Dan Wesson Customer Service

[bkm]

I'm not one to post much, but I'm a little frustrated. After A LOT of research and considerable searching, I purchased a NIB Duty Coat Dan Wesson Specialist off Gunbroker a couple days before Christmas. I finally was able to pick it up from SSE on Saturday. The wife and I put 100 rounds through it Sunday. It's a beauty and shoots great aside from the typical magwell shooting loose problem which is fairly well documented with the Specialist (but still annoying).

When I got home and tore it down for cleaning Sunday night, I noticed the rear site had drifted some I pushed on the site some to see how loose it was and the whole sight fell out onto the floor when I turned the slide to the side. I understand stuff slips by QC from time to time, but I'm disappointed in a gun that took months to get and has the highest MSRP of any firearm we own. The gun looks flawless otherwise aside for some slight tooling marks on the trigger guard and the safety being ridiculously stiff (already better after 100 rounds).

I know Dan Wesson is supposed to have great customer service, and I have already emailed them- Ill update when I hear back from them. My question is- does anyone have first hand experience with Dan Wesson Customer Service and an off-roster gun? Anyone see this issue with a Specialist? I'm hoping to not get some kind of a "sorry- you're in Kalifornia, we won't ship the gun back to you" response.

That Valor thread that's going almost makes me wish I had gone for a Valor!

[Ocog2181]

DW=OVerpriced 1911

FOr what you payed you could have easily added a few hundred more and got a Les Baer which is hand fitted and for sure wont run into that type of problem.

[SoulStealer]

That Valor thread that's going almost makes me wish I had gone for a Valor!

Should have gone with the Valor!

[InGrAM]

The rear sight not being lock tighted from the factory is also well documented. When I took my V-bob shooting the first time the rear sight fell off. Not a big deal. Put it back in and lock tight it after you sight the gun in. As for the magwell If you knew it was a problem from the get go why didn't you inspect it and fix it before shooting the gun?

Further more, DW makes a fantastic 1911 for the price point. Anyone who says otherwise has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

Best of luck to you OP, I am sure customer service will be very helpful.

[redcliff]

A typical fix would be to disrupt a little metal on the bottom of the sight with a center punch to tighten it in the dovetail, reinstall the sight and tighten the set screw, shoot it to get correct windage then back out the screw and apply a little blue Loctite to the set screw.

[Nick Adams]

Seems mean spirited to tell the OP 'you should have bought this instead'.
I had an issue with a CZ rifle and their customer service was good. I was advised, on another board, to call as opposed email CZ. That worked well for me.

[nahpungnome]

The rear sight not being lock tighted from the factory is also well documented. When I took my V-bob shooting the first time the rear sight fell off. Not a big deal. Put it back in and lock tight it after you sight the gun in. As for the magwell If you knew it was a problem from the get go why didn't you inspect it and fix it before shooting the gun?

Further more, DW makes a fantastic 1911 for the price point. Anyone who says otherwise has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

Best of luck to you OP, I am sure customer service will be very helpful.

I can't comment on DW since I've never handled one, but I've noticed the prices skyrocketing. They're now in the LB Concept I/II range. Which would you get given that they're both in the same ballpark now?

[cc426]

Further more, DW makes a fantastic 1911 for the price point. Anyone who says otherwise has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

Fixed it for you

I've had a baer and think my specialist is a better gun overall. Yes it needed some locktite but everything else I like better in the DW. I find that most people who trash the DW haven't ever owned one and are trying to justify what they paid for their gun

anyhow this isn't a DW vs something else thread. I haven't had to deal with their cs directly but have heard lots of good things and I'm sure they will take care of you. Personally, for something like a rear sight i would just put it back and locktite it myself. It takes less than 1 minute and I don't have to be without my gun for a few weeks

[GlockedAndLoaded]

I own a DW Pointman 7 and had to send it in for some adjustment.

Their customer service was outstanding. I talked to one of their gunsmiths first and then had my LGS send it in.. Had it back in a little over a week. It's ran flawless since.

I sent the pistol in with no mags and it was returned with two

Won't be my last Dan Wesson.


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[Xrslug]

I have nothing but good things to say about DW customer service and had no issues from them with an offroster pistol in California. Keith, who was (and I think still is) the head guy at DW emailed me personally to make sure the problem was resolved. They make a great product -- very nice fit and finish.

[cc426]

I can't comment on DW since I've never handled one, but I've noticed the prices skyrocketing. They're now in the LB Concept I/II range. Which would you get given that they're both in the same ballpark now?

I had a baer P ii. I would take the DW even if price was equal.

The baer was tighter fit but I didn't see any appreciable advantage because of it. The sevens review also debunks the theory that a tighter gun is more accurate ( the 1.5 inch guarantee baer was loser fit than the standard baer in his test)

DW has better trigger by far and much better finish (in not a fan of the thin blueing on the baers)

Subjectively I prefer the slide serrations on the DW and they both shoot very smooth.

I can't shoot 1 inch groups at 50 yards with any gun, maybe at 15, but the better trigger on the DW makes me a more accurate shooter

[jawcn]

After many researches, I ordered a specialist and still waiting for the SSE kit. I own couple CZ rifles and liked them a lot. Hope Dan Wesson CS is as good as CZ at least.

[Dattebayo]

After many researches, I ordered a specialist and still waiting for the SSE kit. I own couple CZ rifles and liked them a lot. Hope Dan Wesson CS is as good as CZ at least.

Dan Wesson is owned by CZ now so I do not see why not.

[CAGLS]

DW=OVerpriced 1911

FOr what you payed you could have easily added a few hundred more and got a Les Baer which is hand fitted and for sure wont run into that type of problem.

Actually its probably underpriced or on par compared to some of the semi-customs out there. I know it is one of the best production guns out there. Severns has documented that there is hand fitting on the critical areas, but DW went more with tight tolerances as opposed to larger parts that need to be hand fitted.

2011 Severns Custom "THUNDER IN THE WEST" shoot-out!

OP you acquired the Specialist first, then you'll eventually get the Valor. I did it the other way and will be getting the Specialist eventually.

[Ocog2181]

Actually its probably underpriced or on par compared to some of the semi-customs out there. I know it is one of the best production guns out there. Severns has documented that there is hand fitting on the critical areas, but DW went more with tight tolerances as opposed to larger parts that need to be hand fitted.

2011 Severns Custom "THUNDER IN THE WEST" shoot-out!

OP you acquired the Specialist first, then you'll eventually get the Valor. I did it the other way and will be getting the Specialist eventually.

OBViously severns wants you to buy the DW. How else is he going to make a living? Those DW's severns was testing I guarentee you were not out of box models. They were heavily reworked you can be on that.