A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a solid purchase and positive grip safety disengagement. The pistol I received for testing is a full-size Specialist chambered in .45 ACP featuring Dan Wessons Distressed finish. 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. 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. (tested); single action Lets talk about the finish first because it looks just as good in person as it does in the photos, and its the first thing people notice about this gun. Width: 1.45 in. The Dan Wesson line of pistols includes many fine crafted 1911 pistols in various configurations and finishes. There are plenty of companies making $3,000+ 1911s on the market but there arent a ton in that mid-tier level. 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. The pistols have the fit and finish we call hand-fitted. In my experience, the Specialists is 90% of Wilson Combat. All Rights Reserved. Lots of people love a Commander-sized 1911. Each of the Dan Wesson handguns features a crisp, consistent trigger action. Dan Wesson | OakHillGuns.com MSRP on theDan Wesson Specialist is $1,825 for the 9mm, and a little more for the black variant. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Review: Dan Wesson Specialist Commander .45 ACP Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. The slide-lock safety indents properly. First, the grips the black laminate G10 grip panels made by VZ Grips for Dan Wesson are very aggressive. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights (Save up to 9%) Price $1987.67. I am completely satisfied with this pistol in its performance and accuracy. The company was founded by the great-grandson of the founders of Smith & Wesson. Im an average joe that really loves talking with other people about firearms and other passions. As you might have guessed, the appearance of the Specialist Distressed made me a bit nostalgic for my old single-stack carry gun. SALE. In all my reading and research over the past couple days I now find myself deciding between two DW 1911 models. The Specialist and The Valor. 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. The Specialist was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. I understand many will not agree. The Specialist also comes with a built-in magwell, ambidextrous safety, and 1913 Picatinny rail as standard for mounting light and laser accessories. The Specialists trigger left little to be desired. Shopping with us is absolutely safe - you never have to worry about credit card safety when shopping here Share your latest AR build or photos from the range with #RangeDayFriday for a chance to win a new firearm! To help with smooth magazine insertion, the Specialist Distressed is equipped with a nicely contoured magazine well that is blended to mate with the beveled magwell opening in the frame. TFB Review: Dan Wesson Specialist 9mm Pistol - The Firearm Blog Commander Classic - Dan Wesson Firearms Thank you for your review! 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. Range Review: Dan Wesson TCP 1911 - An Official Journal Of The NRA 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. Quick view. Those additional slots did not serve any real purpose, so they were omitted. If you have questions about firearms, feel free to shoot me a message on my Instagram @fridgeoperator. The last change is the slide stop arm on the 2020 Specialist protrudes from the right side of the receiver a bit, as you expect on a 1911. The tactical rail on the pistol is a MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for mounting lights and/or lasers. The hammer on the Specialist Distressed is a rounded Commander-style hammer, which allows it to nestle snugly inside the beavertail grip safety. Subscriber Services. Kimber 1911. 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 . I am a dyed-in-the-wool, hard-headed, and somewhat unreasonable 1911 guy. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Their new Specialist Distressed is no exception. Dan Wesson Firearm Store, we take once-complex purchasing processes and turn them into simple. Can you please give me models for magazines fir the 45 and 10mm? 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. Most come sighted for the six oclock hold and 230-grain loads. Overall Thoughts The forged stainless steel slide wears our inverted top rib with a single amber tritium dot in the rear sight and a green lamp with a white target ring in front. The thumb safety on this pistol is a bilateral model with oversized levers. The somewhat pancake style of the Talon holster did not make the rig any harder to conceal when running a standard holster. The pistol features ledge-type rear sights with a tritium insert. 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. Specialist vs. Valor? | 1911Forum 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 trigger broke cleanly at four and three-quarters pounds with just a bit of take up and a hint of overtravel. 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. In the gun world, the 1911 is about as polarizing as it can get. The Mission of Cheaper Than Dirt! $2,159.00 (Save up to 6%) Price $2031.31 01808 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm Night Sights $2,225.00 (Save up to 6%) Price $2096.23 I have test fired this handgun with a number of handloads and defense loads as well. When you drive the mag home in the Specialist, you may need to use your thumb to ensure the magazine is fully seated. An ambidextrous thumb safety is not imperative for a range gun in my opinion. A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a positive grip safety disengagement. Slide travel is smooth. I would love to use this as a relaxed range day gun where you just take it out because you enjoy shooting. Check Price . 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. The low-profile Novak-style front sights are a great addition to the pistol. While aesthetics is often considered when buying a handgun, whats under the hood is far greater in importance. Inexpensive examples are often built with loose tolerances to expedite manufacture. The pre-2019 Specialist slide stop arm terminated flush with the receiver. Recoil is manageable and parts wear is less with the Government Model. Is it worth the little bit of extra cost or are there better options out there? $799.00. Brand: Dan Wesson. The rear sight is drift adjustable via a set screw. It always draws remarks when I pull it out of the bag at the range. The Dan Wesson Specialist, a culmination of mission-specific features applied to the tried and true 1911 platform. The trigger pull was so crisp and the reset so short and sweet that the pull weight felt substantially lighter than it was. Overall Length: 8.75 in. 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. I am not a professional shooter by any means, and therefore do not require such a firearm. Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Distressed sports a distinct distressed Duty Black finish and is chambered in .45ACP. 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. Please be respectful of others. 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. 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. I really like the Pointmans fully-adjustable sights. My suggestion is to contact Dawson and provide them with the serial number of you DW. Ensure youre not using 10mm mags in your 45 and vice versa. 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 Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Stainless sports a bead blasted stainless finish and is chambered in .45ACP. The A2 Commander is an outstanding example of the iconic John Moses Browning design. 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. Notify me about new product releases, reviews, and coupon codes. Up for auction is a used Dan Wesson Specialist chambered in .45 acp. The Specialist Distressed starts off with a stainless steel slide and frame, though, so unlike my much-battered 1911, it wont be rusting. 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: The Specialist Stainless was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. If you are looking to step up your self-defense sidearm, I highly recommend taking a look at the 2020 Specialist line. Dan Wesson 1911 TCP 9 RD 9mm 4" Pistol (Save up to 8%) Price $1702.95. California Legal .45 ACP - wbtguns.com With a standard magazine base pad, it is recessed. [] My original review can be seen by following this link. No striker fire gun can match it. Hand fit and hand polish are important components of the 1911 handgun. .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. You can have the pistol chambered for .45 ACP or 9mm and with a black finish or with a satin stainless finish. The Defender is in 9 and the mustang in 380. 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. The classic long-style trigger has a tiny bit of travel before hitting a defined wall and breaking just under 5lbs. The mainspring housing is checkered to twenty-five lines per inch and incorporates a magazine well. 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. 9am-6pm CST Tue-Fri, 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. 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. The same could be said for the accessory rail machined into the dust cover. 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. Richard C. Brown Owner Of AMERICAN COMBAT, Your email address will not be published. Specialist - Dan Wesson Firearms Dan Wesson Specialist 10mm 5 Black - BLEM - Dan Wesson Firearms Store These magazines look great in the firearm and I have never had any issues with feeding despite this being a 1911 in 9mm. The 2020 Specialist includes a few features I usually do not care for, such as the magazine well and forward cocking serrations. Dan Wesson 1911 50th Anniversary Single 45 ACP 5" Barrel 8rd Mag. Even with standard loaded 147gr subsonic ammunition, the Dan Wesson Specialist cycles and locks to the rear which is awesome for a 9mm 1911. Dan Wesson gave the Specialist a classic long-style trigger with texturing on the face for a tactile grip. Let's go through those first. Required fields are marked *. These are superb firearms. I have tested several of the all-steel five-inch barrel variants. 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. Armscor RIA EFS 1911 CALIFORNIA LEGAL - .45 ACP - Gun Metal Grey. $659.99. Kimber 1911 Custom Lw . Some complained about just how aggressive the G 10 stocks were. Im guessing most people these days would hardly recognize the original spur hammer of the 1911. 6 more deals from guns.com . Let us know in the comments below! 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. 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. Please Check back for availability. Love the review Sir. The Shooter's Log, is to provide informationnot opinionsto our customers and the shooting community. The ambidextrous thumb safety is standard. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. I have the dan wesson Discretion and the specialist in 10mm. Dan Wesson Firearms Store 2021 All Rights Reserved. DAN WESSON SPECIALIST 1911 STAINLESS STEEL COMMANDER .45 ACP: GunBroker is the largest seller of Semi Auto Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 973036944. . Dan Wesson Valor Commander 45 ACP, 4.25" Barrel, Black/SS, 8rd Mag. The new rifle is built on an aluminum billet chassis with carbon-fiber forend and cheek riser featuring V-block bedding. The feed ramp is properly polished with the requisite 1/32nd-inch grp between the two parts of the feed ramp. The sliding breechblock was designed and implemented by JMB in 1898, and it appeared on his M1900. I have owned Dan Wesson 1911 handguns for many years. The Heritage features good quality sights that are well-suited for personal defense and combat. Dan Wesson Firearm Store, we take once-complex purchasing processes and turn them into simple. After some 500 rounds downrange with various magazines, various rounds, and several folks running the pistol, we had zero malfunctions. Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Stainless sports a bead blasted stainless finish and is chambered in 10mm. The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. 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. No restocking fee on new and unopened items. My Dan Wesson .44 mags are, by far, my favorites of every weapon I own. Shot placement is vital. Im an avid shooter and love educating whether its at my job or in the shooting community. Colt Custom Carry Limited, superb hideaway. 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. All comments are held for moderation and will appear after approval. Ive heard some shooters have complained about just how aggressive the G10 stocks were. We do not sell or share your information with anyone. Dan Wesson Specialist Pistol | Sportsman's Warehouse This pistol also features a light rail for mounting combat lights. Its a well put together 45, and it looks great. As I carried and trained with the gun, my endearment grew deeper. DAN WESSON 1911 SPECIALIST - 5 FULL-SIZE - Watson Precision They are familiar with Dan Wesson 1911s, which means they have a favorable opinion of them. They run quite well. SEI Gear - https://www.seiproductions.com/MAIN CHANNEL - https://www.youtube.com/TalonseiEXTRA CONTENT - https://www.patreon.com/TalonseiINSTAGRAM - https://. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications by email. 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. Review: Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 A Love Affair The front strap is also checkered to twenty-five lines per inch. The trigger is adjustable for overtravel, but during the review, I did not change it. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 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. Dan Wesson Specialist For Sale | Dan Wesson Specialist Price They are full size 1911s. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 stripped to inspect it parts after several boxes of ammunition were fired. [], Your email address will not be published. The Dan Wesson Specialist, a culmination of mission-specific features applied to the tried and true 1911 platform. Dan Wesson ships the pistol and two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. All Rights Reserved. I have found the pistols to be high-end in every sense, save for the price. 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. The overall weight of the Specialist is just over 42oz. This is a super accurate loading in every pistol I have tried. For night, the front night sight illuminates green while the rear dot glows yellow, allowing you to easily differentiate the front and rear in low and no-light situations. This is a big step up in handling. Ive noticed Tisas and RIA on here that would not suggest to anyone. 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 manufacturer states that this pistol sports an undercut triggerguard, and thats my only bone of contention with this pistol. This item is no longer available. 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. 1 Review. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. This Specialist Distressed is the full-size model, which sports the same Government model dimensions that have been around since, oh, 1911. Question I know its all relative but in your opinion how does the Specialist stack up to the Wilson ? You have to consider that when stockpiling magazines for your Specialist, however, the pistol was reliable with numerous different magazines. It seams lime it gets caught. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. This is a big step up in handling. 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. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! Weight: 42.3 oz. Item Number: 01825. Coupled with the front strap and mainspring housing checkered (25 lines per inch), and deep beavertail, it was easy to lock this pistol up. Antique (Pre-1899) Rifles - Flintlock Misc, Antique (Pre-1899) Rifles - Matchlock/Wheellock Misc, Century Arms International (CAI) - Rifles, Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Rifles (perc), Winchester Rifles - Modern Bolt/Auto/Single, Winchester Rifles - Pre-1899 Bolt/Single Shot, Century Arms International (CAI) - Pistols, Colt Automatic Pistols (.25, .32, & .380 cal), Colt Single Action Revolvers - Modern (22 Cal. Series Review: Dan Wesson 1911 Handguns - The Shooter's Log Im active on Instagram on @fridgeoperator. Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP, Black Du Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP, Black Duty Finish NEW 01801, Guns > Pistols > Dan Wesson Pistols/Revolvers > 1911 Style. 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. It has more of a flat shelf than the angled, checkered surface found on standard slide releases, and I like it. Please be respectful of others. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. Initially, the Specialist was offered in a 9mm Luger and .45 Auto, it can now also be had in 10mm Auto. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. The Heritage was introduced as an entry-level Dan Wesson. Its a quality product and Im very happy its mine. This means the tight lockup results in less unnecessary wear. Dan Wesson Firearms Store 2021 All Rights Reserved. The closest I can get to this caliber of firearm is my Kimber Target Eclipse II in 45. The people at my FFL are veterans of the industry and see a lot of firearms. 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.