Try to make this as short as possible.   I travel, hunt and visit in South Africa frequently and in all years prior to 2005 always carried a handgun of some sort.   In 2005 the laws were changed and basically it was very difficult to get a handgun in country from that time on.   I had a visit just a couple of weeks after the new laws went into effect.   I have lots of friends and connections there, so decided to see if I could get a permit for my handgun, a Kimber  Ultra in 45 acp.    I was successful and had a legal permit issued from the Pretoria SAP, along with permits for my two rifles.    Upon my arrival in J'burg the SAP there decided my permit was NOT LEGAL for my handgun, but was legal for my rifles?   They stated only THEY could issue permits for firearms!   So they confiscated the handgun, ammo, and magazines on the spot.    There was quite a stink, I was held there for hours on end, treated like a criminal, and the entire ordeal was because I had brought a "SELF DEFENSE" handgun into the country.    Had it been just a few weeks earlier it would not have even been noticed!   "Self Defense" was spoken in the same light as one would say "DRUG DEALER"   "RAPIST" or "MURDERER".    I was taken aback by all of this, and you can rest assured I was way past UPSET over the issue.    So was my wife, which is South African, friends, family and most of the rest of the country.     

I was not really willing to let go of this just yet.   Once my wife's family found out about this they got in contact with some folks and before I knew it I was on National Radio telling the story!    This went out around the entire country!    Within 1 hour of the radio broadcast the J'burg SAP made contact with me, and informed me there would be an investigation and blah blah blah!   Covering Tail is what it amounted to.    Next PHASA called (Professional Hunters Association South Africa) and launched their own investigation also.   So I raised quite a stink, or at least as much as I could.   Later when arriving back home I wrote to every hunting, shooting organization I could, just a little more stink!    

While in South Africa I began to scheme!   At that time one could bring in a "HUNTING HANDGUN".    So I decided to call in some favors, and the best I could come up with was Dan Wesson revolvers, and those wonderful changeable barrels!    My scheme was to come in with a big bulky long scoped handgun and when I got my permit, change the barrels to my 2.5 inch barrel and go about my business!   Well this would work!   Called in some favors--I am a 45 Colt fan and not really interested in anything else!   Dan Wesson at the time agreed to build it to my specs and that is what you see in the photos!   At the time I was told that it was the only 45 Colt they had built to the point, and I tended to believe it.   

Well the jest of the matter is that on my next trip soon after to South Africa thru some closer investigation the country had just about made "Self Defense" illegal.   To get a permit I would have had to have special permission, a letter from the PH stating that he would ONLY allow me to use the handgun for HUNTING ONLY and NOT FOR SELF DEFENSE!!     Can you believe that crap?    It is that way currently today too!   So I decided that it was best for me not to even think about taking a chance, leave the handguns at home from now on.   I have since then rigged up a little Winchester M94 Lever gun in 45 Colt, 16 inch barrel, and holds 8 rounds of very nasty loads!   That has been my self defense since 2005 while in country!   

Yes, I did get my Kimber back home safe.   I had to have it exported to Atlanta, where I had one of my guys pick it up and return it home.   It made it home before I did on that trip!   It cost more to do that than two Kimbers would have cost, but this little gun had been a friend for a long time, we had traveled to many places together and there was no way in hell I was leaving it behind at any cost!!!!!!!!!

So my DW was packed away after playing with it for a year or so, and nearly forgotten about until recently!    

I am not sure how many DW built of these afterwards or even if they did.   Since this seems to be THE DW place I am sure that some of you guys could shed some light on this for us!

It is a fine handgun, and shoots far better than I can shoot it!

Thanks

Michael

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SMF

Thanks!   Africa is an adventure for sure, in more ways than one!

Jody

Thanks for the info on possible other 45 Colts out there.    I never really thought a lot about it until the other day.    I am a frequent gunbroker sort of guy, and I have added the DW to my search!   Just to see!   Any information is appreciated.

Charger

It's nuts!   South African laws were adopted from some European laws.  Plain Stupid is the best word to describe!

THANKS to all for the welcome.

Michael

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Unbelievable how much trouble one can get into with guns when the rules change. Glad all worked out well eventually. Hope you can get out to shoot that one often.

to our little world.

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Charger Fan

Do you know what the DW 45 sold for???  I too am looking real hard for a DW in 45 LC.  I have a 41,357 Max and a 357 Mag .... I sure do need a 45 to ALMOST complete my collection.

Hogslayer

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