dan wesson 1911 specialist

Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist Distressed Specs Type: Hammer fired, semiautomatic Cartridge: .45 ACP Capacity: 8+1 rds. Notify me about new product releases, reviews, and coupon codes. Coupled with the pistols heavily checkered grips, this makes for excellent handling. They run quite well. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights (Save up to 9%) Price $1987.67. This firearm is used and is sold as is, it comes with the original box and two mags. A full-size 1911, this Specialist is chambered in 9mm and loaded with features to satisfy a public servant's special requirements. This video assisted me in making the decision to buy one. Coupled with the front strap and mainspring housing checkered (25 lines per inch), and deep beavertail, it was easy to lock this pistol up. Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Stainless sports a bead blasted stainless finish and is chambered in .45ACP. The closest I can get to this caliber of firearm is my Kimber Target Eclipse II in 45. Even the same bullet weight will strike to a different point of impact at different velocity. What else could we argue about on a gun blog? There is no internal firing pin safety on this pistol, as God and John Moses Browning intended; in 1911 slang, it has a Series 70 trigger system. The Heritage reflects Dan Wessons commitment to quality, but it wont break the bank. Compare . The rear sight is drift adjustable via a set screw. The built-in magwell lets you run the longer 10-round baseplate magazines without having the magazine stick out. Im a Police Officer and Firearms Instructor and we have to carry Glock 40 caliber. Colt Pistols are renowned for their comfort, accuracy, and power. Another design benefit of the sights are the serrations on the rear of the sight that reduce or eliminate glare when shooting in hard light. The frame sports an integral 1913 Picatinny, 25 LPI front strap checkering, undercut trigger guard and recessed slide stop to enable the installation of laser grips. The Mission of Cheaper Than Dirt! They are full size 1911s. The A2 Commander is an outstanding example of the iconic John Moses Browning design. Old-school flush seven- and eight-round magazines will still work in the Specialist Distressed, but youll have to press them in with the tip of a finger as theyll sit up inside that oversized magwell. We were created to support the unique needs of the Dan Wesson firearm industry, and we're here to support you in making an informed Dan Wesson purchase. That said, if I have the money and the opportunity, yes I will buy one. The finish has been distressed right where the guns finish would be worn away by a hand and a holster, and it is the same price as the standard Specialist with the black Duty finish, so they dont charge you for the distressed look. It looks like its been riding around in a leather holster for a few years, only without the accompanying dings and divots in the steel and grips youd usually see. Dan Wesson. Proudly powered by WordPress Throwback Thursday: Taurus Judge Range Report, ATI Milsport SGA 410 All the Advantages of an AR in .410, Ruger SR1911 LW Commander The Lightweight .45 ACP, Rifle Hack: Sighting for 100 Yards at a Distance of 25 Yards, Throwback Thursday: All About Bullet Grain. Compare . This checkering helps when the hand is sweaty or cold. For some reason, Dan Wesson discontinued the Specialist in 2019 but thankfully reintroduced it at SHOT show 2020 with some updated changes. Detail stripping the gun at the end of the review confirmed all the parts held up well and showed no signs of ill fit or premature wear. The tritium insert on the rear sight does not have a colored ring around it to draw your eye away from the ever-important front sight. Slide travel is smooth. The pistol features ledge-type rear sights with a tritium insert. Ensure youre not using 10mm mags in your 45 and vice versa. Overall Thoughts SAO Competition Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger, 45 ACP . As you see above on the first photograph with the extended base pad, when you slam it home, the base is about flush with the magazine well. The Specialist features a checkered front strap. Quick view. Dan Wesson Valor 9mm, Black, Night Sights,, rd, 10 rd. Truly, reliability is the heart and soul of a pistol. That weight helps keep recoil down when shooting .45s, and Im guessing the 9mm version of this pistol is a pussycat. Kimber 1911 Custom Lw . models. You can unsubscribe at anytime. As you might have guessed, the appearance of the Specialist Distressed made me a bit nostalgic for my old single-stack carry gun. Brand: Dan Wesson. This is one of the few guns I own that I really have just because I enjoy shooting it over everything. It does not stick out any farther than the grip panels but is very easy to use. A quite different pistol from Dan Wesson is the Specialist. The following websites are NOT affiliated with Dan Wesson. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. All comments are held for moderation and will appear after approval. Your email address will not be published. Speaking of magazines, the Specialist incorporates a magazine well. After some 500 rounds downrange with various magazines, various rounds, and several folks running the pistol, we had zero malfunctions. -. Specialist - Dan Wesson Firearms UPDATED FOR 2020 Specialist View All MSRP $ 1,849.00 - $ 2,179.00 Updated for 2020. The pistol features ledge-type rear sights with a tritium insert. So, quality magazines and SAAMI spec ammunition are paramount. The Duty finish and internals have held up ideally, considering Ive treated this pistol as a tool, not a safe queen. I find this D.W. 1911 to be as fine as some full custom built 1911s on the market today and all for a very reasonable price. They can tell you what dovetail cut is on your DW and provide you with multiple options.They can install your sight or you can do it you self. The frame sports an integral 1913 Picatinny, 25 LPI . This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Accuracy has been excellent. That being said, the magazine you select has as much, or maybe more, to do with reliability than the ammo. Stay safe out there. Whenever I take someone out for the first time shooting, I think this would be a good candidate to start with just since its a soft shooter and easily controlled. Speaking of the 9mm version, it ships with two 10-round magazines. The Specialist features a checkered front strap. I know 500 rounds is not a tremendous amount of rounds downrange, but if something were amiss with this pistol, it would have shown up, especially shooting the DoubleTap .450 SMC. A full-size 1911, the Specialist is chambered in .45 ACP, 10mm, or 9mm and loaded with features to satisfy a public servants special requirements. Check Price . I saw it in the gun shop just window shopping and had to have it. (no magazine) Finish: Distressed Duty Safeties: Grip, thumb Sights: AmeriGlo night sights Trigger: 4.5 lbs. Known as the Government Model type, the five-inch barrel steel-frame pistol weighs about 40 ounces. Swapping grip plates is straightforward if you prefer something less belligerent.. Initially, the Specialist was offered in a 9mm Luger and .45 Auto, it can now also be had in 10mm Auto. When you drive the mag home in the Specialist, you may need to use your thumb to ensure the magazine is fully seated. How old was this article or how little research did the author do? Dan Wesson Firearm Store, we take once-complex purchasing processes and turn them into simple. Keep in mind that the general relationship of entry-level and high-end remains, even when the name of the pistol may change. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Through our Dan Wesson Custom Shop, our craftsman rely on skill, hard work, and American industry to transform your 1911 into a piece so individual, it becomes a piece of your history. The Shooter's Log, is to provide informationnot opinionsto our customers and the shooting community. Antique (Pre-1899) Rifles - Flintlock Misc, Antique (Pre-1899) Rifles - Matchlock/Wheellock Misc, Century Arms International (CAI) - Rifles, Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Rifles (perc), Winchester Rifles - Modern Bolt/Auto/Single, Winchester Rifles - Pre-1899 Bolt/Single Shot, Century Arms International (CAI) - Pistols, Colt Automatic Pistols (.25, .32, & .380 cal), Colt Single Action Revolvers - Modern (22 Cal. 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It is fine to collect GI guns, but if you are going to bet your life on a handgun, you need good sights. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide, frame with 1913 rail, 25 LPI checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and G10 VZ Operator II grips round . Something great about a 1911 in my hand and the feel of it as Im shuffling through rounds, its something uniquely special. The chamber of the barrel on my .45 ACP pistol is throated and polished, and the barrel-bushing-to-slide fit . There are plenty of companies making $3,000+ 1911s on the market but there arent a ton in that mid-tier level. My test sample is .45 ACP with the black finish. The rear sight is drift adjustable via a set screw. Buy a Dan Wesson For sale: One (1) new in box Dan Wesson Specialist, .45 ACP. The slide release also seems to be a nonstandard design and is just a hair larger than the GI model. The tactical rail on the pistol is a MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for mounting lights and/or lasers. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. Fixed Night Sight, A Novak-style snag-free sight with tritium self-illuminated vials. Tactical Rear Sight, With an abrupt front face, our tactical rear sight allows for one-handed racking of the slide and has a single tritium vial dead-center below the sights notch. Front Serrations, Forward cocking serrations give solid purchase for press-checks. Inverted Rib, To cut down on glare our top rib is cut into the slide. Ball End Mill Cut, This cut accentuates the carry cut and slightly modifies the appearance. Tactical Hammer, The skeletonized hammer helps to reduce weight and maintains the clean look of the pistol. Long Solid Trigger, A long solid trigger was used to give a traditional look and incorporate a serrated face. Ambi Safety, Grip Safety, An ambidextrous safety allows for an easy to access to the safety for both left-handed and right-hand shooters. Rail, Equipped with a 1913 Picatinny rail, adding a light or laser is a simple operation. Mainspring Housing Checkering, Our 25 LPI checkering on the flat mainspring housing provides the means for a superb grip. Magwell, Reloads are made easy, our magwell helps to funnel the fresh mag into the gun. Richard C. Brown Owner Of AMERICAN COMBAT, Your email address will not be published. If you are looking to step up your self-defense sidearm, I highly recommend taking a look at the 2020 Specialist line. Is it worth the little bit of extra cost or are there better options out there? Fortunately, my affinity for that pistol was not a flash in the pan, if you will allow me a tired cliche. The ambidextrous thumb safety is standard. Even with standard loaded 147gr subsonic ammunition, the Dan Wesson Specialist cycles and locks to the rear which is awesome for a 9mm 1911. All Rights Reserved. I carried the Specialist with the light attached for over a month with zero issues. While at the 2020 SHOT show, I spoke with Talon Holsters about my issue and was told to email them what handgun I was running and what light and they would get me something put together. The same could be said for the accessory rail machined into the dust cover. I did want to add my Streamlight TLR 1 HL, as reviewed here, but I had a tough time finding a holster to accommodate a 1911 Government Model with a light attached. This semi auto pistol is ready to work, with fixed night sights and a tough, no-nonsense Cerakote finish that resists corrosion and If I had to describe Dan Wesson 1911s, it would be as the most perennially underappreciated, best-value-for-the-price semicustom 1911s on the market. On top of the stainless steel frame and slide, Dan Wesson has applied their Duty finish, which is ferritic nitrocarburizing, known in other places by proprietary names such as Melonite. It is finished off with a set of G10 VZ Operator II grips that force the hand into the beavertail and hold it there. Tactical night sights top the slide, allowing for a rapid flash sight picture by stacking the front sights white dot over the white dot in the serrated rear sight for daytime shooting. Without that, nothing else matters. Those jacketed hollowpoints (JHPs) and every type of ammo I tried ran flawlessly through the Specialist Distressed. The slide-lock safety indents properly. The frontstrap of the frame and the mainspring housing feature 25 lines-per-inch (lpi) checkering. Please bear in mind this is my opinion. The overtravel can be adjusted, but I elected to leave it as set as it came from the factory. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. The Judge has been promoted! The grip safety releases its hold on the trigger about halfway into compression. 12pm-6pm CST Mon However, for an actual undercut triggerguard, where the line from the triggerguard doesnt go straight back to the frame but rather curves upward before hitting the front strap, youre probably going to have to buy a dedicated competition pistol made by small shops youve likely never heard of, which will cost you a lot more than the Specialist Distressed. The feed ramp is properly polished with the requisite 1/32nd-inch grp between the two parts of the feed ramp. When you work with loadings from 160 to 250 grains in the .45 ACP pistol, the ability to sight the pistol in is important. In my opinion, the difference between a Dan Wesson 1911 and a custom 1911 isnt fit or quality, it is that Dan Wesson isnt known as a custom 1911 shop. For years, I worshipped at the altar of the 1911 and the .45 ACP cartridge; looking at the big cavity on the Hydra-Shok, its easy to remember why. Home Firearms Handguns Review: Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 A Love Affair. With a standard magazine base pad, it is recessed, so when you slam it home, you may need to use your thumb to ensure the magazine is fully seated. I get it for a fighting pistol like this you may be sweating, bleeding, have gloves and such and such stocks are warranted, but for range use, I added a set of Alumagrips, still plenty of aggressive but not as much as the G 10s and added a bit of comfort for some of the folks helping out. But its not the reliability of the Specialist Distressed that makes it stand out; its the custom-grade fit, the accuracy and the distressed finish that distinguishes this 1911 from the rest. Did you swap springs? DW 1911 Features: Hand fit 70 series frame and slide Hand fit match barrels Hand fit match grade components throughout Zero MIM parts Carry bevel treatment | Models include Pointman, V-Bob, Specialist, ECO, Heritage . I wondered, Once the new wore off, would the pistol be regulated to some dark corner of my strongbox? Dan Wesson Kodiak Tri-Tone 10mm 6" Pistol, Dan Wesson Specialist 10mm 5 Black BLEM, Dan Wesson Specialist Distressed .45 ACP 5 Pistol. Dan Wesson 1911 TCP 9 RD 9mm 4" Pistol (Save up to 8%) Price $1702.95. Nothing earth-shattering, but they just reintroduced and updated Dan Wesson Specialist chambered in .45 Auto recently walked into my life. The serrations of the top of the slide are no longer machined into a raised rib, but they are machined into the top of the slide. The rear half of the grips have an angled grooving, and the front half of the grips have a sharp-edged pocking that Ive termed tactical golf ball texture. The grips are held in place by Allen-head screws. Care and feeding of the Dan Wesson Specialist. The one disadvantage to a magazine well is you should be running magazines with extended base pads. Im an average joe that really loves talking with other people about firearms and other passions. Let me know what you think about Dan Wessons down in the comments below. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films. In all my reading and research over the past couple days I now find myself deciding between two DW 1911 models. The Specialists trigger left little to be desired. Be the first to review Dan Wesson Specialist .45ACP 5 Stainless BLEM. This is about as good as you can get before going fully hand-built by an experienced gunsmith, and for the price, Im really happy with this 1911. Wear was minimal and all internals were in ideal condition. SAO Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger, 10mm Auto, 45 ACP . Hand fit and hand polish are important components of the 1911 handgun. It is the Duty finish that has been worn away in just the right way. Fit, finish, & operation all superb would highly recommend. Federal Power-Shok Ammo 12 Gauge 3" Rifle ProMag FN Five-seveN 30 Round Polymer Mag HK VP9 Optics Plate #2 - Trijicon RMR / H Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights, Dan Wesson Vigil CCO 7 RD 45 ACP Cocobolo Shadow Grip, Dan Wesson Eco 8 RD 9mm Pistol Night Sights, Dan Wesson 1911 Kodiak 8 RD 10mm 6.03" Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Kodiak 8 RD 10mm 6.03" Gray Slide Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Bruin 8 RD 10mm 6.03" Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Pointman 45 8 RD 45 ACP 5" Stainless Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Pointman Seven 8 RD 45 ACP 5" Stainless Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Guardian 9 RD 38 Super 4.25" Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Guardian 8 RD 45 ACP 4.25" Pistol, Dan Wesson 1911 Guardian 9 RD 9mm 4.25" Pistol, Dan Wesson Wraith Distressed Stainless Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP, Dan Wesson Razorback 1911 Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm. With us, you can get top-rated yet cheap guns and upgrade them in a snap, all these for the sake of our customers hassle-free experience. I have a Pointman and it was love at first sight. It seems like every time i buy magazine even it says universal 1911.. it does not work right..meaning, it will fit but once i cock the slide it will not release. The price of 45 ACP has skyrocketed since 2020 as well so having a classic 1911 chambered in 9mm will give you that same feeling but will be much more affordable to use every day. The slide and frame of each Dan Wesson pistol slide together with a tight accuracy-promoting standard. While all of the other Specialist models are available in 9mm or .45 ACP, at the moment the Specialist Distressed is only available in .45 ACP. Ive shot some top shelf 1911s and mine can run neck and neck. These are credible handguns with excellent performance and more than a little pride of ownership. Let us know in the comments below! Your email address will not be published. Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Stainless sports a bead blasted stainless finish and is chambered in .45ACP. Shopping with us is absolutely safe - you never have to worry about credit card safety when shopping here Share your latest AR build or photos from the range with #RangeDayFriday for a chance to win a new firearm! Can you please give me models for magazines fir the 45 and 10mm? Dan Wesson gave the Specialist a classic long-style trigger with texturing on the face for a tactile grip. While aesthetics is often considered when buying a handgun, whats under the hood is far greater in importance. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. The manufacturer states that this pistol sports an undercut triggerguard, and thats my only bone of contention with this pistol. Equipped with an ambidextrous thumb safety, extended magazine release, and detachable magwell, the Specialist is operator-friendly. This is so if you want to install laser grips on your pistol, where the laser is usually positioned at the top of the right grip and aiming down the frame, the tip of the slide-stop pin is no longer in the way of the laser beam. Of course, the serrations on the rear of the sight and between the sights help eliminate glare when shooting in glaring or hard light. They are rugged sights that leave behind any concern with the rigidity of the adjustable sight. Up for auction is a used Dan Wesson Specialist chambered in .45 acp. Youll have to wait but its so worth it when you open up that package. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. Dan Wesson V-Bob 45 ACP Two-Tone 1911 Pistol with 10 Grips. The provided Dan Wesson magazines have polymer basepads that assist in seating a magazine, especially at speed. Dan Wesson ships the pistol and two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. This item is no longer available. The Specialist and The Valor. Whether you agree with me or not, that is just fine. I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Add on the fact it has night sights and a great trigger and you can argue it as a viable self-defense gun if you want carry a single stack pistol. Even with the extended base pad, its about flush with the magazine well on the Specialist. Their new Specialist Distressed is no exception. A quality 1911 will last longer with hand fitting, as good fit means that eccentric wear is less. I really like the idea of having a Picatinny rail on the bottom of the frame for light and laser attachments. I am a dyed-in-the-wool, hard-headed, and somewhat unreasonable 1911 guy. The Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless is available in eight-round .45 ACP or ten-round 9mm, and also comes in a Black .45 ACP caliber model. We do not sell or share your information with anyone. vs. Dan Wesson Specialist. The Shooter's Log, is to provide informationnot opinionsto our customers and the shooting community. We still have the accessory rail mFachined into the dust cover; it no longer has the additional slots closer to the trigger guard. 12pm-6pm CST Mon Tripp Research and Wilson Combat mags will be your go to. Required fields are marked *. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide, frame with 1913 rail, 25 LPI checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and G10 VZ Operator II grips . Required fields are marked *. Breaking clean at 4.75 pounds, the Specialists trigger features just enough take-up to prep the trigger, combined with minimal overtravel to facilitate correct follow-through. Dan Wesson Vigil CCO 7 RD 45 ACP Cocobolo Shadow Grip (Save up to 1%) Price The Dan Wesson Specialist sits in a mid-tier price range but offers a ton of semi-custom gun shop items without paying the crazy prices of high-end custom shops.