Dan Wesson 15 vs 15-2

kc5gxc · February 16, 2008, 09:36 PM

Dan Wesson specialists.....what is the difference between and how can I tell them apart.............a model 15 and a model 15-2 ??? I got one or the other.
Thanks, Pete

GP100man · February 16, 2008, 10:49 PM

im no specialist but i think the manufacturing process changed when they changed from the monson plant. warning crs attacks & mind rambles with out warnings

oh: you already have it ,then it should be marked with the model#

GP100man##

flat rock · February 16, 2008, 10:53 PM

The model 15 is the older model and the barrel shroud fits differently. The shrouds are not interchangeable. The 15-2 is a later version and has a small hole in the shroud that fits on a tit in the frame. My memory isn't what it used to be. A few years ago I had a mod. 15 with three different length barrels but I went and sold it. I now have a mod 15-2 with 4" and 6" barrels. If you have the later model I suggest you hold on to it. I think it will be a collectors item in a few years. The Dan Wesson is a very accurate and versatile revolver and
it is strong and will handle any plus-P load that is available in gun stores. Hope this will help, flat rock........ps: make sure the gap between the barrel and cylinder is .006"

DeathRodent · February 16, 2008, 11:05 PM

I'm not sure where the model number is - I have one made in the Monson plant and the barrel shroud is different from the earlier model.

On some pictures I saw the earluy models shroud extends downward in front of the frame towards the trigger guard.

The later models shroud goes straight back to the frame but does not go downward.

If yours goes down you will know it it looks very wierd to me.

BTW, CZ who bought Dan Wesson is selling barrels and shrouds and barrel wrenches now.

ciwsguy · February 17, 2008, 01:51 PM

You have the older 'porkchop' shroud. The newer model 15-2 like mine (Monson manufacture) does not have the panhandle porkchop.

BTW,
does anyone know why .006 inches is the specified cylinder barrel gap. I can see why you wouldn't want more, but can you have less with a DW .357 Magnum?

wdelack · February 17, 2008, 02:41 PM

I have both and have found there is actually very little difference.

In this picture, the two revolvers on top are model 15-2. The one on bottom is a model 15. Look closely at the latch for the cylinder crane. The model 15 has a mate one and on the 15-2 it is polished.

Look closely at the hammers...the revolver on the left is a 15-2, the one on the right is a 15.

The "pork-chop" shroud did appear on some very early model 15s but these were usually found on the model 12, which preceded the model 15.

flat rock · February 17, 2008, 04:56 PM

ciwsguy, The .006" is what DW specifies. The lit. that came with mine says
if you shoot lead or cast bullets it could shave lead if you change the gap.
A feeler gage came with mine. flat rock

ciwsguy · February 18, 2008, 07:22 PM

Mine came with a gauge too, but can you close the gap down to .004 without any concern?

kc5gxc · February 18, 2008, 08:32 PM

Thanks for all the 15 15-2 info. I am gonna get mine in a minute and check out the hammer......that looks like a failsafe way to find out.
On the barrel/chamber clearance....I heard you could make it as close as you want. If you get too tite, the cylinder won't turn...ha ha.....but the tighter, the more accurate, I am hearing. .006" to .002" is something I read somewhere. I am gonna leave mine at .006" and be happy. It shoots betternme there anyway.
Thanks again all the info................Pete

SIGSHR · February 18, 2008, 08:47 PM

You can tighten the barrel/cylinder as far as you want. but then the cylinder
may bind. Also IIRC .006" is an industry standard.

kc5gxc · February 18, 2008, 08:51 PM

Checking my cyl latch and hammer profile, and other posts from all over.....I have identified my Dan Wesson. It is a model 15-2V with 8" barrel. Factory grips. First DW I ever had. Got me a wrench on order, but had the barrel off already. This is one nice revolver.
Thanks again
Pete

kc5gxc · February 18, 2008, 09:00 PM

WDELACK, I want to thank you for ID on my DW. I have been trying for a week to ID it. You da man! This info is not just laying around. I guarantee you that not many know the difference. Thanks again. It was eating at me....ha ha ha. Pete

wdelack · February 18, 2008, 10:55 PM

Cheers, kc5gxc.

I just came by the information on the difference late last year.

The Dan Wesson group on Yahoo has a lot of useful information.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/danwesson

A new Dan Wesson specific forum has been up and running for a little over a month as well.

http://www.danwessonforum.com

Something else for Dan Wesson revolver fans. upon scraping the bottom of the NetFlix barrel, I watched an Arnold Schwarzenegger film called Last Action Hero. In the movie, a character called Benedict (who wears a verity of different glass eyes) carries/shoots a Dan Wesson model 15-2 revolver with a customized barrel shroud, rear sight and grip.

flat rock · February 20, 2008, 01:11 PM

Nice pictures wdelack ! A few years ago I was very interested in DW revolvers and have owned four sets with barrels and shrouds. I still have a
15-2 in .357 with 4"and 6" barrels. I also have a hand written letter from Dan Wesson dated 11-20-78 which I think is four days before he died. The letter was in response to a compliant about the customer service at the time.
flat rock

wdelack · February 20, 2008, 05:44 PM

Thanks, Flat Rock!

I have the three model 15/15-2 in that picture, with the one on top being part of a complete pistol pac. I also have a model 44 (.44 mag) pistol pac and one of the, apparently "rare", Action Cup models. I am always on the look out for any Dan Wesson model at a good price and have an incurable itch for a model 45 or 745 (.45LC; the one currently on Guns America is over priced, IMHO

).

wdelack · February 23, 2008, 10:12 AM

It appears I was mistaken.

The pictures I posted earlier are of Dan Wesson models 15-1 and 15-2. It appears the original model 15 is even more different.

You can read about the evolution of the Dan Wesson revolvers here:

http://www.americanhandgunner.com/1978.html

Download the January/February 1978 issue.

B.N.Real · February 23, 2008, 10:34 AM

Never sell them.

That heavy barrel is exactly like the one I used to own.

Wonderful shooting pistol.

armedandsafe · February 23, 2008, 04:05 PM

Closing the cylinder gap is practical. Mine can't be closer than 4, if I'm going to be firing more than 24 rounds or so. It will work fine until it gets hot, then it binds. If I keep it at 4 or greater, I can shoot all day without a bind.

Pops

February 16, 2008, 09:36 PM	#1
kc5gxc Member Join Date: July 25, 2007 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 16	Dan Wesson 15 vs 15-2 Dan Wesson specialists.....what is the difference between and how can I tell them apart.............a model 15 and a model 15-2 ??? I got one or the other. Thanks, Pete

February 16, 2008, 10:49 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	dan wessons im no specialist but i think the manufacturing process changed when they changed from the monson plant. warning crs attacks & mind rambles with out warnings oh: you already have it ,then it should be marked with the model# GP100man## Last edited by GP100man; February 16, 2008 at 10:52 PM. Reason: addition

February 16, 2008, 10:53 PM	#3
flat rock Junior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Chesapeake Va. Posts: 13	Dan Wesson 15-2 vs 15 The model 15 is the older model and the barrel shroud fits differently. The shrouds are not interchangeable. The 15-2 is a later version and has a small hole in the shroud that fits on a tit in the frame. My memory isn't what it used to be. A few years ago I had a mod. 15 with three different length barrels but I went and sold it. I now have a mod 15-2 with 4" and 6" barrels. If you have the later model I suggest you hold on to it. I think it will be a collectors item in a few years. The Dan Wesson is a very accurate and versatile revolver and it is strong and will handle any plus-P load that is available in gun stores. Hope this will help, flat rock........ps: make sure the gap between the barrel and cylinder is .006"

February 16, 2008, 11:05 PM	#4
DeathRodent Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2006 Posts: 209	I'm not sure where the model number is - I have one made in the Monson plant and the barrel shroud is different from the earlier model. On some pictures I saw the earluy models shroud extends downward in front of the frame towards the trigger guard. The later models shroud goes straight back to the frame but does not go downward. If yours goes down you will know it it looks very wierd to me. BTW, CZ who bought Dan Wesson is selling barrels and shrouds and barrel wrenches now. __________________ You cannot arm slaves and expect them to remain slaves, nor can you disarm a free people and expect them to remain free.

February 17, 2008, 04:56 PM	#7
flat rock Junior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Chesapeake Va. Posts: 13	dan wesson revolver ciwsguy, The .006" is what DW specifies. The lit. that came with mine says if you shoot lead or cast bullets it could shave lead if you change the gap. A feeler gage came with mine. flat rock

February 17, 2008, 01:51 PM	#5
ciwsguy Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2008 Location: KY Posts: 302	You have the older 'porkchop' shroud. The newer model 15-2 like mine (Monson manufacture) does not have the panhandle porkchop. BTW, does anyone know why .006 inches is the specified cylinder barrel gap. I can see why you wouldn't want more, but can you have less with a DW .357 Magnum?

February 17, 2008, 02:41 PM	#6
wdelack Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 439	I have both and have found there is actually very little difference. In this picture, the two revolvers on top are model 15-2. The one on bottom is a model 15. Look closely at the latch for the cylinder crane. The model 15 has a mate one and on the 15-2 it is polished. Look closely at the hammers...the revolver on the left is a 15-2, the one on the right is a 15. The "pork-chop" shroud did appear on some very early model 15s but these were usually found on the model 12, which preceded the model 15.

February 18, 2008, 07:22 PM	#8
ciwsguy Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2008 Location: KY Posts: 302	Mine came with a gauge too, but can you close the gap down to .004 without any concern?

February 18, 2008, 08:32 PM	#9
kc5gxc Member Join Date: July 25, 2007 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 16	Thanks for all the 15 15-2 info. I am gonna get mine in a minute and check out the hammer......that looks like a failsafe way to find out. On the barrel/chamber clearance....I heard you could make it as close as you want. If you get too tite, the cylinder won't turn...ha ha.....but the tighter, the more accurate, I am hearing. .006" to .002" is something I read somewhere. I am gonna leave mine at .006" and be happy. It shoots betternme there anyway. Thanks again all the info................Pete

February 18, 2008, 08:47 PM	#10
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	You can tighten the barrel/cylinder as far as you want. but then the cylinder may bind. Also IIRC .006" is an industry standard.

February 18, 2008, 08:51 PM	#11
kc5gxc Member Join Date: July 25, 2007 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 16	Checking my cyl latch and hammer profile, and other posts from all over.....I have identified my Dan Wesson. It is a model 15-2V with 8" barrel. Factory grips. First DW I ever had. Got me a wrench on order, but had the barrel off already. This is one nice revolver. Thanks again Pete

February 18, 2008, 09:00 PM	#12
kc5gxc Member Join Date: July 25, 2007 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 16	WDELACK, I want to thank you for ID on my DW. I have been trying for a week to ID it. You da man! This info is not just laying around. I guarantee you that not many know the difference. Thanks again. It was eating at me....ha ha ha. Pete

February 18, 2008, 10:55 PM	#13
wdelack Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 439	Cheers, kc5gxc. I just came by the information on the difference late last year. The Dan Wesson group on Yahoo has a lot of useful information. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/danwesson A new Dan Wesson specific forum has been up and running for a little over a month as well. http://www.danwessonforum.com Something else for Dan Wesson revolver fans. upon scraping the bottom of the NetFlix barrel, I watched an Arnold Schwarzenegger film called Last Action Hero. In the movie, a character called Benedict (who wears a verity of different glass eyes) carries/shoots a Dan Wesson model 15-2 revolver with a customized barrel shroud, rear sight and grip.

February 20, 2008, 01:11 PM	#14
flat rock Junior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Chesapeake Va. Posts: 13	dan wesson 15 vs 15-2 Nice pictures wdelack ! A few years ago I was very interested in DW revolvers and have owned four sets with barrels and shrouds. I still have a 15-2 in .357 with 4"and 6" barrels. I also have a hand written letter from Dan Wesson dated 11-20-78 which I think is four days before he died. The letter was in response to a compliant about the customer service at the time. flat rock

February 20, 2008, 05:44 PM	#15
wdelack Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 439	Thanks, Flat Rock! I have the three model 15/15-2 in that picture, with the one on top being part of a complete pistol pac. I also have a model 44 (.44 mag) pistol pac and one of the, apparently "rare", Action Cup models. I am always on the look out for any Dan Wesson model at a good price and have an incurable itch for a model 45 or 745 (.45LC; the one currently on Guns America is over priced, IMHO).

February 23, 2008, 10:12 AM	#16
wdelack Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 439	Model 15 vs 15-1 vs 15-2 It appears I was mistaken. The pictures I posted earlier are of Dan Wesson models 15-1 and 15-2. It appears the original model 15 is even more different. You can read about the evolution of the Dan Wesson revolvers here: http://www.americanhandgunner.com/1978.html Download the January/February 1978 issue.

February 23, 2008, 10:34 AM	#17
B.N.Real Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 4,092	Never sell them. That heavy barrel is exactly like the one I used to own. Wonderful shooting pistol.

February 23, 2008, 04:05 PM	#18
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	Closing the cylinder gap is practical. Mine can't be closer than 4, if I'm going to be firing more than 24 rounds or so. It will work fine until it gets hot, then it binds. If I keep it at 4 or greater, I can shoot all day without a bind. Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."