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September 19, 2011
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So I finally take my late 70's 15-2 to the range. I just picked it up a few weeks ago off AuctionArms with a 4V and 6V barrel set. It's a little more banged up than it appeared in the bad photos (and as was described, but caveat emptor.) It has what I now know is ejector scratches on the side plate, and it has some holster wear, so it was carried and used by whomever owned it prior.
The range session showed the 4" barrel had some good accuracy with both my H110 Magnum loads and my Unique/cast plink loads. The ejector came unscrewed on me twice, and I found the cylinder wasn't square (and had set the barrel clearance on one of the 'low' cylinders) so the cylinder would tie up on 2 of the chambers. The barrel didn't unscrew... so I guess that was a good thing! 
The action was pretty crummy, but I could tell it needed a good cleaning.
Pulling the guts out of the Dan wasn't all that challenging, but I was surprised at some of the small parts... like the cylinder crane retention piece. 
I was also surprised at how rough the machining was inside the frame... milling marks everywhere. I did find some surface rust under the plate so I cleaned it all up, dropped in some new springs (thank you Eric!) and put it back together. MUCH better... now the springs don't go 'crunch' when you cock it.
I have a brand new 4" barrel for it (thank you, again, Eric!) even though the old one was probably OK; the new EWK barrel looks 10X better on the inside! The Pachy grips need to be gone, I'm having LB whittle me up a nice Zebra target grip. Oddly enough, it came with an EWK barrel wrench and another one (I'm assuming a DW, but it's odd...) and another barrel nut (probably also EWK... it has 4 wrench cuts) so it makes me wonder if there wasn't another barrel with it at one time.
Overall, I'm very pleased with my 'new' DW. It's a little rough around the edges but that just means it was used... and I can tell you it's not going to be a safe queen with me! No, it's not a S&W, that's for sure, but a Smith isn't a DW, either. Now that I have the action issues sorted out, I should have a better go at it next range session. I do have a concern over the excessive gap on the 'low' side of the cylinder (now that it is shimmed .006" to the highest part of the cylinder) but we will see. And I feel better having aquired my first DW... I know a bit more on what to look for when I search in earnest for the next piece of Unobtanium... a 41 or 741. 
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Sounds like you have worked through most issues on this one! I wonder if Eric could true the problem with the cylinder, being that the gap is set with barrel? Shoot it and shoot it some more! And now you gotta post a pic two of this one!
Few Dan's don't have the ejector scratch in them, Not sure why so many do. Glad you tore it down instead of away!
Keep us posted on how it keeps working!
has struck just the aquireing has yet to begin!
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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You can set your b/c gap at .002 ~ .003" on the tightest cylinder hole, so you don't have to deal with a huge gap on the loosest one. At that gap, you may have to periodically wipe off the buildup from the cylinder face at the range, it depends on the gun & the ammo you're using.
Most pre-Norwich DW's don't have a completely flat cylinder face. Heck, most older revolvers in general don't, from what I've seen. My Colt has a little variation & my old Smiff 29-2 did, too. The loosest hole on that one was .009", if I recall correctly.
May 17, 2010
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Soap Box, Ballot Box, Ammo Box
in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
1 Palmer FB 15
1 Rossi 357 Model 92 (lever)
1 CZ 75B
November 4, 2008
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"Few Dans don't have ejector scratches on them, not sure why."
One problem that occurs is when the ejector star jumps the brass, your in the field, fingers are numb, wind is blowing cold, and this happens. The fingers fumble trying to get the cold stuck case out of the cold cylinder while trying to keep the ejector extended and away from the frame. Woops, a scratch is born.
Other scenario, swap out the cold for 99 degrees and hungry mosquitos.
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