Register
Log In
Home
December 30, 2011
Offline
Hello guys. I am new to DW. Recently I got DW 738P in local shop. It is still in "jail" CA 10 days waiting period. I inspected as much as I could-seems like it was shoot little-not too much wear anywhere, no etching mark on the frame, lock up is pretty good, slots on barrel nut looks without wear. It was consigment gun, I only know the guy which sold this gun is 69 years old and according to shop is gun collector, so I am assuming he knows how to take care of stuff.
The gun came with factory box. The price was $250, I guess i got good score.
Interesting thing is that my 738P serial number is just 10 digits apart with gun which own by member here mikep7m10 (I saw pic of his on one of the topics)
I have a questions, couple of them. I can't find much info about this gun on the net and everybody to whom I asked have no info as well.
First question, what should I have to pay attention with this gun?
Are spares available somewhere?
Does SZ support this model somehow?
I don't have any close pictures of her, but I have picture when my daughter shot it (they let me shoot her while in "jail"). It is happened to be pretty accurate at 10 yards.
Thank you very much for your help.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
Offline
First welcome to the DWF!
Now to tell you, that is deal on the Lil' Dan! As far as I know and have seen the 738's only came with short barrel as yours has.
Order a new wrench and nut from EWK (the original will give up on you wrench and nut)
EWK has the only after market parts (listed above) that have seen, grips are lil' Dan only (15-2's will not fit it!
CZ has know mention of these!
If you just hate that lil' thing let me know and I will get you your money back!
Speed loaders for the ruger LCR's will work for these.
Others will be along shortly and add to the list I am sure!
Welcome and be sure to check the side bars (now LB may make a custom grip for this one if asked to).
December 30, 2011
Offline
Hi Dave.
Thank you very much for your help.
I will defenetelly use your advice and will buy nut and wrench. What about HAND SPRING? Is it the same as on model 15? I read somewhere that on some guy's gun that spring gave up. I want to have replacement just in case.
It doesn't look like I will hate this gun, even if I do, my daughter already love it, so seems like I will get stack with that. She hates every other guns I have, but she loved to shoot.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
Offline
Not sure on the springs! some where on here is a thread that compares I think! Know that you got a real deal on that Dan, even with the wait , your daughter has great tastes! I have not removed the side plate nor the barrel off of mine as it works well and figured didn't want to mess something up! So others will need to voice the spring issue! EWK may know!
May 17, 2010
Offline
Welcome.... Wow! way to score, yeah don't toss around "jail" to loud cause you stole that one!
I can't comment on the gun though, only ever saw one in real life.
Soap Box, Ballot Box, Ammo Box
in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
1 Palmer FB 15
1 Rossi 357 Model 92 (lever)
1 CZ 75B
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
aboard, glad to have ya here!
I agree with these guys, landing a Lil' Dan in good shape for $250 is pretty much
in my book. Excellent find.
The Lil' Dan is unique from other DW's. It's got a smaller frame than a 15-2, and it doesn't share any of the internals with other DW models. Finding spare parts will be really tough, unfortunately. Here's a shot of mine with the side plate off.
The gun is designed to shoot to POA with +P ammo. I've found that using standard .38 ammo will make it shoot high & to the left at 20 yards. Using +P 125gr will get it a lot closer to POA, but I'm still experimenting on finding the load that the gun really wants.
And since I have my pic stash open, this is what the main spring looks like...
I imagine that if something breaks on the gun, that DW could probably still get you fixed up, but I haven't really looked into it yet myself.
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
Offline
Welcome to the forum, ands congrats on a great buy... Somewhere on the forum I have pics of the internals of a Lil Dan--they are very different from other models.
SHOOT
December 30, 2011
Offline
Hello guys.
You guys are ROCK!!!
Thank you very much for warm welcome. I am proud to be part of DW owners family.
Looking on the pictures from Charger Fan, I can see it is totally different from DW small frame revolvers. It has fewer parts. On one hand it is better-less parts to fail. On another hand it is little bit scares me that it is hard to find parts. Fortunately I don'r need anything yet (I shot her and it is working), but I guess it is time to start looking for springs.
Best regards.
Ed
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
Welcome to the DWF, Ed.
You got a very good deal on the Li'l Dan.
-Mike
December 30, 2011
Offline
Hi Mike.
I feel more proud to be owner of lil' Dan then I was at the moment of getting it.
December 26, 2010
Offline
and thanks for the .
You did great on that one. The last two on GB were $440 and $610. Congrats!
December 30, 2011
Offline
95XL883 said:
You did great on that one. The last two on GB were $440 and $610. Congrats!
Thank you very much.
I will put more pics ones I will get gun out of "jail".
February 7, 2009
Offline
That's an outstanding price. These are very hard to find.
Mine has been trouble free except it does not like Winchester Primers in DA. Single action it's fine. Federal Primers are fine in DA or SA.
I'd try changing out springs, but nobody appears to make any.
Mine is S/N # S00317X (The S and leading zeros are in a different font than the 4-digit serial number) It wouldn't surprise me if all Lil Dans had a fairly tight serial number range.
December 30, 2011
Offline
Hello guys.
You just killing me-more I read about Lil' Dan, more I want to put in display box! The full story as follow: I had Beretta Tomcat and didn't like it at all, even my daughter with her small hands hate the gun. I tried to sell it and nobody wanted. So I went to local gun shop to put Tomcat on consignment (even shop manager didn't want to take for consignment-no market). On the display I saw Lil' Dan for $249.99, I asked to see it, inspected it as much as I could and offer to shop manager to trade. He took a calculator, made some math and offer to me straight across trade, but I have to pay DROS and taxes ($46). So I took the offer. Now I came here and see that was real score. I asked sales person why this gun is soooo cheap and answer was-old, no support, Blue Book value $299. It is like trading Ford sedan 2008 (you put model here) for Ford Deluxe Coupe 1941. I guess not too many people goes to Internet. LOL
Dans Club
October 17, 2008
Offline
Welcome to the forum, congrats on a great find, values for a Lil'Dan are all over the place and always over 250.00.
Some gunshops and gun owners don't think much of Dan Wesson and don't put much value to them, Blue Book dosen't help much either, so some of us collectors can get some good buys out there.
February 11, 2010
Offline
and I'm calling this of the week ! Nice snag.
-Blacktop
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
Palmaris, your gut feeling served you well with this deal. I think that once Blue Book catches up to the current market value of DW's, the days of "uneducated deals" may be done for...or at least less frequent.
Until then, there's still some nice deals to be found.
February 11, 2010
Offline
Charger Fan said:
I think that once Blue Book catches up to the current market value of DW's, the days of "uneducated deals" may be done for...or at least less frequent.
Man don't say that ! 
I'm looking for my next $575 SuperMag 
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
Oh sorry, I did say that out loud, didn't I?
My bad.
November 23, 2011
Offline
You guys have up and done it. All of this talk about Little Dan's have made me add one to my Bucket List, and just when it was getting under control. Have you no mercy on the poor simple man? R S
2 Guest(s)
