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February 19, 2012
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Dear members , I have a chance to trade for a DW 15V-6 made in 1981. My understanding is that the best DW,s were made in !977-78 is this correct? Did the Quality suffer in the 80's? I just don't whant to get burned so I am requesting advice from the Knowledgeable members of this forum. The serial# is 328xxx which makes it 1981. The gun looks good but I don't want to be surprised. Thanks in advance for all the advice you can offer.
Regards John
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I have several 80s vintage DWs and all are top quality, reliable and accurate guns. Don't be afraid of it if its in good shape. 
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
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If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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April 20, 2010
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I don't know of any quality issues in the 80's, maybe in the late 80's close to when DW went out of business. I think many Dans were made in the 80's and I would buy any of them. I have a 15-2 made about 1978, and a 15-2 made in 1981, they are both solid, shiny, beauties with smooth actions, and neither one has had an action job more than cleaning because they just don't need it. I honestly don't know of any year of manufacture that I would avoid. Hopefully others will chime in here with their thoughts.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
August 28, 2009
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Look at the gun individually for fit, finish, and condition to determine the price. There is no discernible difference in quality between Palmer production and Monson production guns that can be generalized. I've had Monson guns come through with defects ranging from porosity in the frame casting to over buffing of the top straps to the point that shroud rib is higher than the frame. I've got Palmer guns that mint. All this quality crap between Palmer / Monson is exactly that, crap. Now, it can be generally stated that Norwich production guns are in fact of a higher quality fit/finish than the predecessor Palmer and Monson guns. Check the gun over closely, then make your own assessment of the condition.
December 27, 2010
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Dans Club
October 17, 2008
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Well said Harly, these are my thoughts too, I have Monson and Palmer and fit finish and function are great. My Norwich are pretty nice too!
February 20, 2012
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"Dear members , I have a chance to trade for a DW 15V-6 made in 1981. My understanding is that the best DW,s were made in !977-78 is this correct?"
John ,
I am surprised by the above statement as I too (through my exhaustive internet research) found that the highest quality D.W guns were manufactured
between 1976 to 1979 !
Now since both of us know squat about D.Wessons , I find this shared belief to be in striking contrast to the knowledgeable folks here basically saying there were no " bad " years ........
I personally wouldn't touch any gun that wasn't produced @ Monson ......and there's no way I'm ever gonna believe the modern produced stuff is superior to the early produced guns .
I am totally amazed that you and I think the 1976, 1977, and 1978
guns were the best - right or wrong , .... what are the odds ??
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I cannot see of feel any differences between my 1978 Monson 15-2 and my 1984 Monson 15-2, they are identical in every way and both shoot extreamly well.
I don't own any Palmers (yet) but I do have a Norwich gun and the finish on it (stainless) is exceptional as is its functionality.
So in a nutshell, I agree that there are no years to avoid. Since we are talking about guns 20-30 some years old, I think how the gun was treated and cared for during that time will have a greater influence on its condition, accuracy and reliability than where it was produced.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
February 19, 2012
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I would like to thank all who answered my questions about the DW 15V-6 that I am going to trade for. Tomorrow is when I will meet for the trade. What should I be looking for when I examine the gun as far as function(timing & lockup). I know how Smiths lockup and also Colts but no idea about DW's. I have seen in pictures, the barrel wrench that looks like a hex wrench and also the wrench that is "T" shaped. I thought the Hex type wrench was for the exposed Nut and the "T" handled wrench was for the recessed Nut. The pics show guns with the bbls flush with the shroud and are showing a Hex wrench with the package. How does this work? I would think that only the "T" handled wrench would work with a bbl flush with the Shroud ?
Once again Many thanks for all your Help!
John
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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All of the internet crap is just that, crap! DWF represents the most widely diverse ownership of Dan Wesson revolvers anywhere, and no one here has ever presented any evidence that any era/ownership/place of manufacture is inherently lower quality.
There may always be individual examples of poorly made or finished guns but they are not representative of a brand characteristic.
I recently saw photos of a new S&W 786 that had gone through a Performance Center tuning. The 7 shot cylinder was fluted as a 6 shot, resulting in some remarkable thin spots in the chamber walls. Does that mean that new 786's are inferior?
I will say that the Performance Center part of that scares me a little!
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
June 25, 2011
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Well this will be apples/oranges but.... I bought a 2-pak ,.357 new in around 1978 and sold two years later for a Benjamin. Now I have the exact same gun from 1986. The older one was much better. The older one was pure deep blue, not barney and no huge scuff on frame. The flat wrench was nice too. I was hanging in a gun store, so I did pick that particular gun and now I just grabbed the first one that I saw. It has the imperfections, but still is very nice , the comparison can't be made by me so forget everything 
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