An excellent home defense gun, the Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist features an integral 1913 Picatinny, undercut trigger guard, 25 LPI front strap checkering, and recessed slide stop, as well as an easy to manipulate extended magazine release and detachable two-piece magwell. Dan Wesson Specialist Pistol -The Specialist is one of the newest additions to the Dan Wesson stable. Specialist - Dan Wesson Firearms UPDATED FOR 2020 Specialist View All MSRP $ 1,849.00 - $ 2,179.00 Updated for 2020. Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. Dan Wesson Valor 9mm, Black, Night Sights,, rd, 10 rd. 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. So, maybe the only thing thats different between a Dan Wesson and a modern custom 1911 is the high price? I must admit Im leaning towards the 2011s like the Springfield Arms prodigy or the new Dan Wesson models. 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. . The locked-breech, short-recoil operation with the tilting barrel and front slide removal came from Browning. This Specialist Distressed is the full-size model, which sports the same Government model dimensions that have been around since, oh, 1911. These magazines look great in the firearm and I have never had any issues with feeding despite this being a 1911 in 9mm. This .45 ACP version is supplied with two stainless eight-round magazines. Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist Distressed Specs Type: Hammer fired, semiautomatic Cartridge: .45 ACP Capacity: 8+1 rds. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. The end of the barrel is slightly flared to mate perfectly with the bushing. | I have owned Dan Wesson 1911 handguns for many years. 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. $ 1,729.00. I have test fired this handgun with a number of handloads and defense loads as well. The Heritage was introduced as an entry-level Dan Wesson. This checkering helps when the hand is sweaty or cold. Dan Wesson V-Bob 45 ACP Two-Tone 1911 Pistol with 10 Grips. As you might have guessed, the appearance of the Specialist Distressed made me a bit nostalgic for my old single-stack carry gun. Tripp Research and Wilson Combat mags will be your go to. 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. For sale: One (1) new in box Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP. Facing off in a handgun challenge featuring the smallest professional-grade enclosed red dot sight on the market, Eric and Tom put the Acro P-2 to the distance test by doing a walk-back challenge. I have tested several of the all-steel five-inch barrel variants. Inexpensive examples are often built with loose tolerances to expedite manufacture. This checkering helps when the hand is sweaty or cold. Colt Model 1861 Special Musket: What's Its Value? The Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless is available in eight-round .45 ACP or ten-round 9mm, and also comes in a Black .45 ACP caliber model. 01845. That weight helps keep recoil down when shooting .45s, and Im guessing the 9mm version of this pistol is a pussycat. vs. Dan Wesson Specialist. There are plenty of companies making $3,000+ 1911s on the market but there arent a ton in that mid-tier level. They are familiar with Dan Wesson 1911s, which means they have a favorable opinion of them. 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. 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. A quality 1911 will last longer with hand fitting, as good fit means that eccentric wear is less. I understand the allure of battle-worn and distressed finishes, except they usually look artificial and cheesy. It has a match grade 5 barrel chambered in 9mm. 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. 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. $799.00. The Dan Wesson Specialist also comes with front cocking serrations and a skeletonized hammer. I run Tripp Research 10 round mags in my DW Bruin. You may want more features later, but if you want to get your feet wet with high-end 1911s, this is a good start. Without that, nothing else matters. First, the grips the black laminate G10 grip panels made by VZ Grips for Dan Wesson are very aggressive. Compare . Accuracy was exemplary, as was usability. The Vigil is the DW entry level gun and the Valor is, and has been for a long time, the flagship DW gun. Dan Wesson Firearms 2020. No restocking fee on new and unopened items. 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. Let Oak Hill Guns help you find the best firearm that matches your skill and interest. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Kimber 1911. $ 1,899.00. ), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (flint), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (perc), United States Patent Firearms Revolvers/Pistols, Century Arms International (CAI) - Shotguns. The trigger on this Dan Wesson feels like it was looked over and hand-polished rather than just fitted like many standard 1911 companies. Speaking of magazines, the Specialist incorporates a magazine well. Quick view. The trigger pull was so crisp and the reset so short and sweet that the pull weight felt substantially lighter than it was. Item Number: 01825. Still, with such a purpose-built fighting pistol, I can appreciate why those features and others were included. My test sample is .45 ACP with the black finish. Colt Custom Carry Limited, superb hideaway. 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. I am completely satisfied with this pistol in its performance and accuracy. Heritage in .45. $659.99. 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. Is it worth the little bit of extra cost or are there better options out there? Ameriglo straight-eight night top the slide, allowing for a rapid flash sight picture by stacking the white dot on the front sight on top of the single dot on the serrated rear sight. Kimber 1911 For Sale . Barrel Length: 5 in. Required fields are marked *. I am not a huge fan of extended magazine wells on a pistol. The Dan Wesson line of pistols includes many fine crafted 1911 pistols in various configurations and finishes. If you loathe it, a simple mainspring housing swap deletes the mag well. 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. 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. Coupled with the pistol's heavily checkered grips, this makes for excellent handling. (no magazine) Finish: Distressed Duty Safeties: Grip, thumb Sights: AmeriGlo night sights Trigger: 4.5 lbs. Some complained about just how aggressive the G 10 stocks were. Lets face it, the trigger is the unifier here. I am a dyed-in-the-wool, hard-headed, and somewhat unreasonable 1911 guy. Im a Police Officer and Firearms Instructor and we have to carry Glock 40 caliber. For some reason, Dan Wesson discontinued the Specialist in 2019 but thankfully reintroduced it at SHOT show 2020 with some updated changes. 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. Whether you agree with me or not, that is just fine. Width: 1.45 in. Your email address will not be published. .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. The Specialist Distressed starts off with a stainless steel slide and frame, though, so unlike my much-battered 1911, it wont be rusting. Pairing the big-bore .45 ACP cartridge with the scaled-down version of Browning's classic design satisfies both . Buy a Dan Wesson For sale: One (1) new in box Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP. (tested); single action A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a solid purchase and positive grip safety disengagement. Love the review Sir. Dan Wesson Kodiak Tri-Tone 10mm 6" Pistol, Dan Wesson Specialist 10mm 5 Black BLEM, Dan Wesson Specialist Distressed .45 ACP 5 Pistol. I picked up a few of the Wilson Combat Elite 10-round magazines with aluminum base plates. In all my reading and research over the past couple days I now find myself deciding between two DW 1911 models. The feed ramp is properly polished with the requisite 1/32nd-inch grp between the two parts of the feed ramp. 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. Im active on Instagram on @fridgeoperator. Ive shot some top shelf 1911s and mine can run neck and neck. The obvious differences between the two are the rail on the Specialist (which might make it more pleasant to shoot), and the top of slide serrations on the Specialist. It has more of a flat shelf than the angled, checkered surface found on standard slide releases, and I like it. SAO Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger, 10mm Auto, 45 ACP . A pistol that is hand-fitted with forged parts is well worth its price. 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. When you drive the mag home in the Specialist, you may need to use your thumb to ensure the magazine is fully seated. How to Choose the Best Scope Reticle for Your Application, Colt King Cobra Target 22LR Rimfire Revolver: New for 2022, SIG Sauer P322 Rimfire Pistol: First Look, Non-Lethal Personal & Home Defense with Byrna, Range Tested: EAA Girsan Pistols & Shotguns, New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR), New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol, New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor, New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical, New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol, First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel, New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver, Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I wondered, Once the new wore off, would the pistol be regulated to some dark corner of my strongbox? Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 stripped to inspect it parts after several boxes of ammunition were fired. The front sight has a standard green tritium insert with a white ring around it. Fortunately, my affinity for that pistol was not a flash in the pan, if you will allow me a tired cliche. Armscor RIA EFS 1911 CALIFORNIA LEGAL - .45 ACP - Gun Metal Grey. $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 The hammer on the Specialist Distressed is a rounded Commander-style hammer, which allows it to nestle snugly inside the beavertail grip safety. On the opposite end of the fire control group is a solid, extended trigger, which has a 1980s look to it. Dan Wesson ships the pistol with two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Required fields are marked *. I have the Dan Wesson commander classic bobtail. Thank you for your review! Notify Me When Available. It has positive clicks up and down. The Specialist also comes with a built-in magwell, ambidextrous safety, and 1913 Picatinny rail as standard for mounting light and laser accessories. The slide and frame of each Dan Wesson pistol slide together with a tight accuracy-promoting standard. 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. Posted February 25, 2022 in Pistols, Reviews, Semi-Auto by Matt E with No CommentsTags: 1911, 1911 Review, 9MM 1911, Dan Wesson, Dan Wesson Specialist. As far as triggers and ergonomics, the 1911-style pistols set the standard. Subscriber Services. The grip safety releases its hold on the trigger about halfway into compression. 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. Recoil is manageable and parts wear is less with the Government Model. Colt Pistols are renowned for their comfort, accuracy, and power. 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 . Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide, frame with 1913 rail, 25 LPI checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and G10 VZ Operator II grips round . Let us know in the comments below! The double-column/single-feed position magazine is also a design of JMB. The following websites are NOT affiliated with Dan Wesson. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the right side of the frame youll notice that the slide-stop pin does not protrude from the frame as it does on a standard GI gun; instead, it is slightly recessed. I know 500 rounds is not a tremendous amount of rounds downrange, but if something were amiss with this pistol, it would have shown up, especially shooting the DoubleTap .450 SMC. We will notify you when the product arrives back in stock. Overall Thoughts If you are looking to step up your self-defense sidearm, I highly recommend taking a look at the 2020 Specialist line. With all-steel parts, I was confident of the longevity of the pistol over time and abuse. 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. With stunning brushed flats and bead-blasted rounds . Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. Their new Specialist Distressed is no exception. 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. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. This is a big step up in handling. While aesthetics is often considered when buying a handgun, whats under the hood is far greater in importance. As you see above on the first photograph with the extended base pad, when you slam it home, the base is about flush with the magazine well. Compare. The Judge has been promoted! The Specialist features a checkered front strap. Taurus Marketing Manager Caleb Giddings highlights the features of the new Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum, a purpose-built revolver with a 10.5-inch barrel and an effective recoil-taming brake, with Guns & Ammo Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach. Swapping grip plates is straightforward if you prefer something less belligerent.. 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. Dan Wesson offers the Specialist in 9mm, 45 ACP and 10mm with a Black Duty finish or bead-blasted stainless steel finish. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. SALE. Kinda like buying an AMG Mercedes and waiting on them to hand build the engine. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. That being said, the magazine you select has as much, or maybe more, to do with reliability than the ammo. $1,949.00 (Save up to 6%) Price Dan Wesson 92011 DWX 9mm Luger 5 in 10+1 Black Black Duty Stainless Steel Red Aluminum Grip Fiber Optic Front Sight Hinterland #: 153035 MFG #: 92011 Out of stock $1,549.13 Notify when available Add to Wish List Add to Compare Dan Wesson 92111 DWX Compact 9mm Luger 4 in 10+1 Black Matte Black Aluminum Black Aluminum Grip Night Sights Accessory Rail Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm Night Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Ni Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Nigh Dan Wesson Specialist Commander Stainless Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP, CMC Drop-In Curved Trigger AR-15 Large Pin, CrossBreed MiniTuck Glock 43 Right Handed, CZ 75 SP-01 Competition 21 RD 9mm Pistol Red Grips. With a standard magazine base pad, it is recessed, so when you slam it home, you may need to use your thumb to ensure the magazine is fully seated. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. The Duty finish and internals have held up ideally, considering Ive treated this pistol as a tool, not a safe queen. The pistol I received for testing is a full-size Specialist chambered in .45 ACP featuring Dan Wessons Distressed finish. On the other hand, a service and defense pistol with fixed sights will probably we used with one load. Bought a Wilson Combat CQB. Care and feeding of the Dan Wesson Specialist. Check Price . Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. 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. 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. The company was founded by the great-grandson of the founders of Smith & Wesson. 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. Subscribe to our email list and get exclusive access to promotions, sales events and more! Dan Wesson Firearms Store 2021 All Rights Reserved. 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! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications by email. 9am-6pm CST Tue-Fri, 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. When you work with loadings from 160 to 250 grains in the .45 ACP pistol, the ability to sight the pistol in is important. Kimber 1911 vs Dan Wesson Specialist. 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. Truly, reliability is the heart and soul of a pistol. However, for an actual undercut triggerguard, where the line from the triggerguard doesnt go straight back to the frame but rather curves upward before hitting the front strap, youre probably going to have to buy a dedicated competition pistol made by small shops youve likely never heard of, which will cost you a lot more than the Specialist Distressed. All Rights Reserved. This pistol has a 5 match grade barrel, stackable tritium night sights, VZ Operator II G10 grips, ambidextrous thumb safety, black duty finish and comes with two 8 round magazines, a cable lock, the factory paperwork and a factory plastic hard case. I believe this pistol would make an ideal concealed carry or home defense firearm but easily fill the role of a duty pistol. Its accuracy and overall comfort to shoot are something that cant be ignored either. 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. Ive heard some shooters have complained about just how aggressive the G10 stocks were. The grips are held in place by Allen-head screws. The one disadvantage to a magazine well is you should be running magazines with extended base pads. The 2020 Specialist includes a few features I usually do not care for, such as the magazine well and forward cocking serrations. 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. In cases such as these, aggressive grips are warranted. Ive noticed Tisas and RIA on here that would not suggest to anyone. Thank you Matt, I appreciate that. Take a look at what they got and pick the ones you like best. Not only is it beautiful but also a joy to shoot and handle for all of the reasons you described. 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. 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 Specialist and The Valor. 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. The full 42oz weight of this gun makes it extremely flat shooting and easy to control. Three shot groups fired from a rest at twenty-five yards. The pistol features ledge-type rear sights with a tritium insert. 9am-6pm CST Tue-Fri, 2023 Omaha Outdoors, LLC. 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. This semi auto pistol is ready to work, with fixed night sights and a tough, no-nonsense Cerakote finish that resists corrosion and Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide . A full-size 1911, this Specialist is chambered in 9mm and loaded with features to satisfy a public servant's special requirements. If you have questions about firearms, feel free to shoot me a message on my Instagram @fridgeoperator. 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. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. 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 new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. 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. sikeston high school basketball roster,