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Thread: Dan Wesson 1911 pistols

  1. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by d90king View Post
    You didn't just post a Dan Wesson dealer as validation for Dan Wesson pistols did you? Please stop. You have read in this thread that OWNERS (people who actually shoot them) of both would pick a Baer every time if the price was close and you post this guy to validate your bias to DW? Come on. That guy is selling guns and its why he maid his "chart" basically equal so he could say "cant go wrong with either" ... This guys opinion means nothing.

    The funniest part about it is I don't think a single bad thing has been said about DW other than their prices are now to high and you still feel the need to make your self feel better. If you want to believe that your DW is as good or better than a Baer, drive on and enjoy, but don't try and make us believe what you want to believe.

    No, I posted it because he's a gunsmith with intricate knowledge of BOTH guns. Yes he's a DW dealer. He's also a LB dealer. He did not state that either manufacturer or gun was better than one or the other. He simply posted his opinion on a basic breakdown of both guns. He's also respected by many over on the 1911 forum as a knowledgable 'smith who's opinion should at the very least be taken into consideration. I posted it so that the OP could read another thread on a forum dedicated to the 1911 platform with posts form owners of BOTH guns. If you read the entire thread I linked, many as such here, stated their preference to the LB over the DW. No where do I state that DW is better and to buy it over the LB. I've posted here because the OP asked questions in regards to DW. The OP didn't ask about LB in his original post. You brought that to this thread and my links are to another thread on the same subject this thread has moved into to.

    For those of you with Dan Wesson 1911 pistols, I would like to get your opinion on them.
    I own one and can give personal experience. I've stated that I own a DW and like it very much and have had good results. I also state for the purpose of honesty that I MAY be biased.

    I never stated that DW makes a better gun than LB or the opposite. I don't need to make myself feel better as I really don't know which is better since I haven't owned or used a LB. It seems you need to make yourself feel better as you're the one that has decided to attack every post I make in regards to DW. Posts that don't contradict anything you or anyone else has stated. Posts that contain information in regards to DW as that is the only brand I'm familiar with. Do you own both? Have you used both? If so, is the DW a 2010 production version? But I guess you have decided which is better and anyone who thinks differently or wants to discuss another brand is just wrong.

    So if you want to believe that your Baer is as good or better than any other 1911, drive on and enjoy, but don't try and make us believe what you want to believe.

  2. #22
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    Owned several 1911's... still own my Dan Wesson V-bob. Has been perfect for me and I use it as a winter carry gun. It is less tight then certain custom guns that I have used, but I dont really care. It goes bang every time and typically hits what I aim at. So, I guess you could say I'm a satisfied customer.

  3. #23
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    My dan wesson expirence is that they are like race cars- they are finiky, need premium fuel, and a tight maint schedule. If you can do that for them, then look out because they are sweet shooters.

    I have a DW CBOB, and it is my primary carry gun, but it is also the pickiest 1911 I own. It is the first to not like a magazine or hickup on a reloaded round of ammunition that isn't just so (been fighting that battle awhile). If I feed it what it likes and keep it cleaned and lubed- it runs great (but I try to do that for all my guns anyway). If you want a 1911 that you can treat like a glock, DW is not for you IMO.

    The difference between DW and other production guns IMO, is that where others error on the side of being too loose...DW errors on the side of being to tight. I also agree they used to be a great value (like when I bought mine) but now they kind of priced themselves out of their niche. For what they want now, you can buy semi-customs that are fitted to the same or tighter standards with greater attention to detail. Les Baer is a name that comes to mind.

  4. #24
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    Based on this picture of my own CCO, you might be able to guess at what I'm about to say.

    Get a DW CCO and you won't be disappointed. I was shooting mine this morning and smiling the whole time.

    Get a Les Baer and you won't be disappointed. Get an Ed Brown and you won't be disappointed.

    Any of them are fantastic guns. Firearms instill more brand loyalty and bigotry than just about anything else, it seems.

    Here's the thing. If you want a Corvette, don't go drive a Ferrari first. Of course the opposite doesn't hold true, if you can get a Ferrari then drive all the Vettes you want, it won't change your mind about the Ferrari.

    1911s come in all flavors in a CCO package. How much do you want to spend? Why not a T3 from Nighthawk? Why not a Wilson CQB Compact? The sky's the limit (if your wallet is the sky, that is).

    My point is that really, once you pass a certain price point then you really are down to which gun causes a pleasant emotional response in you when you see it. Because most of them at those price points and higher are going to be damn nice reliable weapons. If a Dan Wesson CCO does it for you, then get one. I promise you'll be happy. I love mine but I guarantee I won't shoot a Wilson or Nighthawk because then I might love it just a little less.

    And I'm going to ruffle some feathers here but it drives me nuts when people say, "Get a Colt, throw a reliability package and some other parts on it." If you are buying something you think you are immediately going to have to fix, well, I think I'll look elsewhere(I own one of those Colts, BTW. It's had TWO Wilson reliability packages now and is in bad need of a third apparently). Yes all 1911s, even expensive custom ones, may need tuned, but to buy a Colt planning on tuning it? C'mon. How many people do you hear say, "Buy a 6920 and throw another $400 into it and it'll be better than most other ARs"?

    My CCO-owning two cents.

    p.s. Get the CCO
    p.s.s. I do agree with multiple above posters. DW has potentially priced itself out of the niche it built for itself. While I might think it's as good as a Les Baer for the same money as a Les Baer...well we all know what "as good as" is worth around here. Also, it is built quite tightly. Now so are Ed Browns. Tight doesn't necessarily mean unreliable but I will agree that it does take some TLC when stripping and cleaning. It shoots everything for me, however.
    Last edited by jaydoc1; 01-05-11 at 00:40.
    Quote Originally Posted by Crow Hunter
    You don't change peoples minds by reinforcing stereotypes.

  5. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by jaydoc1 View Post


    Based on this picture of my own CCO, you might be able to guess at what I'm about to say.

    Get a DW CCO and you won't be disappointed. I was shooting mine this morning and smiling the whole time.

    Get a Les Baer and you won't be disappointed. Get an Ed Brown and you won't be disappointed.

    Any of them are fantastic guns. Firearms instill more brand loyalty and bigotry than just about anything else, it seems.

    Here's the thing. If you want a Corvette, don't go drive a Ferrari first. Of course the opposite doesn't hold true, if you can get a Ferrari then drive all the Vettes you want, it won't change your mind about the Ferrari.

    1911s come in all flavors in a CCO package. How much do you want to spend? Why not a T3 from Nighthawk? Why not a Wilson CQB Compact? The sky's the limit (if your wallet is the sky, that is).

    My point is that really, once you pass a certain price point then you really are down to which gun causes a pleasant emotional response in you when you see it. Because most of them at those price points and higher are going to be damn nice reliable weapons. If a Dan Wesson CCO does it for you, then get one. I promise you'll be happy. I love mine but I guarantee I won't shoot a Wilson or Nighthawk because then I might love it just a little less.

    And I'm going to ruffle some feathers here but it drives me nuts when people say, "Get a Colt, throw a reliability package and some other parts on it." If you are buying something you think you are immediately going to have to fix, well, I think I'll look elsewhere(I own one of those Colts, BTW. It's had TWO Wilson reliability packages now and is in bad need of a third apparently). Yes all 1911s, even expensive custom ones, may need tuned, but to buy a Colt planning on tuning it? C'mon. How many people do you hear say, "Buy a 6920 and throw another $400 into it and it'll be better than most other ARs"?

    My CCO-owning two cents.

    p.s. Get the CCO
    p.s.s. I do agree with multiple above posters. DW has potentially priced itself out of the niche it built for itself. While I might think it's as good as a Les Baer for the same money as a Les Baer...well we all know what "as good as" is worth around here. Also, it is built quite tightly. Now so are Ed Browns. Tight doesn't necessarily mean unreliable but I will agree that it does take some TLC when stripping and cleaning. It shoots everything for me, however.
    That's one of the most intelligent and well stated posts I've read in a long time. Once you are north of the $1200 mark, you really have to shoot 1911's a lot to notice and appreciate the difference. There IS a difference, but it may or may not be value added for you.

    Les Baer is the king of tight though. They have a reputation for being a little tigher than everybody else and staying that way (not loosening up over time). I have a friend who was getting a quote on having one built and really talking details with CS over there. He said that they said- if they build the pistols any tighter, it wouldn't work.

  6. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colo.TJ View Post
    This was posted recently on the 1911 forums by Dave Severns....
    I think Dave is a genuine guy but I lost some respect for him when he closed down my thread questioning the quality of some of Dan Wesson's parts. After having three parts failures with two guns I think my concern was legitimate. Now he is saying that a DW can hold it's own against a Baer?

    He also focuses more on accuracy than reliability which is the opposite of what you really need in a carry pistol. As an owner of both brands I think I know and understand the differences- DW makes a good product, enough that I would trust the latest offering with my life but not enough to pay more for it.

    When Dan Wesson has the track record of Les Baer then they can charge the higher prices but until then I think the only thing they have going for them is the black cerakote over stainless. An Ionbonded Baer would be the ticket.
    "The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." John Steinbeck

  7. #27
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    ^^ agreed. Dave has worked on my DW, but DW has kind of turned into a cult following over there. DW owners used to be kind of an elite group over there who had intelligent conversations, now that word is out about DW that sub-forum has gone the way of glock talk. God forbid you say anything other than DW is awesome and swear your allegence to COTEP (what a crock that is...they even sell membership cards).

  8. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by MarshallDodge View Post
    When Dan Wesson has the track record of Les Baer then they can charge the higher prices but until then I think the only thing they have going for them is the black cerakote over stainless. An Ionbonded Baer would be the ticket.
    Just as an FYI, the new DW "Duty Coat" is a melonite type finish rather than the old ceramic/cerakote.
    Last edited by eternal24k; 01-06-11 at 08:01.

  9. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by eternal24k View Post
    Just as an FYI, the new DW "Duty Coat" is a melonite type finish rather than the old ceramic/cerakote.
    That is good to know.
    "The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." John Steinbeck

  10. #30
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    Just a few quick thoughts.

    The new Dan Wesson's Valor models have improved small parts, forged frames, better checkering, undercut trigger guard, improved sights and a better finish(the new Ionbond type finish, on some models) than older Dan Wesson models. And many would say better fit and finish as well. So to compare an older DW to a Les Baer and say that the newer Dan Wesson models aren't worth the price doesn't make any sense really as they aren't one and the same.

    Saying a used Les Baer, Ed Brown, etc. costs the same as a new Valor is kind of a silly argument...I could just reply and say to go find a user Valor because it will cost the same as a high end Kimber.

    Speaking of price, a stainless Valor can be found new for under $1400. They really aren't priced the same as a Les Baer. If your talking about the black finished ones then its going to be close to the Baer...but then you are comparing a gun with a $300 Ionbond type finish to a traditional blue finish. Refinish the Baer in Ionbond and then compare prices again.

    I'm not trying to imply that Dan Wesson's Valor models are just as good or better than a Baer but they are comparable in terms of quality of parts used at least if not fit and finish as well(Haven't had close up time with a Baer so its not my place to make blanket statements about which is "better" in that regard.) I would say that you could probably trust the Baer name more than Dan Wesson but that also doesn't mean that a Valor won't run just as well as a Baer.

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