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What Year was First Stainless Model Released ?
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Stinger
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May 14, 2016 - 9:19 am
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I've been researching the history of Dan Wesson (company, not the man) online at Wikipedia, Karl Lewis' son's website, others and here on DWF.  There sure is allot of disparity between the historical records documented.

I asked a question on Ron's Monson Era Collection thread, but don't want to hijack it, so I started this one here.

Stinger said
Are there any Monson era guns in your stainless collection?
I ask, because the DW History timeline states that the first S/S gun was introduced in 1983, but the move to Palmer was 1981-82, so if that were true, there wouldn't be any Monson stainless guns.
Interestingly, there are quite a few examples of 1982 stainless models in the Serial Number Registry by the original purchasers.  Who knows when the first 715 was announced ?

Ole Dog said
Stinger, I think you are thinking of when the Palmer facility was purchased in order to make large frame guns. Everything was still roll marked Monson. The first stainless guns I believe we're around 1981. There was an ownership change I think around 1986. That was when the caliber became the first part of the serial number. The Palmer roll mark started at the very end of 1991 I believe. The Wessons took over and the Monson facility was closed. I have some large frame guns rolled Monson from 1991 but they must have been among the last. They were made at Palmer of course. In 1995 production ceased and Bob Serva purchased Dan Wesson and moved to Norwich. That is another story. Nothing I have written is warranted. Anyone who knows different please correct me. 

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photohause
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May 14, 2016 - 5:24 pm
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How were the first SS guns numbered and start at? I have one I am pretty sure in 1981-2 that is four digit Monson

 If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt. 

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rwsem
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May 14, 2016 - 5:41 pm
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As Secretary Rumsfeld put it so eloquently, ..."There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."

It seems as though serial numbers began with just digits, then prefix and digits, then caliber and digits.  I'm not certain we know when each of the transitions occurred and if they occurred for all calibers at the same time or not...  A known unknown.

Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....

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