The Specialist features a checkered front strap. Ive never had an issue out of either one of them. The 2020 Specialist includes a few features I usually do not care for, such as the magazine well and forward cocking serrations, but with such a purpose-built fighting handgun, I can appreciate why those features and others were included. What do you think of Dan Wesson 1911s? Please Check back for availability. Let me know what you think about Dan Wessons down in the comments below. A pistol that is hand-fitted with forged parts is well worth its price. Even with standard loaded 147gr subsonic ammunition, the Dan Wesson Specialist cycles and locks to the rear which is awesome for a 9mm 1911. With a standard magazine base pad, it is recessed. Im a Police Officer and Firearms Instructor and we have to carry Glock 40 caliber. I understand many will not agree. Quick view. Materials are better than in the past so even cheaply made mass produced or refurbs will run for a long time but again, if youve never shot a six thousand dollar Gucci or even a series 70 Colt then youll be happy with a cheapo firing at all. 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). Three shot groups fired from a rest at twenty-five yards. Please use caution when giving personal payment information online. Compare . Love the review Sir. The built-in magwell lets you run the longer 10-round baseplate magazines without having the magazine stick out. Up for auction is a used Dan Wesson Specialist chambered in .45 acp. Click Here: https://membership.nr. Guardian in .38 Super V-Bob Black in .45. While at the 2020 SHOT show, I spoke with Talon Holsters about my issue and was told to email them what handgun I was running and what light and they would get me something put together. Inexpensive examples are often built with loose tolerances to expedite manufacture. All Rights Reserved. For sale: One (1) new in box Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. The trigger is adjustable for overtravel, but during the review, I did not change it. A quite different pistol from Dan Wesson is the Specialist. Kimber 1911. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. 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 Rights Reserved. Normally I am not a huge fan of extended magazine wells on a pistol, but considering they do aid you in funneling that fresh magazine into the pistol, helping with a speedy reload, I get why it was included with this pistol. Even with the extended base pad, its about flush with the magazine well on the Specialist. It looks like its been riding around in a leather holster for a few years, only without the accompanying dings and divots in the steel and grips youd usually see. Its a quality product and Im very happy its mine. This video assisted me in making the decision to buy one. Notify Me When Available. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. The finish on the Specialist Distressed, unlike so many others, looks natural. Your email address will not be published. -. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Pointman features fully-adjustable rear sights. If I had to describe Dan Wesson 1911s, it would be as the most perennially underappreciated, best-value-for-the-price semicustom 1911s on the market. They are rugged sights that leave behind any concern with the rigidity of the adjustable sight. Kinda like buying an AMG Mercedes and waiting on them to hand build the engine. Add on the fact it has night sights and a great trigger and you can argue it as a viable self-defense gun if you want carry a single stack pistol. Initially, the Specialist was offered in a 9mm Luger and .45 Auto, it can now also be had in 10mm Auto. 1911 Pistols | Colt Pistols for Sale | Oakhillguns.com Kimber 1911 vs Dan Wesson Specialist. One disadvantage to a magazine well is you need to use magazines with extended base pads. We were created to support the unique needs of the Dan Wesson firearm industry, and we're here to support you in making an informed Dan Wesson purchase. The frame sports an integral 1913 Picatinny, 25 LPI . I understand the allure of battle-worn and distressed finishes, except they usually look artificial and cheesy. Ive shot plenty of 1911s around the $1,000 mark and others around the $3,000 mark but nothing in that middle ground of $1,800-2,000. The trigger pull was so crisp and the reset so short and sweet that the pull weight felt substantially lighter than it was. Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. The finish has been distressed right where the guns finish would be worn away by a hand and a holster, and it is the same price as the standard Specialist with the black Duty finish, so they dont charge you for the distressed look. The Specialist is a prime example of the constant refinement of the defensive handgun platform. The Specialist Distressed starts off with a stainless steel slide and frame, though, so unlike my much-battered 1911, it wont be rusting. For years, I worshipped at the altar of the 1911 and the .45 ACP cartridge; looking at the big cavity on the Hydra-Shok, its easy to remember why. DAN WESSON VALOR V-BOB 1911 45 ACP $2,321.99 New Add to Cart DAN WESSON Specialist $2,200.99 New Add to Cart DAN WESSON TCP $1,867.99 New Add to Cart DAN WESSON PM-9 $1,816.99. You may want more features later, but if you want to get your feet wet with high-end 1911s, this is a good start. 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. We will notify you when the product arrives back in stock. Accuracy has been excellent. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights $2,179.00 (Save up to 9%) Price $1,987.67 In Stock 01806 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson ECP 9 Pistol $1,705.00 (Save up to 6%) Price $1,606.82 01884 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson DWX Red Pistol 9mm 5" 19 RD $2,099.00 (Save up to 9%) Price $1,914.22 92001 Dan Wesson 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. Everything else being equal, a Series 70 trigger system will provide the lightest and crispest trigger pull of any 1911, and the 1911 already has the trigger pull against which all other pistols are measured. 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. I get it for a fighting pistol like this you may be sweating, bleeding, have gloves and such and such stocks are warranted, but for range use, I added a set of Alumagrips, still plenty of aggressive but not as much as the G 10s and added a bit of comfort for some of the folks helping out. Replacement sights for Dan Wesson Specialist | 1911Forum Dan Wesson Kodiak Tri-Tone 10mm 6" Pistol, Dan Wesson Specialist .45ACP 5 Black BLEM, Dan Wesson Specialist .45ACP 5 Stainless, Dan Wesson Specialist .45ACP 5 Stainless BLEM, Dan Wesson Specialist 10mm 5 Black BLEM, Dan Wesson Specialist Distressed .45 ACP 5 Pistol. Please be respectful of others. This is a big step up in handling. For unrelenting protection on the home front, dont hesitate to call in the specialist. The Specialist Stainless was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. Are the old Dan Wesson better than the ones made by cz? 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. SAO Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger, 10mm Auto, 45 ACP . Recoil is manageable and parts wear is less with the Government Model. Imagine my surprise when my scale showed the trigger pull to be 4 pounds. Bought a Wilson Combat CQB. The Vigil is the DW entry level gun and the Valor is, and has been for a long time, the flagship DW gun. These are superb firearms. Dan Wesson Specialist Pistol -The Specialist is one of the newest additions to the Dan Wesson stable. However, it is a welcome upgrade for a fighting handgun. Lets take a deeper dive into the Dan Wesson Specialist chambered in 9mm. However, many of the custom 1911 houses these days are producing their guns assembly-line style, as opposed to one gun being brought to life by the hands of a single master craftsman. SALE. It is finished off with a set of G10 VZ Operator II grips that force the hand into the beavertail and hold it there. 9am-6pm CST Tue-Fri, 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. Dan Wesson Vigil CCO 7 RD 45 ACP Cocobolo Shadow Grip (Save up to 1%) Price With us, you can get top-rated yet cheap guns and upgrade them in a snap, all these for the sake of our customers hassle-free experience. All Rights Reserved. I decided to pick up a Dan Wesson and see what its all about. I have only shot a few Wilson Combat pistols and they were all very nice. Whenever I take someone out for the first time shooting, I think this would be a good candidate to start with just since its a soft shooter and easily controlled. The hammer on the Specialist Distressed is a rounded Commander-style hammer, which allows it to nestle snugly inside the beavertail grip safety. 6 more deals from guns.com . Compare. 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 put a lot of rounds downrange before I measured the trigger pull weight on my sample, and I guessed that it came in about 3 pounds. Dan Wesson Specialist For Sale | Dan Wesson Specialist Price The full 42oz weight of this gun makes it extremely flat shooting and easy to control. There are plenty of companies making $3,000+ 1911s on the market but there arent a ton in that mid-tier level. 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. Without that, nothing else matters. Dan Wesson Guns For Sale - Omaha Outdoors I own and carry a Colt defender 1911 and a backup Colt mustang xsp 911. However, one must consider that most modern semi-automatic handguns owe their roots to John Moses Browning (JMB). | Quick view. All 1911 handguns demand some degree of hand fitting. Breaking clean at 4.75 pounds, the Specialists trigger features just enough take-up to prep the trigger, combined with minimal overtravel to facilitate correct follow-through. Since the Dan Wesson Specialist review was completed, it quickly became my favorite so much so that I bought it after the review. With stunning brushed flats and bead-blasted rounds . So, quality magazines and SAAMI spec ammunition are paramount. Compare . These are credible handguns with excellent performance and more than a little pride of ownership. The Specialist features a checkered front strap. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. That weight helps keep recoil down when shooting .45s, and Im guessing the 9mm version of this pistol is a pussycat. We will notify you when the product arrives back in stock. It has clear differences from a standard factory 1911 but its common enough where you feel comfortable to take it out and really put the gun through its paces. The barrel bushing is a match stainless steel model, but you wont need a bushing wrench to remove it as it is only finger tight. The hammer is a kind of a Rowel style skeletonized speed hammer with serrations on the spur. The thumb safety on this pistol is a bilateral model with oversized levers. 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. A quite different pistol from Dan Wesson is the Specialist. The Dan Wesson Specialist features aggressive G10 grip plates for a positive hand purchase in all conditions. Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist Distressed Review - Guns and Ammo If they make a 1911 as fine as their revolvers then I might jus have to consider picking one up. It included 100 rounds of 230-grain full-metal jacket (FMJ) practice ammo and 20 rounds of Federals legendary 230-grain Hydra-Shok defensive ammo. Dan Wesson 01814 Specialist 10mm 1911 5" Night Sights NIB $2095 Gun #: 979030594 Seller: Tactical Solutions GA Sales: 320 $2,095.00 Full Details 3 Image (s) CZ-USA Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless .45 ACP 5" 8 Rounds 01802 Gun #: 937506046 Seller: Ammo And Arms $1,749.99 Full Details 2 Image (s) Dan Wesson Specialist, 10mm, Matte Stainless NEW 01815 The pistol features ledge-type rear sights with a tritium insert. 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. This firearm is used and is sold as is, it comes with the original box and two mags. 's blog. The Specialist was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. Personally, I have a really hard time abusing a handgun that is stainless. Review: Dan Wesson Specialist Commander .45 ACP DAN WESSON SPECIALIST (10MM AUTO) 5" BARREL (STAINLESS STEEL/BROWN) Dan Wesson Specialist (10mm Auto) 5 Inch Barrel (Stainless Steel/Brown) - (2) 8 Round Magazines, night sights are at 50% ,used in original box with two mags, owner's manual & takedown tool (it's a good looking pistol) It's in 95% condition for finish IAW NRA standards & with the following description and specifications: Well, truthfully it rode in on a truck, but semantics and all. 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. They feed and function flawlessly. The somewhat pancake style of the Talon holster did not make the rig any harder to conceal when running a standard holster. Dan Wesson ships the pistol with two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. If you are looking to step up your self-defense sidearm, I highly recommend taking a look at the 2020 Specialist line. Dan Wesson Pistols For Sale | Dan Wesson Firearms - Hinterland Outfitters Dan Wesson Specialist - 5" Leather Spring Clearance Holsters - 8 Hand fit and hand polish are important components of the 1911 handgun. Even the same bullet weight will strike to a different point of impact at different velocity. You ran 450 smc thru it? $1,965.00 $1,849.99. I have test fired this handgun with a number of handloads and defense loads as well. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The front sight has a standard green tritium insert with a white ring around it. For some reason, Dan Wesson discontinued the Specialist in 2019 but thankfully reintroduced it at SHOT show 2020 with some updated changes. Coupled with the front strap and mainspring housing checkered (25 lines per inch), and deep beavertail, it was easy to lock this pistol up. 12pm-6pm CST Mon Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights $2,179.00 (Save up to 9%) Price $1987.67 In Stock 01806 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson Specialist Commander Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Night S . If it was in Dan Wessons Duty finish, I would have beaten it up and used the gun as more of a duty-style pistol. Kimber 1911 For Sale . A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a positive grip safety disengagement. Lets go through those first. Richard C. Brown Owner Of AMERICAN COMBAT, Your email address will not be published. They are full size 1911s. Accuracy was exemplary, as was usability. They run quite well. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide . 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 Specialist Pistol | Sportsman's Warehouse Tripp Research and Wilson Combat mags will be your go to. This semi auto pistol is ready to work, with fixed night sights and a tough, no-nonsense Cerakote finish that resists corrosion and Dan Wesson Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm Night Sights $2,225.00 (Save up to 6%) Price $2096.23 01814 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Night Sights $2,159.00 (Save up to 6%) Price $2031.31 01801 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm Night . That will give you issues. I do feel it is 1911 evolved.. The front night sight is green while the rear is yellow, allowing you to easily differentiate the front and rear in low and no light situations. The closest I can get to this caliber of firearm is my Kimber Target Eclipse II in 45. In all my reading and research over the past couple days I now find myself deciding between two DW 1911 models. The Shooter's Log, is to provide informationnot opinionsto our customers and the shooting community. For example, the AmeriGlo night sights on this model are well-thought-out. However, considering they aid you in funneling that fresh magazine into the gun and help with a speedy reload, I get why it was included with this pistol. As I carried and trained with the gun, my endearment grew deeper. $ 1,729.00. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. Those additional slots did not serve any real purpose, so they were omitted. The trigger broke cleanly at four and three-quarters pounds with just a bit of take up and a hint of overtravel. The front of the rear sight has a nice ledge Dan Wesson states it has an abrupt front face so you can rack the slide one-handed on a hard surface if you need to. Those jacketed hollowpoints (JHPs) and every type of ammo I tried ran flawlessly through the Specialist Distressed. Specialist - Dan Wesson Firearms 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. Known as the Government Model type, the five-inch barrel steel-frame pistol weighs about 40 ounces. After some 500 rounds downrange with various magazines, various rounds, and several folks running the pistol, we had zero malfunctions. It seems like every time i buy magazine even it says universal 1911.. it does not work right..meaning, it will fit but once i cock the slide it will not release. The simple rubber grips of the Heritage are replaced with high-quality checkered wooden grips. The grip safety releases its hold on the trigger about halfway into compression. 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. In my opinion, the difference between a Dan Wesson 1911 and a custom 1911 isnt fit or quality, it is that Dan Wesson isnt known as a custom 1911 shop. Colt Custom Carry Limited, superb hideaway. 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 rear sight is drift adjustable via a set screw. Range Review: Dan Wesson TCP 1911 - An Official Journal Of The NRA 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. I never cleaned or oiled the gun before use and despite this, theDan Wesson Specialist worked flawlessly. The sliding breechblock was designed and implemented by JMB in 1898, and it appeared on his M1900. So, maybe the only thing thats different between a Dan Wesson and a modern custom 1911 is the high price? Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP, Bla for sale at Gunsamerica.com The following websites are NOT affiliated with Dan Wesson. Finally starting to catch up on lengthy backorders, we have a handful of Dan Wessons in stock: ECO in 9mm and .45 CCO in .45. Dan Wesson Specialist - 5" Nylon Spring Clearance Holsters - 2 Options Speaking of the 9mm version, it ships with two 10-round magazines. Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist Distressed Specs Type: Hammer fired, semiautomatic Cartridge: .45 ACP Capacity: 8+1 rds. Home | proforceonline.com Something great about a 1911 in my hand and the feel of it as Im shuffling through rounds, its something uniquely special. 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. models. The pre-2019 Specialist slide stop arm terminated flush with the receiver. The reset is short with a defined audible click making it clear the gun is ready to fire again. This set up gives you quite the advantage in bright lights and low/no light conditions. Let's go through those first. In the gun world, the 1911 is about as polarizing as it can get. The slide-lock safety indents properly. 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 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. 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. Check Price . Old-school flush seven- and eight-round magazines will still work in the Specialist Distressed, but youll have to press them in with the tip of a finger as theyll sit up inside that oversized magwell. The Judge has been promoted! On top of the stainless steel frame and slide, Dan Wesson has applied their Duty finish, which is ferritic nitrocarburizing, known in other places by proprietary names such as Melonite. Notify me about new product releases, reviews, and coupon codes. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. Dan Wesson. 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. I am completely satisfied with this pistol in its performance and accuracy. When you work with loadings from 160 to 250 grains in the .45 ACP pistol, the ability to sight the pistol in is important. All of their magazines are top quality. dan wesson 1911 for sale on GunsAmerica. Buy a dan wesson 19 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. It is no secret Dan Wesson is one of my favorite 1911 manufacturers, but that is with good reason, and the Specialist is no exception. Weight: 42.3 oz. [], Your email address will not be published. To be honest, the Specialist Distressed looks a lot like the blued 1911 that I carried for about a decade, except the bare metal where the bluing was worn off kept wanting to rust. My suggestion is to contact Dawson and provide them with the serial number of you DW. 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. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. With no cuts in the trigger, you really get a classic look with modern functionality of the texture on the face making it the best of both worlds. Throwback Thursday: Taurus Judge Range Report, ATI Milsport SGA 410 All the Advantages of an AR in .410, Ruger SR1911 LW Commander The Lightweight .45 ACP, Rifle Hack: Sighting for 100 Yards at a Distance of 25 Yards, Throwback Thursday: All About Bullet Grain. Buy a Dan Wesson For sale: One (1) new in box Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP. Among my favorite Dan Wesson types is the Heritage. The additions that made it ideal for law enforcement also make it perfect for home defense, so we gladly offer it for sale to the public. The classic long-style trigger has a tiny bit of travel before hitting a defined wall and breaking just under 5lbs. Designed with the needs of law enforcement in mind, the Specialist Distressed features many state-of-the-art tactical touches. 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. For a fighting pistol like this, you may be sweating, bleeding, grappling, or wearing gloves. I wanted to check out a mid-tier 1911 to check out what you get for the money. Required fields are marked *. To keep your hands on the gun when shooting, youve got some great grips as well as some very nice checkering. A quality 1911 will last longer with hand fitting, as good fit means that eccentric wear is less. I think this would be an excellent suit gun or something you carry when youre dressing up but still want to have a cool carry pistol. 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. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide, frame with 1913 rail, 25 LPI checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and G10 VZ Operator II grips round . The tritium insert on the rear sight does not have a colored ring around it to draw your eye away from the ever-important front sight. I have the dan wesson Discretion and the specialist in 10mm. While the manual of arms is the same as any other 1911, the enhancements are what sets the Dan Wesson Specialist apart from the crowd. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 stripped to inspect it parts after several boxes of ammunition were fired. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 | Expensive vs Budget - YouTube In the 1911 world, Dan Wesson has helped to separate the wheat from the chaff. 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. My test sample is .45 ACP with the black finish. Accuracy was exemplary, as was usability. The manufacturer states that this pistol sports an undercut triggerguard, and thats my only bone of contention with this pistol. Each of the Dan Wesson handguns features a crisp, consistent trigger action.