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Dans Club
February 15, 2014
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Towards the end of January this year I put in an order for the new DW 715. Pre-tax price was right around $1050. Like many of you, this price had been a bit of a sticking point with me, but shortly after the Shot Show I heard some where that the first year production was going to be 500 guns. This is no more than a rumor but it was enough to trigger an outbreak of my DWAS (I had been in a period of remission). I was given no lead time or ETA. I was literally told: It will be here when it gets here. So five and a half months later the middle of July comes around and I get the call. I thought I would go over some of my observations and comparisons with my Old Dan, a 715 from a gorgeous pac circa 83-84. I fitted up Old Dan with a hogue grip to level the playing field and here’s what I came up with:
So, here they are side by side. The vent rib re-design and change in contours of the upper frame are the most obvious differences.
Here’s how they weigh in.
Most of the weight difference is in the shrouds. Here in cross section:
Now on the scales
Here is Old Dan
And the New Dan shroud
A look down the top contrasts the rounded top of Old Dan frame on the left with the flat top of the New. You can also see the difference in the bead blasted Old Dan and the much more subtle treatment on New Dan. It is even less so when you move up to the top of the New frame. Hard to tell if there is any special treatment at all on the flat top.
Here is how the contours of the upper frames compare. Of course New Dan is the lower.
Here’s a look at the rear sights. New Dan on the right
Next is a shot of the muzzles. New Dan on the right got some extra milling. The nut is the four slot type.
Now let’s mix the Old with the New. Here is New Dan with the old barrel assembly (BA)
Here New Dan goes Old Dan on both ends. My new grip screw has a 9/64 head but they included a 5/32 wrench.
And then we have New Dan pretty much naked
Now we go with Old Dan wearing the New Dan BA’s
And we wind it all up with the new case. There are extra fitted spaces for three BA’s but not one for the 2-1/2” . If you think about it, this layout makes more sense than the old pac cases. You have a space for the 8” BA if you want to store your rig wearing one of the shorter ones.
So what do you think? I am very satisfied with what I got for my dollar. You have quality and some new styling and a lot of precision steel and then the Dan Wesson name that stands well above most all the competition. You can’t go wrong with that!
Dans Club
January 17, 2015
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Great comparison on those two revolvers. I'm sure you'll snap a few more out of their DWAS remission. 😉
Supporter
June 25, 2013
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Great informative post, Thanks!
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
August 28, 2009
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Nice post - thanks for sharing the info. I never thought to try the new style shroud on the old style frames - they clearly don't fit up correctly!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Thanks for the great post. Esthetically I still like the old Dan. Maybe in a decade or two I will change my mind. By not making the old shrouds look right, I think they did themselves a great disservice. It is JMHO though, which is only important to me.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Very nice comparison-thanks. I think the new Dan was a great addition; an updated classic that's nicely done. But more importantly- how does she shoot???
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
December 15, 2008
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Looks like cylinder flutes are longer. Are the cylinders interchangable?
Saddle Sore in Plano, Texas
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
February 15, 2014
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Thank you guys for your comments. The flutes are longer on the new 715, but the overall length of the cylinders is the same. My Monson does have recessed cylinder which the new does not. I haven't been in a hurry to take it out to the range. I have a good selection of "shooters" and I don't expect that I will be able to notice much difference. I will get around to it someday.
Yea Harly, the new shroud on the Monson Dan is a fail. But not too bad the other way around, old on new.
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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Thanks for the very interesting comparison photos! I may have to cave in one of these days soon & snag one myself, just to feed my
of course.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Thanks for the comparison in depth.
I am the guy who does not think that CZ has done justice to the DW heritage in terms of value, but I applaud everyone who buys the new gun and helps keep DW revolvers in the marketplace.
The best thing CZ has done is make a MUCH better looking shroud profile, it is much cleaner looking than the original.
In fairness, DW Norwich continues to support the original DW owners with parts and service for the revolvers, even though the 1911 business is much more lucrative.
Again, thanks for giving us a real in depth look at the new/old 715.
Steve
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
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
February 15, 2014
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I think CZ/Dan Wesson was smart to introduce some re-design in the new 715. I would have been disappointed if they had simply produced replicas of the Monson 715. That was a classic 20th century design. I can see a little 21st century in the new lines. I need some more shroud sizes now to fill in the case.
Steve, IMHO "the Dan Wesson heritage in terms of value" is a pretty high bar.
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Thank you for the photos and info. I really like the new 715 for most of the reasons you mentioned. I'm getting closer to buying one.
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DWF Supporters
March 17, 2016
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Very informative comparison, and great pictures. Thanks...
February 16, 2016
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I'd been wondering the same thing and now all my questions have been answered .. Thanks for sharing.
November 22, 2014
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Yeah thanks, good pics ... 
November 17, 2013
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Great pictures I have the old dw superpac, I also waited on a new dw as well and I love the new gun shoots as nice if not better than my old gun and I have also added the barrels to my new dw. My neighbor always bragged about his colts and they are nice but after shooting my dw's he said I never knew how good those guns were. I also shoot a dw pointman 9 in 9mm best gun I have in semi auto hands down. But then I am a dw man since the early 80's. chief
December 19, 2015
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thanks for the post.
lots of us have been wondering about the details.
photos always seems to please everybody.
nice job, but come on, really, ya gotta shoot it. Having the prettiest girl in town and never taking her dancing is a sin.
Prescut
March 22, 2016
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Thanks for the pics,
the new frame also looks a bit thicker back to front in the area of the relief in front of the cylinder to the crane opening...
maybe do a "nekid" frame/sideplate weight?
I'm a bit disappointed with the profile change on the b/s being non backward compatible.., and after looking at the website, they still have us blued owners, and short bbl wanters kinda left out.
oh well, it drives the prices up for the old stuff, so it ain't all bad. I guess...
let us know how it smoothes and shoots,
February 20, 2008
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Thanks for the post. I am of the thinking of Steve & Para Normal.
Interesting weight differences.
If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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ParaNormal said
I think CZ/Dan Wesson was smart to introduce some re-design in the new 715. I would have been disappointed if they had simply produced replicas of the Monson 715. That was a classic 20th century design. I can see a little 21st century in the new lines. I need some more shroud sizes now to fill in the case.Steve, IMHO "the Dan Wesson heritage in terms of value" is a pretty high bar.
I am rethinking my statement about "the Dan Wesson heritage in terms of value".
In 1978 a 15-2 Pistol Pack retailed for $620, 38 years later the 715 Pistol Pack retails for $1168.
Different case, one less B/A, less in the way of little extra stuff (buckle/patch/front sights...)
BUT it's stainless and the rib profile of the new shrouds is much nicer than the original.
In spite of getting a little less in the Pack, a less than 200% increase in price in 38 years?
Since we don't have an "I'm a dumbshit" smiley, I'll settle for 
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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