The Dan Wesson Specialist has enough classic features to make it feel like an old-style 1911 with a ton of modern touches with the rail slot and high-quality checkering. Throughout the initial review, and the couple of thousand rounds afterward, the pistol did not exhibit any sort of an issue, even with a myriad of ammunition and magazines being used. The people at my FFL are veterans of the industry and see a lot of firearms. Over the last couple of months, I have taken it on a dozen or so range sessions where I have roughly 800 rounds through the Specialist. A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a positive grip safety disengagement. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am very pleased with such a soft shooting 1911 theDan Wesson Specialist really is at the range. This checkering helps when the hand is sweaty or cold. The slide release also seems to be a nonstandard design and is just a hair larger than the GI model. This item is no longer available. DW 1911 Features: Hand fit 70 series frame and slide Hand fit match barrels Hand fit match grade components throughout Zero MIM parts Carry bevel treatment | Models include Pointman, V-Bob, Specialist, ECO, Heritage . All checkering these days is done by machine, which means it will be slightly less sharp than old-school hand checkering but also costs less. Notify me about new product releases, reviews, and coupon codes. Let Oak Hill Guns help you find the best firearm that matches your skill and interest. (no magazine) Finish: Distressed Duty Safeties: Grip, thumb Sights: AmeriGlo night sights Trigger: 4.5 lbs. My favorite magazines are made by Check-Mate. A step-up from the Heritage is the Pointman. Keep in mind that the general relationship of entry-level and high-end remains, even when the name of the pistol may change. -. The following websites are NOT affiliated with Dan Wesson. They can tell you what dovetail cut is on your DW and provide you with multiple options.They can install your sight or you can do it you self. This is the ideal setup for all-around service protection and home defense. The frame is cut higher than on an old-school GI model, but the triggerguard is not actually undercut, it is just cut straight back. There is no internal firing pin safety on this pistol, as God and John Moses Browning intended; in 1911 slang, it has a Series 70 trigger system. Dan Wesson - Impact Guns 9am-6pm CST Tue-Fri, 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. Head to your nearest authorized dealer to get an order placed, or if you don't have a nearby authorized dealer, have your local dealer call us at 800-955-4486 . The top of the slide features a Clark-style serrated rib, and the front of the slide has a ball-end mill cut that blends perfectly with the rearward-angling cut of the frame at the rail. Your email address will not be published. Dan Wesson - For Sale :: Shop Online :: Guns.com They feed and function flawlessly. Truly, reliability is the heart and soul of a pistol. Ive never had an issue out of either one of them. I am not a huge fan of extended magazine wells on a pistol. Still, with such a purpose-built fighting pistol, I can appreciate why those features and others were included. Models in stock include Delta Elite, Gold Cup, National Match, Combat and Lightweight Commanders, XSE Series and 1991A1 Government Models, 1911's from the Colt Custom Shop, plus many Limited Edition and Talo Exclusive models. For most of us, the Heritage is more than enough 1911. However, one must consider that most modern semi-automatic handguns owe their roots to John Moses Browning (JMB). Their reaction upon seeing the Specialist Distressed was the same as mine namely, that it is the best-looking distressed finish that any of us had ever seen. Accuracy was exemplary, as was usability. Select Dan Wesson 1911s In Stock - CZ-USA Compare. For a fighting pistol like this, you may be sweating, bleeding, grappling, or wearing gloves. This firearm is used and is sold as is, it comes with the original box and two mags. Notify me about new product releases, reviews, and coupon codes. My Dan Wesson .44 mags are, by far, my favorites of every weapon I own. The price of 45 ACP has skyrocketed since 2020 as well so having a classic 1911 chambered in 9mm will give you that same feeling but will be much more affordable to use every day. Kinda like buying an AMG Mercedes and waiting on them to hand build the engine. Give a Gift Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Distressed sports a distinct distressed Duty Black finish and is chambered in .45ACP. No restocking fee on new and unopened items. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. Dan Wesson ships the pistol and two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. The hammer is a kind of a Rowel style skeletonized speed hammer with serrations on the spur. Overall Thoughts Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. The trigger broke cleanly at four and three-quarters pounds with just a bit of take up and a hint of overtravel. The Pointman has been the flagship of the Dan Wesson line for some time. The front strap is also checkered to twenty-five lines per inch. Swapping grip plates is straightforward if you prefer something less belligerent.. Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. This stainless model is extremely good looking so Im really hesitant to put a light on it, but with the black model, I would definitely utilize that rail more. Accuracy has been excellent. Review: Dan Wesson Specialist Commander .45 ACP A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a solid purchase and positive grip safety disengagement. To keep your hands on the gun when shooting, youve got some great grips as well as some very nice checkering. Dan Wesson gave the Specialist a classic long-style trigger with texturing on the face for a tactile grip. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. In the gun world, the 1911 is about as polarizing as it can get. Love the review Sir. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If they make a 1911 as fine as their revolvers then I might jus have to consider picking one up. The company was founded by the great-grandson of the founders of Smith & Wesson. The sliding breechblock was designed and implemented by JMB in 1898, and it appeared on his M1900. The Dan Wesson Specialist, a culmination of mission-specific features applied to the tried and true 1911 platform. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy other platforms almost as well, looking at you CZ, but my first choice is always the 1911-style pistol. The mainspring housing is checkered to twenty-five lines per inch and incorporates a magazine well. I must admit Im leaning towards the 2011s like the Springfield Arms prodigy or the new Dan Wesson models. Armscor RIA EFS 1911 CALIFORNIA LEGAL - .45 ACP - Gun Metal Grey. Take a moment to also explore Handguns manufactured by Dan Wesson Firearms all of which can be found through here at discount prices on Danwessonfirearmstore.com. Dan Wesson Pistols for sale - Guns International This is about as good as you can get before going fully hand-built by an experienced gunsmith, and for the price, Im really happy with this 1911. When I carried that gun, my carry ammo was Federal Hydra-Shok, so it seems serendipitous that the first ammo I put through this gun was a Practice and Defend combo pack from Federal. Dan Wesson Specialist Commander 1911Please Support Sootch00 on Patreon! The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! Dan Wesson V-Bob 45 ACP Two-Tone 1911 Pistol with 10 Grips. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide, frame with 1913 rail, 25 LPI checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and G10 VZ Operator II grips round out this package. Tripp Research and Wilson Combat mags will be your go to. I find this D.W. 1911 to be as fine as some full custom built 1911s on the market today and all for a very reasonable price. California Legal .45 ACP - wbtguns.com Dan Wesson Firearm Store, we take once-complex purchasing processes and turn them into simple. Ive noticed Tisas and RIA on here that would not suggest to anyone. However, not all love is destined to be eternal. Detail stripping the gun at the end of the review confirmed all the parts held up well and showed no signs of ill fit or premature wear. Dan Wesson Specialist Commander Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Night S Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm Night Sights, Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Night Sights. An all-around handgunner using a handgun for competition, hunting and general recreation will wish to have the pistol sighted in for the chosen load. This is so if you want to install laser grips on your pistol, where the laser is usually positioned at the top of the right grip and aiming down the frame, the tip of the slide-stop pin is no longer in the way of the laser beam. Compare . .505 Gibbs Rifle Brass 'H H' Headstamp: Maker and Quality Info Sought, Self-Defense Handgun and Ammo Options for People With Dexterity and Strength Issues, Federal Ammunition History: 14 Things You Didn't Know, Springfield Armory Hellion 5.56 NATO Bullpup Rifle: Tested, Revic Optics BR4 Ballistic Rangefinder: Review. If you loathe it, a simple mainspring housing swap deletes the mag well. There is a Commander version with a 4 1/4 barrel, and you have the options of stainless or like with the test sample a black Duty Finish. There are plenty of companies making $3,000+ 1911s on the market but there arent a ton in that mid-tier level. The frontstrap of the frame and the mainspring housing feature 25 lines-per-inch (lpi) checkering. When police departments approached us to build them a more reliable, durable 1911 to replace the ones they had been carrying, we developed a model just for them. Dan Wesson states that the Specialist line is designed for the needs of law enforcement, and the Specialist is in use or authorized by several police departments, including the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The same could be said for the accessory rail machined into the dust cover. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. In my experience, the Specialists is 90% of Wilson Combat. [] My original review can be seen by following this link. Meet the all-new Taurus Judge Executive Grade, a revolver featuring a hand-polished satin finish, presentation-grade wood grips, a brass rod front sight and an exceptional hand-tuned trigger. America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). We will notify you when the product arrives back in stock. Let's go through those first. No restocking fee on new and unopened items. Colt Custom Carry Limited, superb hideaway. Dan Wesson65 Borden Ave.Norwich, NY 13815, Monday-Friday7am-4pm Eastern(800) 955-4486. The Specialist was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. As far as triggers and ergonomics, the 1911-style pistols set the standard. Another design benefit of the sights are the serrations on the rear of the sight that reduce or eliminate glare when shooting in hard light. All 1911 handguns demand some degree of hand fitting. In all my reading and research over the past couple days I now find myself deciding between two DW 1911 models. Twenty-five lpi is a good balance between cheese-grater 20 lpi and maybe not quite aggressive enough 30-lpi checkering. $1,949.00 (Save up to 6%) Price They are rugged sights that leave behind any concern with the rigidity of the adjustable sight. The Duty finish and internals have held up ideally, considering Ive treated this pistol as a tool, not a safe queen. The VZ G10 grips that come standard on the Specialist look very clean and do a great job giving you traction on the handgun along with the checkering on the mainspring housing. I tried finding the Black Duty variant but found the stainless first, so I picked up the stainless instead. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. Question I know its all relative but in your opinion how does the Specialist stack up to the Wilson ? This video assisted me in making the decision to buy one. A quite different pistol from Dan Wesson is the Specialist. Every old guy is required to complain, The modern generation has it easy, but when it comes to 1911s from the factory that are reliable with JHPs, its true. The Heritage was introduced as an entry-level Dan Wesson. The Heritage features good quality sights that are well-suited for personal defense and combat. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Shot placement is vital. Dan Wesson ships the pistol with two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. About Dan Wesson Specialist - 5" Dan Wesson Firearms, or DW is an American handgun maker preferably known for their revolvers, but known as well for the line of 1911 semi-autos. Height: 5.5 in. I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Dan Wesson offers the Specialist in 9mm, 45 ACP and 10mm with a Black Duty finish or bead-blasted stainless steel finish. These are superb firearms. A full-size 1911, the Specialist is chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm, or 9mm and loaded with features to satisfy a public servants special requirements. Dan Wesson For Sale - Omaha Outdoors The first magazine of ammunition was shot offhand at a target 10 yards away, and every round went exactly where the front sight indicated. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. The VZ Grips G 10 stocks were very aggressive, allowing a very firm purchase on the pistol, coupled with the front strap and mainspring housing checkering and deep beavertail it was easy to lock this pistol up with a firm grip. That being said, the magazine you select has as much, or maybe more, to do with reliability than the ammo. With stunning brushed flats and bead-blasted rounds . Im an average joe that really loves talking with other people about firearms and other passions. 9am-6pm CST Tue-Fri, 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. I did want to add my Streamlight TLR 1 HL, as reviewed here, but I had a tough time finding a holster to accommodate a 1911 Government Model with a light attached. Dan Wesson V-Bob 1911 4.25" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Front Night Lancer 30 Round 300 Blackout Smoke Magazine, LWRC IC DI M-LOK 5.56 Titanium 30RD Copper Handguard / Buffer, Maglula LULA Loader CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 9mm. Tactical night sights top the slide, allowing for a rapid flash sight picture by stacking the front sights white dot over the white dot in the serrated rear sight for daytime shooting. These magazines look great in the firearm and I have never had any issues with feeding despite this being a 1911 in 9mm. This is a 2-inch gun, I said to myself at the time and if you look at the 25-yard accuracy results, youll see that I was right. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 | Expensive vs Budget - YouTube CZ Dan Wesson 1911 pistols are among the finest limited production 1911s on the market. The Specialists trigger left little to be desired. Fit, finish, & operation all superb would highly recommend. Dan Wesson Vigil CCO 7 RD 45 ACP Cocobolo Shadow Grip (Save up to 1%) Price A quite different pistol from Dan Wesson is the Specialist. The Dan Wesson Specialist sits in a mid-tier price range but offers a ton of semi-custom gun shop items without paying the crazy prices of high-end custom shops. The feed ramp is properly polished with the requisite 1/32nd-inch grp between the two parts of the feed ramp. The pistol is completed with an ambidextrous thumb safety and a set of G10 VZ Operator II grips that ensure proper hand placement throughout hours of shooting. Dan Wesson Valor Commander 45 ACP, 4.25" Barrel, Black/SS, 8rd Mag. An ambidextrous thumb safety is not imperative for a range gun in my opinion. Be the first to review Dan Wesson Specialist .45ACP 5 Stainless BLEM. This is one of the few guns I own that I really have just because I enjoy shooting it over everything. The closest I can get to this caliber of firearm is my Kimber Target Eclipse II in 45. The pre-2019 Specialist slide stop arm terminated flush with the receiver. I decided to pick up a Dan Wesson and see what its all about. Lockup is tight and it doesnt rattle when shook like the original GI pistol. The Heritage reflects Dan Wessons commitment to quality, but it wont break the bank. This is a super accurate loading in every pistol I have tried. The Specialist Stainless was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films. Not only is it beautiful but also a joy to shoot and handle for all of the reasons you described. Had to support my ol buddie over hereId like to find some extended mags for my dws10mmgonna check your recommendations out now..took a 2hr hike here in eastern ky yesterday with my specialist and 6 trp..damn cyotoes are everywhere here..I live in floyd co which is just west of pike co.Lotta old strip mines with plenty of rabbit they have a field day onhope we run into one another someday I could enjoy a beverage or 2 shootin the bull..thanks again. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 Commander - YouTube Even with standard loaded 147gr subsonic ammunition, the Dan Wesson Specialist cycles and locks to the rear which is awesome for a 9mm 1911. Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Stainless sports a bead blasted stainless finish and is chambered in .45ACP. Ive heard some shooters have complained about just how aggressive the G10 stocks were. $659.99. The Dan Wesson Specialist has enough classic features to make it feel like an old-style 1911 with a ton of modern touches with the rail slot and high-quality checkering. Its a quality product and Im very happy its mine. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. Out Of Stock. All comments are held for moderation and will appear after approval. Check Price . The serrations of the top of the slide are no longer machined into a raised rib, but they are machined into the top of the slide. Brand: Dan Wesson. MSRP. Known as the Government Model type, the five-inch barrel steel-frame pistol weighs about 40 ounces. 12pm-6pm CST Mon ), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (flint), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (perc), United States Patent Firearms Revolvers/Pistols, Century Arms International (CAI) - Shotguns. You'll find the Dan Wesson Specialist Pistols you're looking for at Danwessonfirearmstore.com, the world's largest online auction site dedicated to Dan Wesson Firearms Sales. Right out of the box, this 1911 feels very tight but functioned 100% so far. [], Your email address will not be published. Dan Wesson states that the Distressed version has a hand weathered frame and slide, and doing the work by hand is the only way you could get a gun that looks this beautifully used except the pistol functions perfectly and is brand-new. It seams lime it gets caught. Federal Power-Shok Ammo 12 Gauge 3" Rifle ProMag FN Five-seveN 30 Round Polymer Mag HK VP9 Optics Plate #2 - Trijicon RMR / H Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights. My test sample is .45 ACP with the black finish. While aesthetics is often considered when buying a handgun, whats under the hood is far greater in importance. Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist 45 ACP 5" Barrel GI#: 102218441 MANUFACTURER: CZ-USA FAMILY: 1911 Style Pistol Series MODEL: Specialist TYPE: Semi-Auto Pistol ACTION: Single Action CALIBER/GAUGE: 45 ACP FINISH: Stainless FINISH TYPE: Stainless Steel FRAME: .Click for more info Seller: Advanced Arms Area Code: 570 $1,780.00 DAN WESSON BRUIN 10MM The recoil spring under the barrel, double camming surfaces on the lower barrel lug, and receiver-mounted slide release are used to raise and lower the barrel. Richard C. Brown Owner Of AMERICAN COMBAT, Your email address will not be published. Those jacketed hollowpoints (JHPs) and every type of ammo I tried ran flawlessly through the Specialist Distressed. I do feel it is 1911 evolved.. When police departments approached us to build them a more reliable, durable 1911 to replace the ones they had been carrying, we developed a model just for them. This isnt my typical gun purchase but sometimes its alright just to buy firearms because you enjoy shooting a certain style. The built-in magwell lets you run the longer 10-round baseplate magazines without having the magazine stick out. Dan Wesson Firearms Store 2021 All Rights Reserved. Im active on Instagram on @fridgeoperator. Review: Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 A Love Affair Since the Dan Wesson Specialist review was completed, it quickly became my favorite so much so that I bought it after the review.