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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Here's your opportunity to help the Forum fill in the information gaps, particularly during the years of 1979-96. Some good folks, who were closely connected to DW, are willing to answer your questions on topics for which we have limited or no information about. Mike, Kev and their Family friends may not have all the answers but we'll never know unless we ask.
In an effort to keep them from being bombarded with questions, this thread will serve as an area to post your question(s).
If another member knows the answer to the question please reply with a quote and place a link to the appropriate thread, if there is one.
After a period of time, we'll have a discussion with the Sheehans and attempt to answer the unanswered questions.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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January 24, 2009
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Okay, I'll start.
I'd like to know if there is any documentation on hand regarding some of the experimental guns, like the unmarked #68 360 that is currently on GB.
Also the gray area during the Monson/Palmer change. From what another recent new member stated, it seems that both plants were operational simultaneously for a while? An additional confirmation on this would be great.
And if there's documentation available on the development of fixed barrels & compensated shrouds, that would be good reading.
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November 17, 2008
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OK my first question. Did the 320 SM ever make it to prototype, are any out there in private collections?
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
August 9, 2013
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Sorry for the delay guys.
As far as experimental firearms, I know there were projects on the drawing board of course. Yes, there was mention of these during the 80's, but my folks were involved with what was going out the door. Dad was a hot shot, real world machinist/fabricator/manager, not an engineer...although his head butting with that department was well known.
To the subject of documentation, our middle brother Jeff was on hand at the Monson plant helping Ma out when large amounts of records were disposed of. He'll be around for a talk soon and I'll pin him on any details and relay what I can....in short though, the records everyone would like to have are gone, and they were disposed of well in advance of the sale to Bob Serva.
As I understand the Monson/Palmer relationship, Palmer was leased in '79 just shortly before Dad was recruited to put the already engineered .44 into production. All .44's are Palmer manufacture, and I believe .41's as well.... .357's were manufactured at the corporate home, Monson.
Both of these plants were functioning to some degree right up until the end, with the last activity of the shutdown occurring in Monson.
Somebody said "grey area's" ... that's an understatement. I read a wiki history that states that the company was returned to family hands, meaning the Wesson's ... and I know they were managing Wesson Firearms with Palmer as the corporate HQ. Ed Arventos was Prez or VP, don't remember....
Thing is, if the Wesson's actually owned it, why have I got a signed copy of the BOS less the sum, selling all rights and properties of Wesson Firearms to Bob Serva by EM Enterprises out of Worcester, signed by Charles MacWilliams, Pres., son of Bob MacWilliams, a known owner of Dan Wesson Arms ?
Thinking Mac retained his 51%, the same 51% he used to buy out Dick Rosenfeld in 82/83...a sad day for Pop really, and to hear Dad tell it, those two saw eye to eye on how to manufacture a product.
August 9, 2013
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I'm going to leave my prior post stand without edit, and correct my mis-statement here.
I just got off the phone with my brother Jeff, and he states that indeed the Monson school factory did close at the end of Dan Wesson Arms in '91 he believes. Looks like Ma was the last paid employee for both Dan Wesson Arms and Wesson Firearms. He also told me that the amount of records and files that were disposed of was large indeed ....My apologies ...
There are a few ex employees he's going to try to get in touch with for some more historical insight.
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January 24, 2009
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Thanks Mike (and your brothers), for digging into the details here, it's very much appreciated!
This is the first I've heard that all 44's were made in Palmer, very interesting. I had heard previously that there was an overlap for a while, but hearing this is new news. So I assume then that the frames that are roll marked "Monson" were merely done because Monson was still the corporate headquarters & the later ones marked "Palmer" were done after a change of ownership?
By saying that large amounts of records & files were disposed of, I assume that means destroyed? I won't claim to understand the world of business, but I wonder why they would intentionally destroy records & files?
Previously, the general understanding is that each time the company changed hands, the Feds captured & held much of the records including serial number production records. I assume this to still be true?
Dans Club
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April 20, 2010
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I have a question or two not sure if you can really answer. In my observation of surviving Dan Wessons today, it seems that the late 70s to early/mid 80s were some of the biggest production years.
Can you give any idea during your dad's time there, about how many employees Dan Wesson Arms had, particularly the best years? Not so much the high level management, but more like how many craftsmen they had on the floor.
Also, I know production figures cannot be had, but can you give some idea of how many revolvers were going out the door per year during their better years? In the early/mid 80s with 22s, .357 magnums, .44 magnums, and the intro of the 357 Supermag, and stainless versions of all, things must have really been busy.
Thanks,
Brian
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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All good questions, keep them coming. The idea is to get the questions on the table so they can be put into an Interview/Q&A session.
One step closer to getting some history nailed down.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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December 5, 2008
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I ran across these items recently and I'm hoping someone will know the background on them. They appear to be early stainless parts from Monson and were engraved by Ken Hurst a well known engraver. I don't think they were ever part of an assembled gun. Perhaps they were part of a special order. Any info will be appreciated.
August 17, 2012
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Mike Sheehan said
S All .44's are Palmer manufacture, and I believe .41's as well.... .357's were manufactured at the corporate home, Monson.Both of these plants were functioning to some degree right up until the end, with the last activity of the shutdown occurring in Monson.
So even though my 44VH is marked Monson, it was made in Palmer?
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Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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Maybe we could get Jody to make this topic a sticky?
-Mike
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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OK, it's pinned. Let see if we can get the topic rejuvenated. Mr Sheehan hasn't been on the DWF since SEP and I got busy with life. My apologies.
Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
December 4, 2012
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This is very interesting,
I be-leave I have spoke with this gentleman (Mike Sheehan) late last year in regards to a few items he had listed on e-bay. It sure does sound like the same one. We had talked over the phone on some unique Dan Wesson items and it turned into a very informative conversation about his father and mother both working at the Palmer plant.
If I look hard enough I think I can come up with his number, maybe give him a ring and let him know we are all still waiting w/ anticipation , wide eyed, and perked ears!?
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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Thats the man. I got some of his unique items from ebay. I'm glad to have landed them and the history they carry. I wish he and his brothers would drop by and just chat with us about his family and thier days at Dan Wesson.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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January 24, 2009
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I have been outbid on many of the cool items that Mike & his family have offered so far...
and that's okay.
I'm honestly more interested in the history aspect, the sort of stuff that CAN'T be bid on...the truly VALUABLE stuff.
October 1, 2012
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Mike is a stand up guy. I was lucky enough to get a couple items and there was a shipping issue with one of them...a gold plated 44 cylinder that his dad used as a pen holder. He made a very fair resolution and then proceded to send me a couple other items to " make it right". I had the pleasure of exchanging several emails on his mom and dads role at DW. It would really be great to get some answers to the abuntant questions, myths, and anecdotes that abound in the DW community. Maybe the mystery is part of the appeal too..
Thanks again Mike !!
Hugelk
December 4, 2012
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My apologies guys,
work is a bear lately, ISO audits 
, anyways I will try and give him a ring later on today. I will let everyone know the outcome.
December 4, 2012
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Ok,
I have got a hold of Mike, he was out of town on business. I explained to him that basically we are on the edge of our seats eagerly awaiting his input and any info he my have that would help a lot of us. He welcomed the call and apologized for the delay, that life just got in the way. He made me promise to call him next week and would gladly stop by here once he returns home next week.
June 8, 2009
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I didn't want to know THAT! Thank you all so much for the information. I've always been a bit of a Monson snob. My .22, .357, and .44 are all blued Monson guns. Now I have to start thinking my .44 Monson has not been a Monson at all.
Care to share Customer Service stories from the old days? I bought my .357 well used and it was my first handgun, so I shot it a lot. One day it just got "loose" so I sent it back to the factory. They rebuilt it and sent it back at no charge. Wonderful service! I wish I'd sent my .22 back for a check/rebuild.
How common was it for people to send in their Dan Wessons for repairs?
October 26, 2008
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Mike Sheehan said
As I understand the Monson/Palmer relationship, Palmer was leased in '79 just shortly before Dad was recruited to put the already engineered .44 into production. All .44's are Palmer manufacture, and I believe .41's as well.... .357's were manufactured at the corporate home, Monson.
So to take that statement further would it be reasonable/correct to say that small frames were made at Monson and large frames were made at Palmer? If all large frames were made at Palmer would that also mean that the Supermags were made there as well since they share the same parts except the frame and cylinder?
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
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