop that has been obviously pampered thus far in life... ... and here poses the inherent quandary of the inflicted collector (versus) the shooter.
A battle of wills, as it were.
For me, if I can weigh in on your decision, I have more than one 'ol Porkchop that I've never fired. Here's three I have...both my W12's & the D11. Looking at Ed & Fred, I have only recently discovered (through CF's stringent forensic examination
) that only one of my W12's (Ed) is probably truly unfired beyond DW's Monson test fire range. The other (Fred) has probably digested somewhere close to 20 rounds in his day (oh, the horror). So I have decided that 'ol Fred needs to show what he was born to do...probably around April, when my "range" dries out.
Ed & Fred, two sequential W12 2-digit brothers...
Ed has the little blonde spot near the front of his grip.
Rod, your D11 in .38 Spl is quite unique IMO. And if you do decide to sell, I'd love first crack at it.
From what I've seen, there have been more D11 .357's made than .38's & going from that, I'd say that a D11 in .38 Spl is probably a relative rarity...definitely one most worthy of it's place in early DW history (not to say that they don't all hold their place). Should you choose to shoot it, that's your own decision, brother..
For some more DW porn, here's two of my D11 in .38Spl, with a "fixed barrel" nut...
November 23, 2011
Offline
Charger Fan Thanks for your input and for sharing some beautiful Mod 11 and 12's.. With the morning came clarity, I need to purchase another Mod 11 to shoot. Problem solved. What problem can not be solved with another Dan?
Also I am coming out of the closet (I am a Dan Wesson Collector)! All I need now is a second income! O well just call me poor but happy.
January 12, 2012
Offline
Rod Slinger kudos on your Model 11 treasure. For me, the urge to shoot that Model 11 would be overpowering! One of the most accurate .38/357 fixed sight service revolvers I have ever shot was the Model 11. A four-inch Model 11, like yours, except chambered for the .357 magnum. I've never been fortunate enough to see a Model 11 in the kind of condition (new) your is. Man, what a find!!!!!
David
Supporter
Range Officer
Moderators
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
Offline
I almost bid on that gun but had another in the works so had to pass. Nice score on that one RS. I agree, the GB ad didn't do it justice. He'd have got more for it if the condition had been described better. 
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
November 23, 2011
Offline
Thanks David, coming from you that means a lot to me.
Dave asked me to check to see if a 357mag. would fit in the mod. 11, it will not.
I paid $375 for the gun (deal of no deal)??? Thanks to all for the feed back. R S
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
I think $375 is an excellent deal, ya done good!
April 25, 2008
Offline
Beautiful gun! Unless you plan on selling that thing to a collector for maximum cash, go out and shoot it. For me, there is no such thing as a safe queen. I enjoy shooting guns, that's why I bought them. Even if they are rare or unfired when I bought them, they WILL go to the range.
The Savantist
1 Guest(s)
