Avatar
Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_TopicIcon
What Model do I have? Start here
Avatar
Kestrelman
Wa
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 38
Member Since:
November 29, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
81
November 29, 2010 - 8:16 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Correction. It has the six inch barrel on it. Here is a close up.

 

Image Enlarger

Avatar
Pinetor
Jackson MS, USA
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 1569
Member Since:
May 17, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
82
November 29, 2010 - 8:41 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Seems to be a Model 744 6VH as pictured. The S would be stainless, I assume as my 715 is marked SDXXXXX. Not sure about the B versus D thing.  BTW .. that is a gorgeous gun! 

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

Avatar
Kestrelman
Wa
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 38
Member Since:
November 29, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
83
November 29, 2010 - 9:31 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

It is a nice piece. Do you know what your "D" stands for?

Thank-you.

Matt

Avatar
Steve
Member

Dans Club
Forum Posts: 10330
Member Since:
March 2, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
84
November 29, 2010 - 10:24 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I don't think there is a lot of rhyme or reason (that we can figure out now) about some of the DW Serial Numbering. Some of it has some logic, some of it seems like they woke up one morning and decided to change things up, just for the heck of it. Unfortunately, DW Serial Number records are gone somewhere in BATFE "never-never land".

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

Avatar
Kestrelman
Wa
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 38
Member Since:
November 29, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
85
November 29, 2010 - 10:52 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I don't know. But Pinetor's model has a "D" after the "S" serial. I'm wondering if there was a production series with A-B-C-D..., followed by the lot number and the total production run. Hence 008 of 250 in run B. What A through D (or more) and the uniqueness of the run was that made each A-D is??? I'm just guessing here...

 

Matt

Avatar
Steve
Member

Dans Club
Forum Posts: 10330
Member Since:
March 2, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
86
November 29, 2010 - 11:11 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Just no way to know about any of this, but trying to correlate S/N's between Small and Large frame DW's is a little "iffy".

Dan Wesson also did custom Serial Numbers. I have one custom S/N list that shows a 15-2 VH dated 12/26/78 with the S/N "Celtic-xx" described to have been made as a gift for Boston Celtic great John Havlicek.

If anyone ever encounters a 3 letter/1 digit S/N  (ie: ABC-1) give me a shout, I've got good info on some of those.

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

Avatar
Kestrelman
Wa
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 38
Member Since:
November 29, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
87
December 2, 2010 - 8:46 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

Interesting. I didn't obtain the paperwork for this nor did I get the tool to change barrels or the feeler gauge. It would sure be nice to have had these with this.

Matt

P.S. Whats interesting is that the owners of these revolvers, having felt the weight of them in their hands and knowing how LARGE and weighty these things are, only after holding one in their hands can truley appreciate the beauty of these firearms. The pictures don't give justice to the size of these. They are truley amazing pieces...

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11017
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
88
December 3, 2010 - 12:10 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

Regarding the letters in the serial numbers, a while back I started taking notes from my own guns & guns on auction sites. The "S" in SD denotes stainless, a blued .357 would simply be D. This is mainly on late Monson guns & some early Palmer's. *EDIT* Correction...that underlined statement should say mid-to-late Monson guns. Woops!

This is what I came up with;

SA = .22LR

SB = .44 Mag

SC = .41 Mag

SD = .357 Mag(both 14-2 & 15-2 use this)

SE = .357 SuperMag

SF = .32 Mag

SG = .445 SuperMag

 M = .375 SuperMag(no stainless .375's)

 

There were some auction pics that weren't completely clear & I swear I saw one .45 Colt marked "SC", plus a blued .375 marked "SM". After a while, I decided I was going Mad trying to figure this out, so I stopped. Maybe I'll try to research it a little further later on.

Avatar
Jody
Salem, Virginia
Admin
Forum Posts: 6205
Member Since:
January 22, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
89
December 3, 2010 - 8:10 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Thanks CF... I'll look at my guns today to see if anything varies.

 
Avatar
lbruce
Georgia
Moderator
Members


DWF Supporters


Dans Club


Moderators
Forum Posts: 3569
Member Since:
November 17, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
90
December 3, 2010 - 8:35 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

CF, I have been doing the same thing and yes it will drive someone nuts.Mad

Most of what I have is in line with yours with a few anomalies.

Most 375s I listed have an SM prefix even though they are all blue, I remember reading somewhere that  it stood  for super-mag.

When you move to Norwich it gets stranger. Some 41s have an E, 44s an F, 445s a Z, and 460s a R. Plus a few 7445s have RV which I read somewhere stands for revolver? 

It just gets crazier the more I find out!!! Screwy

LB

But I guess that helps keep it fun!

Someday we need to get together and compare lists.

Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.

                                                                                                                             

Avatar
Kestrelman
Wa
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 38
Member Since:
November 29, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
91
December 3, 2010 - 9:54 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

I think we're getting somewhere here. I had found a list which showed some models listed with ser #'s and dates they were purchased. Given CF's SB for .44 cal, and the dates of the models I had seen on an online list, the 008 could represent the year it was made. (In Monson-1988) The last three digits could be XXX of 500 made that year?

Each factory would have some type of serial number convention to identify each firearm made. Sounds like each factory, as DW moved factories and changed ownership, chose different serial conventions unique to each factory. So, Monson had theirs, Palmer their own, CZ... etc.

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11017
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
92
December 3, 2010 - 11:15 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Kestrelman said:

 I had seen on an online list, the 008 could represent the year it was made.


Do you have a link to this list? I'm wondering if it's something put together by aficionados like us, or if it's something more official. It's possible that your theory that 008 represent's 1988 could be correct, however that would mean that they would have been limited to 999 of each model gun manufactured per year...that part I'm apprehensive about. I am fairly certain that they cranked out way more than that number per year, probably closer to 2-2.5K per year, especially in .44 & .357's.

I'm sure that numbering system is what Norwich uses, but they also produce (and produced) fewer guns than Monson did during their heyday.

 

LB, I'm glad you said that regarding the .375's, I had to slap myself this morning when I looked at my own .375...yes, it has "SM" on it. Duh! Embarassed I was obviously half asleep last night, that's what I get for posting without verifying my facts first.Screwy It's always good for me to start the day by having to tug my foot from my mouth.rofl

Here's two pics showing the style change...mid & late Monson.

Image Enlarger

Image Enlarger

 

Also, while we're trying to make sense of the possible production numbers, we have to take into account some of the x-amount of guns that were ordered with custom serial numbers. There are a bunch of different custom s/n variations out there, that shipped alongside with the standard numbers...

Image Enlarger

 

BTW, this isn't the first time we've discussed this stuff. Here's another thread on this matter, as we were trying to make sense of this stuff.

https://www.danwessonforum.com/?page_id=3/reference-files/letters-in-monson-serial-numbers-what-do-they-mean/

Avatar
kestrelman1
Wa
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 17
Member Since:
December 3, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
93
December 3, 2010 - 6:19 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Go figure. I have been using Lycos mail for years and now they want to charge for the service... Since I didn't save the PSWD for this forum I am now registered as Kestrelman1. Matt

 

CF. I cannot find the link I saw with the serial #'s and dates, but it is most likely an afficionado's list. The more I research, the more conflicting info I find...

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11017
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
94
December 3, 2010 - 8:41 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

kestrelman1 said:

The more I research, the more conflicting info I find...


I hear that.lol2 That's why I decided to give it a break, it was driving me nuts.

Well if you do happen to find that list again, it would be good to see it. If for no other reason than to help pool info here at theDWF Sign and hopefully figure it out one day.

Avatar
alaskapacker
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 6
Member Since:
December 8, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
95
December 8, 2010 - 9:40 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I just purchased my first ever Dan Wesson revolver, I have been a hard-core Ruger man for years. I was in a gun shop looking for a Ruger Alaskan .44 mag with 2" bbl for bear backup, and I saw a Wesson blued .44 with 2" bbl, adjustable sites and what looks like a custom wood grip with finger grooves. The bluing was pristine, the trigger was a dream and the balance was perfect. I fell in love immediately and bought it. The serial # is 44B00218x. Can any one enlighten me as to what I just bought, and the quality of these guns?

 

I sure appreciate it.

Avatar
Dave_Ks
Kansas

Range Officer
Members


Range Officers


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 4300
Member Since:
March 27, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
96
December 8, 2010 - 11:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Pictures would help alot,  Sounds like a Palmer made, 2" has been disscussed on here a few times though not sure on that one.  If you can get pics get a clear one of the muzzle as most Dans are interchangeable barrel system and work well with any length.  4"/ 6" 8" 10" are the most likely lengths although there was a Dan up with a fixed barrel of 2" of Gunbroker it was a Palmer made gun!  serial numbers dont really do much as to when made though Wesson tells us somewhat when.   Great shooters wonderful trigger pull da or sa.    Pictures  Please!!!   Welcometo DWF Sign

DSCN1339.jpg

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11017
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
97
December 8, 2010 - 11:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Welcome aboard, Alaskapacker.

I sounds like you have either a late Monson or early ~ mid Palmer gun. The plant location will be rollmarked on the right side of the frame. Being a 2" barrel, I assume it's a Palmer gun, like the one DWA_Midwest described. Most DW's are an interchangeable barrel design, there are a few Fixed Barrel (non-interchangeable) guns too (Palmer only)...

Image Enlarger

 

They were also made without a gold trigger...Wink

Image Enlarger

 

Check here to determine if you have a "FB" gun or standard, the bottom pic is of a FB. 

https://www.danwessonforum.com/?page_id=28

Avatar
steelwheel
Atlanta
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 6
Member Since:
December 15, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
98
December 15, 2010 - 12:59 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

What is this? No model number on it. Appears to be 4" fixed bbl. Recess in cylinder.

 

Frame says:

Wesson Firearms

Palmer, Mass. U.S.A.

357 S0050XX

 

Barrel says:

357 MAGNUM CTG.

 

Thanks in advance for your time.Image Enlarger

Avatar
steelwheel
Atlanta
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 6
Member Since:
December 15, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
99
December 15, 2010 - 1:01 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory
Avatar
Pinetor
Jackson MS, USA
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 1569
Member Since:
May 17, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
100
December 15, 2010 - 1:32 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 658
Currently Online: SCORPIO
Guest(s) 30
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Steve: 10330
SHOOTIST357: 4788
Dave_Ks: 4300
Ole Dog: 3879
Stinger: 3360
Supermagfan: 3235
zoommb: 3161
IHMSA80x80: 3014
Blacktop: 3004
brucertx: 2311
Newest Members:
Larry E White
Bimmerland
Fredton
surbhi
pyncnetty
JamesJearl
Aaronnib
Cireinnox
Superdave
Mac427
Forum Stats:
Groups: 11
Forums: 42
Topics: 16630
Posts: 145918

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 88
Members: 11180
Moderators: 4
Admins: 1
Administrators: Jody
Moderators: lbruce, Charger Fan, rwsem, SCORPIO