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February 18, 2009
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Hello everybody,
I've been reading here as a guest for a while now, and after finding the 445 I thought it's about time I register. Nice revolvers these DWs!
I found some information here on serial numbers but can anyone help me better understand when this one was manufactured? In a GunDigest I found a note saying production began in 1989? It's a blued one of Monson manufacture, has a 10″ barrel, the shroud having three slots on each side (not heavy the full lenght), and the serial# reads 445B001XXX. What does the “B” mean?
The camera isn't handy right now but I plan to post a picture later.
Is it pretty unlikely that I'll ever find a 414 (or7414) for sale? Approximatley how many of those were manufactured?
Thanks, Bill
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Welcome aboard! You know you can't own just one DW, they are addicting. I am not the bets to break down a serial number for you, but I have not seen many of the 10" slotted shrouds, I just picked one up that is a Norwich gun. As far as the 414 goes I can help a bit. The Palmer plant made a limited run of 25- 7414's before they went out of business, they were the forst of this caliber. When Bob Serva bought Dan Wesson he produced around 100 + or - a few as I have learned only by other owners who are likely more educated on the subject than I. I had tried to get CZ-USA to state how many they actually built in norwich and all they woiuld say is that they do not have these records. They probably just do not want to be bothered with the request. I have a special attachment to the 414 myself being a 41 cal. fan. I know Norwich built at least 77 because my highest serila numbered one is 77. Hope this helps a bit.
Here it is,
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
Range Officer
Range Officers
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February 9, 2009
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One more thought, since you would be interested there is a thread going on in the forum here about requesting CZ to build revolvers again. Send an email request to them, the more requests they get the more chance we will all have that they may change there mind.
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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January 24, 2009
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Welcome aboard!
I can't help much either, with your serial number request. Others will chime in, though. I read somewhere recently (maybe another forum), of a guy stating that each time the DW name went out of business, the BATF siezed all the records.
I don't know if that story holds much water, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were true.
January 22, 2008
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Welcome to the forum Bill!
Charger Fan you are correct each time the company went out of business or was sold the BATF seizes the records of the previous company. That's why we don't have any firm information on serial numbers. I have wondered if this information would be available via the Freedom of Information Act. If I ever have time I might have to look into that.
Well the 7414's can be found on auction sites from time to time. I lucked into both a 741 and a 7414 for $600 each a while back NIB. I also got a NIB 44VH4 for $600 and sold it on GunBroker for $1031. Figured I would recupe some of my money since I already had a 744.
The rare caliber Dan's are few and far between but that's what makes the hunt more exciting. You can go to just about any gun show and find rare Colts and S&W but sometimes I go to a show and don't find a single DW!
Bill sounds like you have a pretty nice 445. I haven't seen a 10" slotted shroud either. IHMSA80x80 may be able to give us some more information on this since he's far more knowledgeable on the IHMSA facts. Please post a picture when you have time we would love to see it!
Again welcome!
February 2, 2009
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Welcome to the forums and congrats on your 445. That 10" slotted is a real prize. The last time I saw one of those shroud/ barrel sets on auction, it went for $550. Any barrel over 8" usually commands a higher price for some reason. Post pics. when you can.
February 18, 2009
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Well thanks guys for all the welcomes! I can tell this isn't your average forum. I am impressed.
And wow Jody on finding a 7414 for $600!
You're all making me feel pretty good about my find. I found it at a gun show and it was in a sad state of appearance...it had been painted (I'm guessing from a spray can) a satin black. It came with two barrels & shrouds; a 10" and an 8". The 8" is also slotted and had a Simmons scope mounted with rings that clamped into the rail slots. Maybe they're Millet rings. Anyway, the whole works was painted, everything but the scope lenses. The hammer action felt pretty sluggish. I figured it'd be rusted under the paint or something and that I'd just bead blast it and have it blued. I got it for $525.
I used acetone on a small area under the grip to see if it'd remove the paint and not hurt the bluing. It worked fine so I gave it a bath in the stuff and with a stiff paintbrush and rags I was able to get the paint off in a few hours time. There are a few scuffs on underside of the shroud and a scratch on the frame but not too bad overall. I really enjoy working on guns and gain a feeling of accomlpishment when it turns out for the better.
I'm trying to upload a photo of it to the photobucket site but have not yet been successful.
February 18, 2009
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Here goes a try at posting the pic....
Range Officer
Range Officers
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February 9, 2009
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Nice find! The 10" slotted shrouds are not common. Does yours have two slots on the underside as well? Hope to hear what you think of shooting it.
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
April 25, 2008
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Very nice! Great find too! I've seen a couple of the 10" slotted ones, but I'm not sure if they would have made the 4 pound weight limit in IHMSA competition. I seem to recall the .44 Dan Wessons had trouble making weight with the 10" shroud.
The Savantist
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January 24, 2009
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Cool, three slots in the 10" shroud. That's the first I've seen one, pretty cool.
That's also great that you were able to get the paint off & actually have decent bluing beneath it. Gotta love that.
Range Officer
Range Officers
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February 9, 2009
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The reason I asked about slots on the bottom is that the 10" slotted 445 I just obtained has them. I thought maybe that was to get into the weight required by IHMSA. I'll weigh it when I get a chance since IHMSA 80x80 stated the 4lb. weight. I'll let you know if it makes it.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
April 25, 2008
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With the older models, if you decided to put other grips on it, and the weight was over the limit, you could send the shroud back to the factory, and they would adjust the slots to meet the weight limit.
The Savantist
February 2, 2009
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I have a factory lightened barrel that came with one of my 8" slotted shrouds for my 357max. There was a note to explain that all the supermags use the same size barrel tube and only tapped it out larger for the 41 amd 445 mags and that the external reduction in size was done by the Monson factory and tested, this was a special order option only for the 357 max. The barrel tube is turned down to .61" for 5" of it's 8" length. I guess the seller wanted to assure me the barrel wasn't home altered. I really only wanted the shroud at the time. My other stainless barrels mic. at .631"
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