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The Legacy of Dan Wesson, Interview with Eric Wesson
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bikeridertim
Concord NC 28025

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March 24, 2026 - 6:43 pm
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3ric
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March 25, 2026 - 2:14 am
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Nicely done interview, and very informative for newcomers to the DW forum. Thanks for sharing!

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rwsem
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March 25, 2026 - 5:13 am
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Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....

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snake-eye
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Stinger
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March 25, 2026 - 12:10 pm
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Scout728
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March 25, 2026 - 6:36 pm
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As much as I would like to see a book about Dan Wesson, this might be as close as we get to a Dan Wesson biography. dwf  Maybe Eric will put one together? 

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stonebuster
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March 25, 2026 - 9:12 pm
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Thanks, I enjoyed that video and my DW revolvers. Eric's upstairs room is literally a museum.

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LeonardC
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Stmstan 445
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March 26, 2026 - 8:57 am
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I talked to Eric about a book, he said he has thought about it but nothing set in stone. What I found interesting is in this public he talks very nice about Bob Serva and how the 1911's really were a great thing but when I talked to him about it he made it clear he did not like what happen after the business was sold and he was not a fan of the 1911's he really wanted the company to stay focused on revolvers. Serva was just not very interested in them and he was full speed ahead with 1911's. I get it when you make a public YouTube video play nice and stay positive it would not be constructive to be negative in a video like this. 

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Stinger
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March 26, 2026 - 1:11 pm
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Firstly, they sold the company and Bob bought it, so he can do what he wants .. make pop guns or cap guns, whatever.

Secondly, I believe he saved the brand and my PM-7 is a prized 1911 in my collection.

proud-to-be-an-american

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605Dart
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March 26, 2026 - 3:59 pm
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yep!! Without the 1911 DW wouldn't exist at this point, just a memory.                                                                                                                                                  Their 1911's are top of the line for their price point.                                                                      

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LeonardC
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March 27, 2026 - 12:05 am
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Some interesting takeaways from the interview and DW in general.  Thank you to those sharing their perspectives.

When I think Dan Wesson, I think revolvers.  I have a .22LR, a .357 Magnum, and a .44 Magnum.  All Monson marked & blued.

The interview quoted Mr. Dan Wesson's primary goal; "Best Double Action Revolvers on the Market."

The 4 things the interviewed was taught by his father: "Quality, Service, Price, and Delivery."  In my limited experience DW did very well in the first three; I can't speak to delivery.

It's too bad the people in charge of DW for the last many years could not continue to make: "Best Double Action Revolvers on the Market."

When I'm shooting one or more of the DW revolvers on the range, I always have a big grin.  I have several other revolvers (handguns in general for that matter), but the DWs are special.

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Stmstan 445
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March 27, 2026 - 12:11 pm
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i'm not saying it was bad or good, I just was telling you all how he spoke about it to me. I can see how he has some bad feelings about the whole thing, he wanted to save the company and keep it in the family i'm sure that was a very hard time for him. Two things can be true at once, yes Bob Serva saved the company but I'm sure anyone who loses a company that has the family name on it that had all that history that had to be hard times.

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Ole Dog
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March 28, 2026 - 8:58 pm
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The 1911s are very nice but in my not so humble opinion the high end 1911s are the most overpriced firearms out there. The 1911s may have kept the  DW name alive in a market that switched to semi autos and then to polymer semis but the revolvers revolutionized the revolver world . Modular guns, drop in parts (MIM) , interchangable barrels and one piece grips with no grip frame . S&W , Manurhin, Korth and others adopted many of those features . As far as being the best Double Action revolver on the market, that needs to be qualified.  For the price it is the best . It is among the most accurate but others are just as accurate . Manurhin from Mulhouse , Korth from Ratzenberg , and some pre war and post war Smiths can equal and surpass DWs but are many times the price . I don't own any later Manurhins or Korths,or Janz ,Sporh, etcetera so I cannot speak about them . For durability , Manurhin is king. 

  For double action triggers it is hard to beat a Registered Magnum , Manurhin,Korth or Python.  The best DA triggers and most accurate of Dan Wessons are the early pork chops. Models 11,22 14 and 15 (before the unofficial 14-1 and 15-1) with Wolff springs can rival any of the above . 

   One last observation. The DW Supermags are perhaps the finest guns DW made. The large frame 44mags ,45 Colt  and Rowland 460 are just as remarkable but not as iconic. 

  This is just opinions and observations of mine . There are more firearms experts than any other human endeavor .  Everyone who owns a gun is an expert. Just like anyone who rode the Napa Valley wine train or a river cruise on the Rhine is a wine expert. 

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Charger Fan
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March 28, 2026 - 9:09 pm
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Bikeridertim, thanks for finding & posting this video, that was great! occasion

That is a pretty cool Museum Eric has made. I bet I have at least half of those magazine covers & articles, maybe more than half. If I ever have the wall space, I should frame them, as he has. They would be easier to view that way, for sure...instead of digging through boxes. 

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Stmstan 445
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March 29, 2026 - 7:27 am
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I really have to agree with Pol Dog. There are so many 1911'a on the market now the low priced ones are so low not I had a chance to shoot a Tisas my friend got it for $330 it shot fine. also shot a Rock Island also seemed ok. auto's not for me except my S&W 5.7x28 but there are so many 1911 on the market I think you can get one that rivals a Dan for $700 Did you notice all the 1911's that Eric had were pre-CZ! Also number #1 rated 1911 is the Tisas night Stalker I have seen these on sale for under $500Screenshot-2026-03-29-4.31.56-AM.pngImage Enlarger

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