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June 19, 2009
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Last night I bought a DW .357 with a 2.5" ventilated/heavy rib barrel. I assume it is a model 15 but it doesn't say anywhere on the gun. It is a Monson gun with the 4 digit s/n of B0038XX. I hadn't even noticed the low s/n until I got it home and cleaned it. The gun is in beautiful condition with practically no wear whatsoever. There is one scratch on the left side of the frame but that's really about all the wear or marks on it.
The cylinder has a recessed face. It's not recessed at each chamber mouth like old S&W's, rather it is completely recessed. The hammer is black and the trigger is pewter colored. Sights are adjustable. The grip is a Pachmayr finger groove.
Anyone have any idea apprroximately how old this is? I will post pics as soon as I have a chance.
Thanks
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January 24, 2009
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A .357 with adjustable sights makes it a Model 15. Non-adjustable sights are a Model 14.
I believe they started using a letter in front of the serial number of Model 14's & 15's in the very early 80's, but as of yet there's not enough info to nail down exactly when. Hopefully one day.
Congrats on your new DW!
May 18, 2009
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Somebody had to do it 
Jim
DW 15, DW 22, SW 48, SW 1917, Ruger Lcp, Bernardelli Mod 80
June 19, 2009
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Ok, ok... I promise to post pics tomorrow after work! I don't have anything taken right now and have to get some yard work done in between raindrops. Is there any way to post pics directly from my hard drive or do I have to use a picture posting website?
How can I tell if my 15 is a 15-2?
I had a late arrest last night and didn't get home until after 3:00AM (Young kid got shot. Shooter used an AMT Hardballer .45ACP. There's a gun you don't see every day!) I was still a little ramped up when I got home so I took an hour to detail clean the new DW. It's really in nice shape.
I have a .44 barrel wrench but now I need one for the .357. Where's the best place to get one?
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December 17, 2008
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meh,
Unfortunately you have to use a posting service for your pics, but it's pretty easy. We have a procedure posted under FAQs and a lot of us use Photobucket, which is linked over on the side of the forum.
Model info: Yours is a 15-2. 15-2's were the next evolution from the pork chop's (the last 'chop was the 15-1) and started coming off the line early 1975ish.
You can get a barrel / combo wrench on eBay - several of us have bought an excellent aftermarket wrench from a seller on eBay: BlueIrish. You can also get used ones there or you can still purchase new (though they are a bit different style) from DW Norwich (it's on the pricelist).
-->I can imagine being ramped up after dealing with a shooting!! Must be adrenaline overload...but, sounds like you put it to good use!!
March 17, 2009
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I'd love to see some pics of this thing! I don't recall seeing a recessed face on the cylinder in a Monson gun...or a blued gun for that matter. (I'm assuming it is blued?)
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Sounds interesting. My 715 has a recessed cylinder face and it's a Monson. My 15-2 is recessed at each chamber, also a Monson. I assumed this was standard but maybe not. Another mystery yet to unfold.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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January 24, 2009
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I thought I had a picture of a blued 15-2 with a recessed cylinder...but after a thorough search of my pic stash, it seems I don't.
Would like to see one, though.
An AMT Hardballer, huh? Definitely not your average perp gun, that's interesting. Bummer about the kid that got shot. That's definitely one part of a LEO's job that I don't envy. 
February 27, 2009
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First try at a pic here. I assume this is what you are refering to as recessed. Most assuredly a 15-2 from Monson. I bought it new in June of 1980.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
February 7, 2009
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Here is a pic of a Monson and Palmer side by side to see the different recesses:
I still haven't figured out how to post images in this forum.
February 27, 2009
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I see, full recess........
NVGs in AZ? Maybe I know you.
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January 24, 2009
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Nice work NVGdude, that's a perfect comparison.
I'm glad you both figured out how to post pics...it isn't hard once you get past that first one.
December 17, 2008
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Yep, nice job on the comparison pics. All of my Monson 15-2s look exactly like your picture.
I would speculate that the Palmer method has to be more efficient (less time consuming, easier execution) from a manufacturing standpoint.
June 19, 2009
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It's definitely a Monson gun. The s/n is B0038XX. There is a “357″ stamped right before the s/n.
Sorry about the "flashy" pics. It's the best I can do with the equipment I have. A new camera is on the short list these days but I sem to keep finding other equipment I must have first!
[Image deleted by user's Photobucket account] …CF. 12-24-10
[Image deleted by user's Photobucket account] …CF. 12-24-10
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January 24, 2009
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Nice work, and nice looking gun!
For the record, that's a 15-2 VH2 (Model 15-2 with Ventilated Heavy 2" barrel).
I agree with Dusty's speculation, that a fully recessed cylinder was likely done to help cut manufacturing costs. Doesn't hurt the looks of the gun any.
February 7, 2009
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For the record, I don't know exactly when they changed the recesses, could have been when they moved to Palmer, could have been near the end of Monson production. The side by side pics are from Monson and Palmer Model 15s that I own.
Clearly the later method is less labor intensive.
Hammer serations are different as well:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m192/NVGdude/DWTop.jpg
so are the rear sights:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m192/NVGdude/RearSight.jpg
Here are both guns, The Palmer is wearing the Hogue grips.
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m192/NVGdude/DWVariants008.jpg
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January 24, 2009
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NVG, your trigger stop also moved from the trigger to the frame.
I know the trigger stop relocation was done at Monson...so by Palmer, it was standard DW practice. The serial numbers starting with letters I'm fairly certain were done in the last years (2 or 3?) at Monson, so it looks as though the cylinder recess change was done at the same approximate time. By the time the Palmer operation was up & running, it seems as though it was standard practice.
I'm going to have to pay attention to more auction pics...cylinder recesses in relation to serial numbers & see if I can see a definite time of change. Same with the checkered hammer spurs...although I think that change came along earlier, somewhere in the 6-digit non-letter serial number era.
I bet Seth could answer some of these questions.
June 19, 2009
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Charger Fan said:
Nice work, and nice looking gun!
For the record, that's a 15-2 VH2 (Model 15-2 with Ventilated Heavy 2″ barrel).
I agree with Dusty's speculation, that a fully recessed cylinder was likely done to help cut manufacturing costs. Doesn't hurt the looks of the gun any.
Thank you. I'm fairly new to DW's and still figuring out what's what.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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It looks like you have the Pachmayr Gripper grips, which I like a lot and are no longer in production.
It's great to have an LEO here. It seems that a surprising (to me) number of LEO's are not shooters. In conversation with them I seem to find that about 80% are not much interested in shooting beyond what they do for work.
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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