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January 10, 2018
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I have a line on a beautiful in every way 15-2 from 1976. The owner is the original purchaser and says he's only put 30 rounds through it. From the looks of the revolver I'd say he's not far off. BUT, some of those rounds must have been way over SAMMI specs!!!
Would this be a deal breaker for you?
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Doesn' look bad, I'd be a buyer for the right price. Fans can handle very stout loads with no problems.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Those marks are not a sign something wrong like they may a Colt or Smith. Dans lock up differently. They will take the force on the recoil shield where a Colt will take the force on the hand. That is why a Colt will go out of time but a Dan rarely does. Your photo shows me the gun was hardly fired.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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no issue with that Dan.
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January 10, 2018
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Thanks for the replies gents! Looks like I’ll be joining the DW club!
Here’s a couple pics.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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The start of Dan Wesson Acquisition Syndrome, or DWAS for short.
March 25, 2008
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That looks like a nice set. the case will easiley bring $80 + by its self. You'll fing a record on the forum approximating year of production with the serial number of the gun. welcome! FYI I've seen where people have stored their guns in those cases. I would not recommend it I bleieve they don't breath so they may cause rusting.
January 10, 2018
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pops2 said
That looks like a nice set. the case will easiley bring $80 + by its self. You'll fing a record on the forum approximating year of production with the serial number of the gun. welcome! FYI I've seen where people have stored their guns in those cases. I would not recommend it I bleieve they don't breath so they may cause rusting.
Thanks for the heads up on the case! I’m not sure how he’s stored it all these years but he says it’s in like new condition.
Im really excited to try it. I have a couple of Colt Pythons, a couple of nice Smiths, and my favorite of all of them to shoot is my Colt Trooper Mark III. There seems to be some similarities between the DW’s lockwork and the Colt Mark III and IV’s. Which is also similar to the Colt King Cobras.
Have any of you owned any of those Colts? How do they compare to the DW 15-2?
Thanks for all the comments so far!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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It is not coincidence that the Trooper and the Dan have similar lockwork and styling. Karl Lewis, considered by some to be the 2cd greatest gun designer after God, John Moses Browning, was working for Colt and designed the first modern revolver, the Trooper MK iii, with drop in parts. MIM hammer, trigger and small parts instead of labor intensive forged parts and a coiled mainspring instead of a leaf type spring. He offered the interchangable barrel invention to Colt but they declined. He took the barrel design, grip tang design, front lockup and lockwork to Dan Wesson and they started Dan Wesson Firearms in 1968.the first gun was released in 1970. The improved version, the model 15-2 was released around 1974.
February 16, 2016
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Ole Dog said
Karl Lewis took the barrel design, grip tang design, front lockup and lockwork to Dan Wesson and they started Dan Wesson Firearms in 1968. the first gun was released in 1970. The improved version, the model 15-2 was released around 1974.
From the model 15 in 1970 to the 15-2 in 1974, the major improvement developments were; 1) the Pork Chop shroud to the slimmer modular design, 2) large clunky adjustable rear sight to a smaller compact size, 3) small head on ejector rod to larger mushroom head, 4) fully serrated latch face to top serrations only and 5) short hammer throw to longer.
Did I miss anything ?
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Stinger said
From the model 15 in 1970 to the 15-2 in 1974, the major improvement developments were; 1) the Pork Chop shroud to the slimmer modular design, 2) large clunky adjustable rear sight to a smaller compact size, 3) small head on ejector rod to larger mushroom head, 4) fully serrated latch face to top serrations only and 5) short hammer throw to longer.
Did I miss anything ?
How about - Trigger stop screw from back of trigger to the frame?
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Trigger overtravel migrated from the trigger to the frame during the 15-2 years. Definitely on trigger for earlier 15-2's, the point in time that this changed is not clearly known.
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January 10, 2018
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Very interesting! The Colt Trooper Mk iii had a longer throw than the later Mk iv and King Cobras. I personally have a Mk iv and much prefer the action on the Mk iii. I can't say why exactly but I shoot the Mk. iii a lot better.
Are the parts in the 15-2 MIM or cast?
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Dans Club
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February 4, 2017
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To quote OleDog "...the frame is investment cast. The shroud is rolled steel, the barrels I think are forged and the lockwork is MIM."
The Norwich revolvers are CNC.
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January 10, 2018
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MuthaFunk said
Very interesting! The Colt Trooper Mk iii had a longer throw than the later Mk iv and King Cobras. I personally have a Mk iv and much prefer the action on the Mk iii. I can't say why exactly but I shoot the Mk. iii a lot better.
Are the parts in the 15-2 MIM or cast?
A little google fu revealed the early DW revolvers had "sintered steel" parts. An early version of MIM as I understand it. Apparently DW switched to investment casting by the time they went to the 15-2.
Thanks for all the replies gents!
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Another change from early to later models was the cylinder stop on the side plate. On earlier models it was a separate part pressed into the side plate. Later models, including all stainless models had the stop integrated into the side plate and not as a separate part.
February 16, 2016
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snake-eye said
How about - Trigger stop screw from back of trigger to the frame?
snake-eye said
Another change from early to later models was the cylinder stop on the side plate. On earlier models it was a separate part pressed into the side plate. Later models, including all stainless models had the stop integrated into the side plate and not as a separate part.
Both are excellent additions to the topic, thank you sir ! 
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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The 715 in 1982 and the blue guns in 1986? had knurled hammer spurs instead of serrations.
September 28, 2008
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Every DW I've ever had has had the same marks on the recoil shield. If I see a gun that doesn't have it, I would wonder if it was refinished.
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