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October 1, 2024
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Looking on gunsinternational I see a W12 with a recessed barrel nut. Was such a thing offered? Maybe a very late gun?
October 17, 2017
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Not to my knowledge, but I have used a 15-1 barrel assembly on a W12. You have to change out the front sight for one of the appropriate height though.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Here’s a thread all about this topic & more:
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/revolvers/dw-12-vs-w12-question/
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January 24, 2009
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KurtB's post with the thread link led me down a short rabbit hole tonight. At the bottom of that rabbit hole, Ole Dog posted the following thought from: > HERE <
"All model 11+12 have an exterior nut except those guns that were made around serial number 10,000. There may be some model 12s sold around then (early 1971) with the interior nut. If it is made earlier than that it likely has a model 15 BA which could have been ordered from the factory."
This reminded me of a magazine ad (from I think mid ~ late '71) where DW was announcing the introduction of the Model 15. I used to have a photo of that ad, but it was swallowed up when my old photo host site imploded. 
In that ad, they were saying that the Model 15's were available to order at the same time you could also order a Model 12. So for a short period (no idea how many weeks/months that went), a guy could order both models! At the time, I recall thinking why would someone intentionally order an "ugly nut gun"! 
Anyway, Ole Dog's post got me thinking. In the past few years there have been maybe a half dozen instances where peeps have posted 
of a W12 wearing obviously a Model 15 BA. (I think 4 here & 2 at another site, maybe 3) No big deal. But. Prior to today, I merely wrote those guns off as "a prior owner did a swapperooo" with DW's cheap BA's available from the catalog back then. But today, I realized that because there have now been about a half dozen cases through the years, these mis-matched guns are now encroaching into my foil-hat-conspiracy realm. Especially after reading Ole Dog's thought...so what if DW ran out of Model 12 shrouds, but still had a pile of serial numbered frames left over? What if for a week or two, they decided to "cross pollinate" the two, and shipped W12's wearing 15 shrouds-n-barrel's?? I am beginning to think that some of these "wrong barrel" guns may possibly in the end, may be the real deal! 
So far, this is still a working theory, I would really love to come across some more substantive evidence at some point sooner than later, to back up this theory. Until then, all these guns are still Frankenstein guns!! 
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Thanks for all the research, summation and your thoughts on the topic. Very helpful. It would be great if someone produced a receipt for a Dan they bought around this timeline (1971) that has a serial number fitting the era and has an internal nut on a W12.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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3ric, a 15-1 and a 14 -1 front and rear sight have a lower, profile than a model 12 or 15. Ditto model 11 or 14. The 15 will work fine with a 12 and a 14 will work fine with an 11. THEY ARE INTERCHANGABLE. So you can cure the ugly factor Charger Dan. Personally, I am very fond of the exterior nuts, especially the discounted prices on them. An added feature is you can use rachet on the 12 sided nuts instead of the barrel tool. And a torque wrench if you want to tune the "guitar string".
Also, 21/2,4,and 6 inch barrels are easier to come by than those that are 1/4" shorter. One thing to consider about an 11 or 12 if it is to be a shooter is the wrap around hand spring. It will fail in short order. Easy enough to replace the hand with one with a slot in the back for the later hand spring. Just make sure the timing is right. The factory calls them a factory fitted part but I have found them to be basically interchangable because they are all identical MIM as are the rachet.
October 17, 2017
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Ole Dog said
3ric, a 15-1 and a 14 -1 front and rear sight have a lower, profile than a model 12 or 15. Ditto model 11 or 14. The 15 will work fine with a 12 and a 14 will work fine with an 11. THEY ARE INTERCHANGABLE. So you can cure the ugly factor Charger Dan. Personally, I am very fond of the exterior nuts, especially the discounted prices on them. An added feature is you can use rachet on the 12 sided nuts instead of the barrel tool. And a torque wrench if you want to tune the "guitar string".Also, 21/2,4,and 6 inch barrels are easier to come by than those that are 14" shorter. One thing to consider about an 11 or 12 if it is to be a shooter is the wrap around hand spring. It will fail in short order. Easy enough to replace the hand with one with a slot in the back for the later hand spring. Just make sure the timing is right. The factory calls them a factory fitted part but I have found them to be basically interchangable because they are all identical MIM as are the rachet.
Never said they weren’t. My example was a 15-1 BA mounted on a W12 frame. It works, but the front sight needs to be changed.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I edited my post to change the 14 to 1/4" talking about barrel length. I really need to proofread better.
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January 24, 2009
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Ole Dog said
3ric, a 15-1 and a 14 -1 front and rear sight have a lower, profile than a model 12 or 15. Ditto model 11 or 14. The 15 will work fine with a 12 and a 14 will work fine with an 11. THEY ARE INTERCHANGABLE. So you can cure the ugly factor Charger Dan. Personally, I am very fond of the exterior nuts, especially the discounted prices on them. An added feature is you can use rachet on the 12 sided nuts instead of the barrel tool. And a torque wrench if you want to tune the "guitar string".
Oh for sure, so am I! I should have expounded on that thought a bit. But I guess I didn't want my lengthy post to turn into an actual novel. 
So when I first joined the in '09, the one saying I heard so often was that the D11's & W12's wearing their exposed barrel nuts were considered "ugly nuts". Kind of saying it's "a face only a mother could love". That was my own phrase for those guns back then on this forum, based on the view of most people unfamiliar with the early DW's. But after joining here, it was less than a year until I found my first fantastic deal on the guns that started it all. In fact I was so excited that I bought about half the DW's that seller had on GB that week. He gave me a great combination deal.
So yes, I too am very fond of the exterior nuts.
Here is the result of that 1st "ugly nut" buy. 
February 16, 2016
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Initially, I did not like the external barrel nuts, but now they are growing on me. Still don't have one though.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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They’ve not grown on me yet either. Maybe someday.
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