Register
Log In
Home
November 4, 2010
Offline
which factory produced the best quality guns. from what i understand...monson was good, palmer used old monson equip that some believe to be questionable, then norwich retooled. since i am in the market for a new dw, i have been heavily leaning toward a norwich supermag...maybe new/newer if i can get one, but haven't heard alot of cheering for the newer plant. i know cz owns it now and originally the focus was on entering the 1911 style when it first opened...any opinions out there....or some rating system somebody has? thanx
May 17, 2010
Offline
Welcome to the forum!
CZ is not making DW revolvers, and has not made them in some time, so "new" will be relative. They do supply parts.
At this time it mostly boils down to a availabilty and popularity. Monson are by far the most available and generally have excellent quality. Yes Palmer used the old Monson equipment but it ws old when Monson usedit too, so.. I think the problem was more of quality control not "quality". Norwich, as you pointed out used newer tooling, but are much harder to come by and thier price reflects it.
I would not be ashamed to own a DW from any plant. But I do own 3 monsons.
Soap Box, Ballot Box, Ammo Box
in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
1 Palmer FB 15
1 Rossi 357 Model 92 (lever)
1 CZ 75B
January 22, 2008
Offline
Pinetor said:
At this time it mostly boils down to a availabilty and popularity. Monson are by far the most available and generally have excellent quality. Yes Palmer used the old Monson equipment but it ws old when Monson used it too, so.. I think the problem was more of quality control not "quality". Norwich, as you pointed out used newer tooling, but are much harder to come by and thier price reflects it.
I think that is the best summary I have seen on the 3 plants and I agree 100%.
November 4, 2010
Offline
thanks. you answered another question i had and hadn't asked it yet. (cz making revolvers) i previously owned a stainless model 15...but came upon hard times and sold it to my cousin who never sells any gun...ever...so i can't get it back....lol
I will never do that again....
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
Palmer guns get a bad rap, which I don't think has EVER been documented on DWF. I think there are far fewer Norwich revolvers out there than either of the other two, but the bottom line is that any Dan Wesson revolver is probably a pretty safe bet. The basic design has stood the test of time, it is still one of the inherently strongest and most accurate double action revolver designs available.
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
March 25, 2008
Offline
So far I own nine DW's, three from palmer 22-44-and a 445SMag, one norwich 44 the rest are from monson, 357SM,(2)375SM,41mag,44mag. All show excellent fit and finish I don't believe anyone on this forum could find fault in any of them beyond the fact that they have been used. It just boils down to condition, condition and condition! Good luck in your search. Don't forget 
January 22, 2008
Offline
Also in reading post from other members that have been dealing with Dan Wesson revolvers since the 80's is that the company has always stood behind their product and if there were issues made them right.
I recently had a NIB Norwich 744 that had not been fired. I took it to the range and discovered that the extractor was off on a couple of chambers. I stuck it back in the box and forgot about it until I got ready to sell it to another member here. So before sending it to the member I shipped it to Keith at DW and he made it right. They actually went through the gun and did several things and I was not charged.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
Great gun
Great heritage
Great service
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
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
Yes, Palmer had it's QC issues. But customers returned their guns and they were repaired so there should be no difference between Monson and Palmer guns any more. I think it's a safe bet that any units with quality issues have been repaired by now.
The only way in which those guns might be a bit inferior to the Norwich guns is in the cylinder faces. The early guns were heat treated after the face of the cylinder was finished. The heat treating caused some dimensional discrepancies so when setting the gap on a Palmer or Monson gun, it is always wise to make sure you set the gap at the tightest fitting ccylinder position. Just a little extra character. 
This is not an issue on Norwich guns.
-Mike
April 25, 2008
Offline
Another thing to remember, is that a lot of Monson guns were returned to the factory for repair, which they did at no charge, by thousands of silhouette shooters. Some even had to go back twice, but they were all made right. Dan Wesson stood behind their products, regardless of where they were made.
The Savantist
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
Thanks Dean.
I wasn't aware that there were a lot of Monson guns returned for repair also, though I have to admit that my Monson 744 went back during its first year. It was repaired quickly and correctly and without any fuss.
-Mike
January 22, 2008
Offline
This is a good topic because I've read on other sites as I'm sure you all have that the Palmer guns were sub-standard. Hopefully as time goes on we can change perception where appropriate.
Or maybe we should start telling everyone that all Dan Wesson's are inferior to any other brand so we can get them cheaper!
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
Jody said:
Or maybe we should start telling everyone that all Dan Wesson's are inferior to any other brand so we can get them cheaper!
-Mike
February 11, 2010
Offline
Jody said:
Or maybe we should start telling everyone that all Dan Wesson's are inferior
Absolutely ! and the if you find an owner of a 745 or 7414 or PPII or .... you should
let them know they were just nothing but trouble and you'll help relieve them of
that burden. 
-Blacktop
November 23, 2008
Offline
Good morning
OK.. All Dw´s are the absolute worst pieces of carbon ever machined on !
I repent.. that is not true and I just want your SM´s... Cheap.
Only problem I know of that I ever had with a Monsom was a 357 (still have it). One of the chambers was bored off axis and would throw that round 6" off at 25 yards. I always fire 6 targets with a new to me revolver to figure out if they are all in line. Removes the frustration of some flyers. But DW replaced the cylinder free and I shot steel with it for 2 years with a 10" barrel.
1 Guest(s)
