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January 12, 2012
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Each firearm owned by a private citizen/law enforcement has a story-to-tell. From a family get-together, to friends just plinking, serious competitive shooters, or cops involved in the very "worst" senario imaginable, the taking of a life in self defense. Outlaws who use firearms to commit serious felonies and have obtained these firearms through unlawful means. These guns too have a story-to-tell and I own one that had belonged to a "drug dealer" who was rounded up in a drug sweep by local law enforcement. The .357 revolver along with other assorted small arms was confiscated to include a huge sum of cash. After court these firearms were sold to licensed FFL Dealers and the proceeds going back for new hardware for law enforcement. Saves the taxpayers hard-earned money and beats the heck out of destroying valuble firearms like some agencies do. One of these seized, out of county, firearms made its way into a local pawnshop, a favorite haunt of mine. This firearm was a Dan Wesson Model 14-1 in very good plus condition and I happen to come in at the right moment when it went out on the shelf for sale. This was in or around 1999 I believe, but the price was 200-dollars and I got out with it for 175 which was a pretty good buy in 1999. This Model 14-1 had the 3.75" barrel with Pachmayr Grips and a very good factory blue finish. The owner had given me its background prior to purchase and I was perfectly okay with that. The drug dealer who was arrested three years earlier had used this Dan Wesson for use on other outlaws and where he obtained it from was not ever reported. This felon had his social security number stinciled in on the right-side under the serial number (34619) which was a common practice for law enforcement to do when seizing private property for court purpose. This was to ensure proper return or disposal after the judicial process (court) was completed. I have shot this same early model DW along with the other DW Models I have and find it just as accurate as the rest. I thought for many years my Model 14-1 was a Model 14. I didn't know of the different 14-Models until I came across a DW Model 14-2 later and started doing independant research until I was able to identify the various Dan Wesson Models by sight.
From Drug Dealer to active law enforcement use this Model 14-1 has traveled this path. With its compact size and Hogue Grips it makes an excellent shooter. That short hammer-drop in single-action mode can make for a tight group with the right ammo. The hammer is grooved for a good secure thumb-pull back for single-action fire which helps the shooter with tight grouping on the target. The frame is flat and super-strong with plenty of good steel in the vital areas for prolonged .357 fire. The Dan Wesson 14-1, with the 3.75" barrel, and DW service grips makes a good off duty sidearm for me if I care to go in that direction but 99% of the time it is set up for duty holster use with black rubber Hogue Grips. I appreciate the strong, no nonsense look of the Model 14-1 Revolver. I just wish that I had known about the Dan Wesson line back in my beat cop days instead of the twilight years of my career! Yeah, this Dan Wesson 14-1 has a story to tell of how it went from "crook" to "cop" in the time it left the Dan Wesson Factory in Monson Mass.
David
July 10, 2012
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Very cool story and history, and also funny that it has gone to the extremes (drug dealer to police use).
I wish some of my guns had cool stories to go with them 
And Only Time Will Tell The Ending When The Ink Runs Dry...
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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How would you go about finding out where or what? I have a couple I picked up from dealers that have been number with what looks like a case numbers. One D11 was marked shroud, frame, cylinder!
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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If only these guns could talk...
Great story David. If your 14-1 could talk, it could probably say enough to fill a book.
January 12, 2012
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Hello Dave!
Finding out where the firearm originated from would be the first order of business. If the person you are buying the firearm from has no knowledge of the previous owner and/or county and state the "marked" firearm is coming from your chances are slim of acquiring the background history of that gun. But if you are able to ascertain the origin the local Sheriff's Office or Police Department would be a good starting place as that is where the firearm is "marked" for identification purposes. The agency "should" have those records and a polite request could reap you a harvest in background data on the firearm. Like, who had it, what was done with it, the date and time of the occurence and once that info is obtained keep it with the gun so your great grandchildren can make some money off it as an antique with a documented history!
The smaller the agency the better your chances are for getting that info quickly as larger agencies "can" bog down the process with beaucracy you wouldn't believe! If you decide to tackle that challenge good luck to you. I just "happened" into good luck as the pawnshop owner who purchased my DW Model 14-1 was smart enough to ask who, what, where, and when passed this on to me at the purchase time. I hope this helps Dave.
David
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