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December 21, 2012
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Hello all,
I have a Dan Wesson .44 Magnum (blued) with a fixed 2.5" barrel that I bought around 1993-1994. The revolver is from the Palmer, MA., era of Dan Wesson production but the quality is very nice - good lockup and indexing, really nice blueing, etc.
When I bought the gun I was young and thought I was buying one with the interchangeable barrel system. Unfortunately I didn't find out what I actually bought until the gun show was over and the seller had gone. Although I was pleased enough with the gun to keep it all these years (and intend to for many more!), at various times I've wanted one with the interchangeable barrels but, for a variety of reasons, have not acquired one yet.
During some recent internet research I came across a thread that discussed fixed barrel Dan Wesson revolvers, and how it is possible to convert them to the "standard" or interchangeable barrel system. I've contacted CZ/Dan Wesson and they have confirmed that this can be done, that they have the parts to do so, and also can provide the service to perform the conversion.
My question to the Dan Wesson community is should I have the conversion done? As thrilled as I am that I can now have what I wanted in the first place, and using the gun I know and have grown used to, I wonder if I might be making a mistake. What makes me hesitant on going ahead with the project is that the Operations Manager and Dan Wesson says that he has never come across a fixed 2.5" Dan Wesson revolver, and I wonder if I have something special and never knew it?
Attached are a couple of photos of my Dan Wesson. Any advice and opinions on what I have, and what I ought to do with it, would be appreciated.
Thanks!
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Welcome to the DWF. Your FB 44 is fairly rare but I do believe I have seen another. DW was known for building a lot of one off custom stuff. Just my two cents worth. If you like your gun keep it as is cuz it is some what rare and the cost to convert it to a changeable model along with a few barrel assemblys will probably not be far from what you could pick up a changeable 44 for. But in the end do what ever you see fit.
LB
P.S. At least it is an excuse to buy another. 
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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Dans Club
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July 2, 2011
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Hello and welcome to the forum. I imagine you will get a number of opinions on this topic, so here my 2 cents worth,
If this was my situation I would leave the original alone. I can't speak to it's rarity but it's certainly unique. There are a fair number of .44s to be had out there in the configuration you seek. I'd look for (and enjoy the hunt) for the .44 of your dreams and keep that snubby. I bet it's great fun to shoot!
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
February 22, 2009
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First- do what you want to; it's yours! But, if it were me, like the guys already said- I'd just buy another.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
March 27, 2013
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I'll echo everyone else and say that I'd keep the one you have stock, but it's yours so don't let us tell you what to do.
Oh, and I found something for you. 
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June 25, 2013
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What's it like to shoot a 44 Mag out of a 2" barrel?
It would be interesting to "hunt" down another all over the web to see if you could find another now or cached on auction sites from the past.
44 mag snubby, Hmmmmmm...... Nickel it !!!! 
Don't mind me I know nothing and like shiny pretty things
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
December 21, 2012
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Well, I prefer to shoot .44spl through it as the magnum rounds can be a bit... "stout", shall we say? As for refinishing the gun in nickel, not at the moment. The gun is hardly used and the bluing on it is still beautiful.
Despite all the advice to keep the snubbie as-is, I think I'm going to go ahead and have the conversion done. Here's my reasoning for doing so -
1. I am unable to determine any concrete information about the model and manufacture date of the pistol, and that lack of data will detract from any future collectible value anyway, so nobody knows if it's rare, valuable, etc.
2. From what I've seen on the various auction sites, the cost of the conversion and desired barrel assemblies would be about the same as buying a "standard" Dan Wesson with one or two barrels which are usually 8" & 10". If I do the conversion at least I'll have to only pay the small fee for labor and whatever barrels I want as the price of the pistol is already a sunk cost.
3. Although I like the 2.5" barrel - and will be getting one of the interchangeable barrel assemblies in the same size - I would really like to have a 4" and 6", and maybe an 8" as well. As Dan Wesson's can do all that with one pistol, I figure why not take advantage of that ability.
4. Keeping the pistol as-is in the hopes of it being a rare and valuable item in the future is a gamble on long odds, I think.
However, with the strange luck I have, it wouldn't surprise me if 30 years after I have the conversion done that we find out my Dan Wesson was 1 of 5 special ordered for the Grand Poobah of Somewhere and an unmolested version is worth $50k. But because of what I did to mine it's only worth 500 bucks.
On the other hand, if I leave it as-is thinking that I'll be able to sell it 30 years from now for what's left in Ft. Knox, I'm sure it'll be worth no more than what it is now in future dollars.
So, I'm going to proceed with turning a fixed barrel .44 snubbie into a "true" Dan Wesson and enjoy it as such for as many years as I'm able to shoot it, or that parts are available - whichever ends first!
Thanks again for the advice and opinions. I'll post some "after" pics. when I get it back from the fine folks at CZ/Dan Wesson.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Just DO IT!
You gotta be right with your guns, if what you are doing is good for you, no other opinion matters.
Have fun with it.
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
Dans Club
DWF Supporters
April 20, 2010
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Belated welcome to the forum from PA. I would have voted to keep your Palmer as is and buy a second Dan, but sounds like you have a plan you are sticking with so go for it! Sound reasoning you have.
I know there have been a few others who had the conversion done, I am wondering if the original barrel can be saved and possibly reinstalled by the factory in the future? They put it on once surely it could be put on again. So if a 2.5" FB becomes super collectible you could always 'restore to original'.
Just an observance, I have been a Dan Wesson fan for only 3 1/2 yrs but but in that time I have seen only a few FB 44 magnums on Gunbroker and elsewhere, and I do not remember any of them with a short 2.5" barrel. As far as I know during the Monson and Palmer years even a removable 2.5" .44 barrel was not a normal offering and I think would have been a factory custom order.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
December 21, 2012
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Seeing if the original barrel can be saved for reinstallation is something I will definitely check on. If it can't I may rethink the project. I have read that Locktite was used in assembly and the fixed barrels can be difficult to remove.
I need to ask what the process is to get the barrels off, and if it damages them in any way. I'll let you all know what I find out.
September 1, 2010
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Did you consider trading same condition Dan Wesson 44 mag. with a exchangeable 4",6" or 8" bbl ?
I might be willing
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TWO
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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TWO44, Please PM your email addy:
"As mentioned in the Forum Etiquette guidelines, for your own security, do not post personal information such as your password, credit card numbers, phone numbers, e-mail or physical addresses."
Thanks, Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
February 11, 2010
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You will pay shipping both ways and minimum labor of $80 sending it to DW/CZ that's around
$200 + before you buy any parts, not to mention the Norwich barrel shrouds will not match the
deep and awesome Palmer bluing nor will the roll marks be the same.
Yea... I'm in the " buy another 44" corner
-Blacktop
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January 24, 2009
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Holy crap!
As a collector, the 2.5" 44 Mag FB is a fairly rare gun, and the very thought of changing it to a "normal" DW is crazy (to me, at least).
I'd probably consider selling it to yours truly first......then buying the .44 you really want.
Of course, that gun would find a nice home next to my 3" FB .357's...
February 7, 2009
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I'm guessing that the barrel is actually 3" not 2 1/2 since almost every FB Dan I have ever had my hands on was either 3" or 5". (a 3" barrel should have a 2 1/2" shroud or pretty close)
Not saying you are wrong, but I'd really like to see a pic with a tape measure.
I'm with the folks who say leave it as is. I expect that for the cost of the conversion (and new barrel) you could simply pick up a used 6" or 8" and be done with it.
Here is my 5" FB, as I recall I bought it new in 94 or 95:
December 21, 2012
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NVG - Keith Lawton at CZ/Dan Wesson was skeptical of my claim about the 2.5" barrel also - until he saw the pictures I posted above. I measured from the front of the barrel to the front of the cylinder and it measures right at 2.5".
I've been going back and forth about the conversion, and have also been looking at the various auctions and forums to find a "standard" Dan Wesson .44mag. What I've been seeing, though, are prices for one-barrel guns that are about the same as the conversion and two barrel assemblies. For Dan Wessons for sale with two barrels, the price is about a wash as having the conversion and three barrel assemblies. As for guns that come as a pistol pac, or more than two barrels, I could have the conversion done; buy three or four barrel assemblies; and have enough left over to buy hundreds of rounds of ammo to practice with!
So it makes as much sense, financially, to go ahead and convert mine. As regards rarity of my revolver, I still don't have any idea what model it is or what it's true value might be and if I'm unable to acquire that information here I don't know where else it could be.
Blacktop - you bring up a good point the that I had not considered about the bluing not matching. Although it would be nice to have everything match up correctly, at the moment I'm more interested in the functionality of the piece. I suppose I could have the barrel assemblies blued to match - or as closely as possible - later. Definitely something to think about.
Right now the only thing that gives me pause about sending it in for conversion is the question of what will happen to the original barrel during removal. Will the finish be marred, or the functionality be damaged - or both? I have a request in to Keith Lawton at CZ/Dan Wesson for answers to those questions. If the barrel will be buggered in any way, I won't do it. If it'll be okay for future installation and use, I'll go ahead with the conversion.
Edit: NVG - I take that 2.5" measurement back. I measured again just to be positive and from the front of the cylinder to the front of the barrel is 2 3/4". Even though it's a bit shy of 3", does this mean it is considered a 3-incher?
December 21, 2012
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I wonder, seeing as Seth Wesson was in charge of the Palmer operation would he be one to know more about my Dan Wesson revolver, or is there someone else that might have that knowledge? What are your folks' thoughts about trying to contact Mr. Wesson or any of the people associated with the Palmer facility?
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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The Wesson Family has only very rarely been on DWF, probably because when Seth showed up here several years ago he got hammered with requests for info, history, serial numbers...
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
December 21, 2012
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That's what I was thinking, and why I asked here before being an unwelcome intrusion into someone's life. I can live with not knowing a few odds & ends about my revolver if it allows somebody to live their life unbothered and in peace.
December 21, 2012
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Well, I just got an e-mail from Keith Lawton and the Dan Wesson purists can breathe a sigh of relief. Unfortunately my original barrel would be destroyed in the removal process, which means I won't be going ahead with the project. I just can't do that to this gun.
So, I'll be keeping an eye out for a standard DW .44mag and will be patient in my search. Something will turn up eventually.
Many thanks for the information, advice, and suggestions you all posted to help me!
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