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August 22, 2014
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Hi, all....
I bought a Dan Wesson .357 from Gun Broker and should see it in a few days. I usually don't buy guns sight unseen but it was too good to pass up. It's a 15-2 (I think) from the Monson, MA era with have great reputations. The serial# seems to be in the mid 300,000's.
Any idea of when it was made? I'm guessing it's from the mid eighties. Is this a good "vintage?"
Though it's got the interchangeable barrel, I have no intention of changing it. Does the barrel loosen over time? Should I get the barrel tool? Also, what's a good source for wood grips?
Thanks, and glad to be here!
MM
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Dans Club
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July 2, 2011
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John,
Welcome to the Forum and the Dan ownership club. I think you will like them both. Even if you don't want to change BAs, it's a good idea to have a quality barrel wrench. You may need it to adjust the gap at the barrel and you will definitely need one to do a complete dis-assembly. Besides, interchangeable barrels are half the fun. You 15-2 with a 6" BA is completely different animal with a 2,5 or 4 or 8" BA.
If you look over there -------------------------->
I can personally recommend LB Custom Grips for some truly awesome grips and EWK for a barrel wrench and other Dan odds and ends.
When you take delivery, be sure and post some 
, because we are addicted to them!
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Absolutely you need a barrel tool to be a responsible dan wesson owner. As Bruce says, you meed it to adjust the cylinder gap. You cannot assume the prior owner took care of the gun properly. Cleaning the gun is much easier with the barrel off. If you do not periodically clean and oil the barrel, nut and frame threads they may rust and potentually ruin the gun. The rewards of taking care of your gun are increased accuracy, more muzzle velocity by minimizing the gap and maintaining the value of the gun. Most of us get great satisfaction from cleaning and fawning, I mean polishing our GUNS ( plural, as you will probably catch DWAS.). LB Grips are beyond compare but factory and aftermarket grips can be found on ebay and Gunbroker. As far as age, I think you are close in your estimation. There seems to be no real differences in "vintage years" IMHO. The condition of the firearm is the biggest factor. Get the barrel tool!!!
Dans Club
April 18, 2014
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Welcome John, to 
. Glad to have you with us. I reitterate everything stated above..
Oath Keeper #021479 NRA #206814004
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"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
Richard Henry Lee
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Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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to the , John. I reiterate everything said above.
Eric at EWK Arms makes the finest barrel tool and you'll need it for a variety of reasons. I remove my barrel assemblies every time I clean the guns which is every time I return from the range. Also, you'll eventually catch DWAS. No known cure, but the symptoms can be alleviated by acquiring more DW stuff, like different size BA's (barrel assemblies).
LB makes the best grips. I have 6 or 8 of his grips, and love them all.
Enjoy your new gun and don't forget to post some pics.
-Mike
April 20, 2014
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As has been said, Welcome! After you get the wrench and gap tool, and completely disassemble and clean your new DW, you will be amazed at how much better it looks than the pics on GB. Sadly, most of the folks selling DW revolvers don't bother to clean them before listing. I consider this to be an act of heresy to guns in general and DWs in particular. I have bought 2 15-2s, off GB and I love them! However, both arrived in filthy condition!. The barrel will loose tension over time and use, and this is the feature that makes a DW more accurate than most other revolvers. So, as has been said, by removing the barrel during each cleaning, and re-setting the gap, you insure a return to the accuracy which was intended by the designer. You can use a feeler gage from an auto parts store, but just be sure you have the correct one, .006. Put it between the cylinder and the barrel and screw in the barrel until the gage is snug, not impinged (stuck!) Then, I leave it there until I tighten the nut. Remember not to over tighten it. Once again, snug is best, lest you strip the ears off the barrel nut when you try to remove it later. A well kept DW (just like a wife!) will last well past your lifetime. I gave one to my son who is a "Glock lover", and he loves it. Now my daughter-in-law is wanting one as well. Again Welcome!
April 25, 2008
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Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new Dan Wesson! I don't change my barrels, but they may loosen over time. You might also want to check or adjust the barrel/cylinder gap. Sometimes they will shoot better with a different gap.
The Savantist
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