Register
Log In
Home
November 25, 2019
Offline
I really don't have any data or any idea of a manufacture date. I am ignorant to these revolvers. I'm not even positive I have the model or frame size correct. I'm not a collector, More of a Smith&Wesson revolver accumulator. I enjoy wheel guns and the one Dan Wesson I have is a beauty in my opinion. I bought it for what I thought was a fair price from a friend and I'm curious what the value might be. 
I'm interested in learning all I can about it. Thank you for your time.
August 20, 2019
Offline
Welcome and congratulations on your 1980 model 15-2 VH4 357 mag (small frame). I'm judging the date by what I found on the serial number registry on this site. You can find the registry by going to FAQ's at the top of the page and clicking "when was my gun manufactured?" The VH4 is "vented heavy 4 inch." As for value, they vary quite a bit and more knowledgeable people here will help you with that. I recently picked up a 1981 15-2V6 Monson for under $500 but yours looks to be in better shape and original grips(?). If your's has a barrel nut at the muzzle it's not a fixed model and you can change the barrel length and set the B/C gap to whatever you want it to be. Barrel assemblies between 2.5"-15" are available. They're known for their accuracy and incredibly simple inside an easy to disassemble. Most I've seen have scratches from the ejector star on the side plate so take care not to put more on it. If you don't have one, get yourself a EWK barrel wrench. She's a beauty, enjoy it!
November 25, 2019
Offline
stonebuster said
Welcome and congratulations on your 1980 model 15-2 VH4 357 mag (small frame). I'm judging the date by what I found on the serial number registry on this site. You can find the registry by going to FAQ's at the top of the page and clicking "when was my gun manufactured?" The VH4 is "vented heavy 4 inch." As for value, they vary quite a bit and more knowledgeable people here will help you with that. I recently picked up a 1981 15-2V6 Monson for under $500 but yours looks to be in better shape and original grips(?). If your's has a barrel nut at the muzzle it's not a fixed model and you can change the barrel length and set the B/C gap to whatever you want it to be. Barrel assemblies between 2.5"-15" are available. They're known for their accuracy and incredibly simple inside an easy to disassemble. Most I've seen have scratches from the ejector star on the side plate so take care not to put more on it. If you don't have one, get yourself a EWK barrel wrench. She's a beauty, enjoy it!
stonebuster said
Welcome and congratulations on your 1980 model 15-2 VH4 357 mag (small frame). I'm judging the date by what I found on the serial number registry on this site. You can find the registry by going to FAQ's at the top of the page and clicking "when was my gun manufactured?" The VH4 is "vented heavy 4 inch." As for value, they vary quite a bit and more knowledgeable people here will help you with that. I recently picked up a 1981 15-2V6 Monson for under $500 but yours looks to be in better shape and original grips(?). If your's has a barrel nut at the muzzle it's not a fixed model and you can change the barrel length and set the B/C gap to whatever you want it to be. Barrel assemblies between 2.5"-15" are available. They're known for their accuracy and incredibly simple inside an easy to disassemble. Most I've seen have scratches from the ejector star on the side plate so take care not to put more on it. If you don't have one, get yourself a EWK barrel wrench. She's a beauty, enjoy it!
Thank you very much for the information Stonebuster. I know it's not perfect and the scratch on the side plate is really disappointing. Someone (not me) wasn't very careful. I always think of that as reminiscent of the 1911 assembly scratch that people cause. It does have the original grip and the barrel nut. I will be buying one of the wrenches on this site as this gun did not come with it. I have looked around online and found some Barrel/Shroud combinations available. I have had it to the range one time and had trouble with double action failures to fire. I found some information on this site saying that big rip screw being too tight can cause that issue. I look forward to getting back on the Range and seeing if I can Rectify that issue.
February 16, 2016
Offline
to the 
August 20, 2019
Offline
My 15-2 has a light ejector scratch too and few I've seen don't. What is disappointing about mine is somebody left it sitting too long without wiping it down and it has some small spots of light pitting on the rib and cylinder. Otherwise the finish would be near perfect. DA FTF isn't uncommon from what I've read and shouldn't be too much of a problem to correct. Make sure your grip screw has a washer. I'm only parroting what I've learned in the past few months since buying my first DW. Good luck.
Supporter
Dans Club
March 25, 2013
Offline
Stonebuster, you are doing great. Gary, keep the gun tilted to the left with 2 fingers through the frame holding the cylinder open when ejecting. Almost all used Dans have a scratch at least. Some have several or more. Since the sideplate and shroud are different steel alloy than the frame they are of a different hue even if Barney is not noticeable. The sideplate can be polished if the scratches are not too deep and reblued without anyone the wiser. Unfortunately, sometimes there are gouges on the back of the recoil shield part of the sideplate or they are very deep. That is not correctable by polishing. Don't bang on the ejector if a case is stuck. It can break the cylinder stop off the sideplate. Blue guns built after 1986 have the re-enforced stop that stainless guns have.
October 30, 2019
Offline
October 30, 2019
Offline
So i looked at the faq page to get an idea of when my DW was made ..... my serial # is 363977 , so would the mid 80s be a correct guess ?
1 Guest(s)
