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January 6, 2026
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Hey all, thanks for having me. I work for a gun store/range as a means to feed my crippling firearms addiction. My favorite part of the job is rescuing neglected "weird" guns that our average customer has no interest in.
These are the only two Dan Wessons that have come through. The first one I got was the model 15, Monson mass built, came with an 8" and 4" barrel, and an original barrel tool, and had a Hogue monogrip installed, with the power wood grip in a Crown Royal bag. The pics make it look a lot more purple than it is, the finish is pretty nice overall, with a few wear spots and scratches that I have touched up with oxphoblue. The trigger is crazy smooth and light, both single and double action. I haven't opened this one up yet, just externally cleaned.
The second gun is a model 14 Palmer mass. build, with a 4" fixed barrel. It came in on trade and looked to be unfired, very nice finish and wood grip, but a heavy, crunchy double action trigger pull, but a very nice single action. I opened this one up and cleaned and polished what needed to be (following the "average joes" guide on this forum) and the double action is now smoother, but still kind of heavy, although completely usable. The fixed barrel seems to be a rarity, from what I've gathered browsing the forums here.
I was wondering if anyone had any insight on the age of the Model 15, and if the gold fill on the stamping was a factory job.
Dans Club
December 7, 2020
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Very Nice!
The 15-2 8" is late 70s. The Goldwax fill was done by owner. Not a factory option.
The .357 fixie is a 14-2. Built for LE service. But S&W froze DW out of most LE agencies. If it is a 38 Special fixed barrel you have something rare. When DW could not land LE contracts, they re-reamed the 38S cylinders to 357.
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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Welcome to the forum from PA!!!
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DWF Supporters
June 11, 2016
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Welcome to the Forum from Wisconsin.
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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Welcome to the Forum.
February 16, 2016
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to the 
January 6, 2026
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Thanks for the info and the welcome!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I held off acquiring a fixed barrel Dan for 13 years. The idea of interchangable barrels was what mesmerized me about DWs and a fixed barrel seemed less of a gun. I recently have acquired two of them because the price was right.
FB 15-2s came in 21/2", 3 ", 4", 5 ", 6", 7", and 8" versions. The 3,5,7 are almost always Fixed Barrels. They all have a heavy lug with a slant at the muzzle.
October 17, 2017
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The 15-2 is a very early one; made no later than 1975. Nice example with what is probably the original grip.
February 16, 2016
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Ole Dog said
I held off acquiring a fixed barrel Dan for 13 years.
My first Dan was a buddies 15-2 FB 3" (my avatar) which shot so sweet, that I hassled him until he sold it to me. Palmer bluing so deep I thought it was black, until I came here. Ole Dog quickly schooled me up and my second purchase was a Pistol Pack. Then DWAS set in and I had 17 Dans, with four SuperMags before the year was up.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I first bought a couple of Dans from local gun shops. Then I discovered Gunbroker and I was off to the races. I suspect I have the most acute case of DWAS in history. When I started collecting (investing) I decided a $500 ANIB DW would double in value faster than a $2500 Python. Dans have about doubled and Pythons have dropped in value by about 30% since CZ started making faux snake guns. But parts, grips, tools and BAs have more than doubled.
There have been numerous Dan Wessons on Gunbroker that sit on GB with outrageous prices for years. Right now there is that 732 for almost $5000. I think a model 40 also for a crazy price. That is a gun shop in Deland, Florida. All his guns are priced crazily. I don't think he cares if the sell or not.
January 6, 2026
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3ric said
The 15-2 is a very early one; made no later than 1975. Nice example with what is probably the original grip.
It has a 5 digit serial number, 576xx
October 17, 2017
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The early 15-2’s (and every DW from the earliest pork chop on up to the early 15-2) differ from the later guns with regard to the crane/cylinder arrangement. You can easily observe the difference by opening the cylinder on each of your revolvers. Your 14 Palmer will have a small “flange” on the upper crane leg which the rather short cylinder collar rests against. The early 15-2 will not; and the longer cylinder collar will rest directly against the frame. This collar is actually removable, but I strongly advise against it. This difference has no bearing on the function of the revolver in any way. However, if you find that excess end shake is found, the later gun can easily be shimmed, yet the on the older gun it becomes much more complicated. I speak from experience. All three of my DW’s are very early, and all have the removable cylinder collar. Hopefully, your DW’s are in good working order and you won’t ever have to deal with the issue.
January 6, 2026
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Bo
3ric said
The early 15-2’s (and every DW from the earliest pork chop on up to the early 15-2) differ from the later guns with regard to the crane/cylinder arrangement. You can easily observe the difference by opening the cylinder on each of your revolvers. Your 14 Palmer will have a small “flange” on the upper crane leg which the rather short cylinder collar rests against. The early 15-2 will not; and the longer cylinder collar will rest directly against the frame. This collar is actually removable, but I strongly advise against it. This difference has no bearing on the function of the revolver in any way. However, if you find that excess end shake is found, the later gun can easily be shimmed, yet the on the older gun it becomes much more complicated. I speak from experience. All three of my DW’s are very early, and all have the removable cylinder collar. Hopefully, your DW’s are in good working order and you won’t ever have to deal with the issue.3ric said
The early 15-2’s (and every DW from the earliest pork chop on up to the early 15-2) differ from the later guns with regard to the crane/cylinder arrangement. You can easily observe the difference by opening the cylinder on each of your revolvers. Your 14 Palmer will have a small “flange” on the upper crane leg which the rather short cylinder collar rests against. The early 15-2 will not; and the longer cylinder collar will rest directly against the frame. This collar is actually removable, but I strongly advise against it. This difference has no bearing on the function of the revolver in any way. However, if you find that excess end shake is found, the later gun can easily be shimmed, yet the on the older gun it becomes much more complicated. I speak from experience. All three of my DW’s are very early, and all have the removable cylinder collar. Hopefully, your DW’s are in good working order and you won’t ever have to deal with the issue.
Both of mine seem pretty tight, the 15-2 doesn't show much wear other than handling marks, and the 14-2 looked to be unfired until I fired it. The 14 has the least cylinder play I've ever experienced, and I own many revolvers, new and old.
October 17, 2017
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Just to be sure we’re talking about the same thing: you’re saying that with an empty cylinder locked in place you can attempt to push the cylinder rearward and it doesn’t move at all, or .001 or less.
None of my early DW’s are that tight even after years of adjusting them. I’ve never owned (or had hands on) a post 1978 (approximate year the change was made to a flange on the upper crane leg) DW, so I’m guessing that only those guns can be run that tight. Happy shooting!!
January 6, 2026
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3ric said
Just to be sure we’re talking about the same thing: you’re saying that with an empty cylinder locked in place you can attempt to push the cylinder rearward and it doesn’t move at all, or .001 or less.None of my early DW’s are that tight even after years of adjusting them. I’ve never owned (or had hands on) a post 1978 (approximate year the change was made to a flange on the upper crane leg) DW, so I’m guessing that only those guns can be run that tight. Happy shooting!!
Of course it moves, just much less, and requiring more pressure than my other revolvers. I haven't stuck a feeler gauge in there.
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