Not long after my November 1997 purchase of a Model 11 I used it in a service pistol match for law enforcement personnel. Even in 1998 when this, about-to-be-shared, story took place the six-gun had disappeared from law enforcement and a .45acp S&W Model 4586 had taken its place. There "was" one lone holdout. An old pre-dreadnought who had hung onto his Colt by being advanced in age and experience that was allowed to retain his Colt Official Police .38 Service Revolver.  So, I had been shooting these matches with two Colts; An OP and a Metropolitan MK III. Engaged in these matches for skill retention and the comradarie. From time to time I would shoot a different gun, like a S&W Model 10 or a Ruger Police Service-Six all cop guns for sure and all with four-inch barrels. On one match day early in 1998 I had brought my recently purchased Dan Wesson Model 11 and 50-rounds of .38 Semi-Wadcutter reloads. I used my S&W Model 10 HKS Speedloaders as this is a 48-round combat match that is under-the-clock. It is shot from the 3yd., 7yd, 15yd, and 25 yard lines. I had previously been practicing with my DW Model 11 and knew, first hand, which particular .38 load it favored the best. The youngsters there, with a few older cops, all had these S&W 4586 Models with a couple of Glocks in the crowd. We lined up and got the call to shoot from the range officer. When the shooting was done and the targets graded my Model 11 had taken top honors for the overall winner. A "468" out of a possible 480 for a "service" revolver. Back then (1998) I didn't have any of the hydraulic problems that is a problem now. My hands didn't shake and were strong which helped me to help my Model 11 to shoot the highest score I ever shot in "all" the years of participating in these monthly combat matches. I never shot a score that high (468) before or since. Even with my beloved, previously mentioned, Colts. That Model 11 literally put one round on top of the other at the 3 and 7 yard lines. Those 18-rounds shot from these two distances were about one on top of the other. It was hard for the range officer to grade the target upon completion. The 15 and 25 had a combined 30-rounds shot and all of these were within the 9 and 10 zones of the B-27 target. I knew my score was going to be pretty good and when the grading was finished and my score posted I couldn't believe it! Neither could some of them "slack-jawed" rooks either. They had been accustomed to kicking the old mans behind but not today! The range officer, an old buddy of mine from the old days, grinning like a mule-eating-briars, whispered to me this; "David, you had an unfair advantage. That odd-looking thing makes you look good and it ain't your Colt. What the ---- is it?" I told him and he shook his head walked on and later presented me with the Overall Winner trophy.

Time has went by now. I have that cherished memory of one time being on the top and a Dan Wesson Model 11 got me there with the bragging rights that swifly followed. When I lined up several weeks ago my hands betrayed me again and I shot a less-than-exciting score but did manage to place. I've just got too many hard miles on me and too many close calls as a cop to do Mr. Dans gun justice now at the range! My hands shake from a nervous system disorder, from time to time, and this compromises what little shooting skills I once enjoyed. My 11 provided me with my greatest day as a competitive combat shooter. No other six-gun has EVER took me to these heights before or since. Mr. Dan built a great gun his first time out, the Model 11! Dang, what a gun! Thanks my friends for allowing me to share an old cops story about his old Dan Wesson.

David

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