Swapping grip plates is straightforward if you prefer something less belligerent.. It is fine to collect GI guns, but if you are going to bet your life on a handgun, you need good sights. This pistol also features a light rail for mounting combat lights. 's blog. A quite different pistol from Dan Wesson is the Specialist. I have the Dan Wesson commander classic bobtail. The Pointman features fully-adjustable rear sights. The overall weight of the Specialist is just over 42oz. Fit, finish, & operation all superb would highly recommend. The reset is short with a defined audible click making it clear the gun is ready to fire again. The low-profile Novak-style front sights are a great addition to the pistol. Dan Wesson ships the pistol and two eight-round magazines with extended base pads. The manufacturer states that this pistol sports an undercut triggerguard, and thats my only bone of contention with this pistol. The company was founded by the great-grandson of the founders of Smith & Wesson. All comments are held for moderation and will appear after approval. Dan Wesson offers the Specialist in 9mm, 45 ACP and 10mm with a Black Duty finish or bead-blasted stainless steel finish. 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 . With a forged slide and receiver and all steel parts, durability will not be an issue. The front of the rear sight has a nice ledge Dan Wesson states it has an abrupt front face so you can rack the slide one-handed on a hard surface if you need to. Lots of people love a Commander-sized 1911. Compare. It is no secret Dan Wesson is one of my favorite 1911 manufacturers, but that is with good reason, and the Specialist is no exception. Three shot groups fired from a rest at twenty-five yards. Range Review: Dan Wesson TCP 1911. The frontstrap of the frame and the mainspring housing feature 25 lines-per-inch (lpi) checkering. Facing off in a handgun challenge featuring the smallest professional-grade enclosed red dot sight on the market, Eric and Tom put the Acro P-2 to the distance test by doing a walk-back challenge. Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist 45 ACP 5" Barrel GI#: 102218441 MANUFACTURER: CZ-USA FAMILY: 1911 Style Pistol Series MODEL: Specialist TYPE: Semi-Auto Pistol ACTION: Single Action CALIBER/GAUGE: 45 ACP FINISH: Stainless FINISH TYPE: Stainless Steel FRAME: .Click for more info Seller: Advanced Arms Area Code: 570 $1,780.00 DAN WESSON BRUIN 10MM One disadvantage to a magazine well is you need to use magazines with extended base pads. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. Dan Wesson 01814 Specialist 10mm 1911 5" Night Sights NIB $2095 Gun #: 979030594 Seller: Tactical Solutions GA Sales: 320 $2,095.00 Full Details 3 Image (s) CZ-USA Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless .45 ACP 5" 8 Rounds 01802 Gun #: 937506046 Seller: Ammo And Arms $1,749.99 Full Details 2 Image (s) Dan Wesson Specialist, 10mm, Matte Stainless NEW 01815 The VZ Grips G10 plates were very aggressive, allowing a firm purchase on the pistol. Be the first to review Dan Wesson Specialist .45ACP 5 Stainless BLEM. In cases such as these, aggressive grips are warranted. There is a new dog in the pen and I cant remember the model but they run 6,000$ grand and take six months to get it. Please use caution when giving personal payment information online. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The last change is the slide stop arm on the 2020 Specialist protrudes from the right side of the receiver a bit, as you expect on a 1911. MSRP. I would love to use this as a relaxed range day gun where you just take it out because you enjoy shooting. Its accuracy and overall comfort to shoot are something that cant be ignored either. For some reason, Dan Wesson discontinued the Specialist in 2019 but thankfully reintroduced it at SHOT show 2020 with some updated changes. Shot placement is vital. DAN WESSON VALOR V-BOB 1911 45 ACP $2,321.99 New Add to Cart DAN WESSON Specialist $2,200.99 New Add to Cart DAN WESSON TCP $1,867.99 New Add to Cart DAN WESSON PM-9 $1,816.99. They are rugged sights that leave behind any concern with the rigidity of the adjustable sight. We will notify you when the product arrives back in stock. The balance and handling of this size handgun make for good control when firing the .45 ACP cartridge. Accuracy has been excellent. I really like the idea of having a Picatinny rail on the bottom of the frame for light and laser attachments. This isnt my typical gun purchase but sometimes its alright just to buy firearms because you enjoy shooting a certain style. Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Night Sights $2,179.00 (Save up to 9%) Price $1,987.67 In Stock 01806 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson ECP 9 Pistol $1,705.00 (Save up to 6%) Price $1,606.82 01884 Dan Wesson Dan Wesson DWX Red Pistol 9mm 5" 19 RD $2,099.00 (Save up to 9%) Price $1,914.22 92001 Dan Wesson Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. 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. 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. What do you think of Dan Wesson 1911s? The pistol I received for testing is a full-size Specialist chambered in .45 ACP featuring Dan Wessons Distressed finish. I have found the pistols to be high-end in every sense, save for the price. The forged stainless steel slide wears our inverted top rib with a single amber tritium dot in the rear sight and a green lamp with white target ring in front. ), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (flint), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (perc), United States Patent Firearms Revolvers/Pistols, Century Arms International (CAI) - Shotguns. 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. With a standard magazine base pad, it is recessed. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Bought a Wilson Combat CQB. Height: 5.5 in. The simple rubber grips of the Heritage are replaced with high-quality checkered wooden grips. 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. Of course, the serrations on the rear of the sight and between the sights help eliminate glare when shooting in glaring or hard light. For night, the front night sight illuminates green while the rear dot glows yellow, allowing you to easily differentiate the front and rear in low and no-light situations. Ameriglo straight-eight night top the slide, allowing for a rapid flash sight picture by stacking the white dot on the front sight on top of the single dot on the serrated rear sight. This set up gives you quite the advantage in bright lights and low/no light conditions. Brand: Dan Wesson. Take a moment to also explore Handguns manufactured by Dan Wesson Firearms all of which can be found through here at discount prices on Danwessonfirearmstore.com. I am not a professional shooter by any means, and therefore do not require such a firearm. However, not all love is destined to be eternal. The trigger is adjustable for overtravel, but during the review, I did not change it. Our authorized dealers can be found here. To keep your hands on the gun when shooting, youve got some great grips as well as some very nice checkering. Still, with such a purpose-built fighting pistol, I can appreciate why those features and others were included. 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. The hammer on the Specialist Distressed is a rounded Commander-style hammer, which allows it to nestle snugly inside the beavertail grip safety. The same could be said for the accessory rail machined into the dust cover. models. The trigger on this Dan Wesson feels like it was looked over and hand-polished rather than just fitted like many standard 1911 companies. If you have questions about firearms, feel free to shoot me a message on my Instagram @fridgeoperator. Check Price . Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. 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 stainless model is extremely good looking so Im really hesitant to put a light on it, but with the black model, I would definitely utilize that rail more. 01806. How old was this article or how little research did the author do? Slide-to-frame-to-barrel fit is excellent, with no play. Proudly powered by WordPress I am not a huge fan of extended magazine wells on a pistol. Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 10mm Night Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 9mm Ni Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless 5" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Nigh Dan Wesson V-Bob Two-Tone 4.25" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Front NS, Dan Wesson V-Bob Stainless 4.25" Pistol 8 RD 45 ACP Front NS. I am completely satisfied with this pistol in its performance and accuracy. On the opposite end of the fire control group is a solid, extended trigger, which has a 1980s look to it. However, many of the custom 1911 houses these days are producing their guns assembly-line style, as opposed to one gun being brought to life by the hands of a single master craftsman. Kimber 1911 Custom Lw . We still have the accessory rail mFachined into the dust cover; it no longer has the additional slots closer to the trigger guard. The grip safety releases its hold on the trigger about halfway into compression. 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. You can unsubscribe at anytime. The new rifle is built on an aluminum billet chassis with carbon-fiber forend and cheek riser featuring V-block bedding. The recoil spring under the barrel, double camming surfaces on the lower barrel lug, and receiver-mounted slide release are used to raise and lower the barrel. Out Of Stock. The Mission of Cheaper Than Dirt! New to the 1911 platform. You ran 450 smc thru it? This item is no longer available. I picked up a few of the Wilson Combat Elite 10-round magazines with aluminum base plates. Your email address will not be published. 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 understand many will not agree. Designed with the needs of law enforcement in mind, the Specialist Distressed features many state-of-the-art tactical touches. Dan Wesson 1911 Specialist Distressed Specs Type: Hammer fired, semiautomatic Cartridge: .45 ACP Capacity: 8+1 rds. A pistol that is hand-fitted with forged parts is well worth its price. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. However, it is a welcome upgrade for a fighting handgun. What else could we argue about on a gun blog? MSRP on theDan Wesson Specialist is $1,825 for the 9mm, and a little more for the black variant. Can you please give me models for magazines fir the 45 and 10mm? This video assisted me in making the decision to buy one. The company was founded by the great-grandson of the founders of Smith & Wesson. The 2020 Specialist includes a few features I usually do not care for, such as the magazine well and forward cocking serrations. The Specialist Stainless was originally developed for police departments who seeked a more reliable and durable 1911 pistol. Greatly appreciate it. Even with standard loaded 147gr subsonic ammunition, the Dan Wesson Specialist cycles and locks to the rear which is awesome for a 9mm 1911. Take a moment to also explore Handguns manufactured by Dan Wesson Firearms all of which can be found through here at discount prices on Danwessonfirearmstore.com. With an 8 round magazine capacity and a 4.25 length barrel, the Commander Classic is such a tried and true essential to our lineup, it has withstood the test of time, maintaining its California legal status. It is the Duty finish that has been worn away in just the right way. [] My original review can be seen by following this link. All comments are held for moderation and will appear after approval. Required fields are marked *. The Heritage reflects Dan Wessons commitment to quality, but it wont break the bank. They run quite well. 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. I wanted to check out a mid-tier 1911 to check out what you get for the money. Width: 1.45 in. Offered in a full-size model, the Specialist Stainless sports a bead blasted stainless finish and is chambered in 10mm. The classic long-style trigger has a tiny bit of travel before hitting a defined wall and breaking just under 5lbs. All Rights Reserved. I decided to pick up a Dan Wesson and see what its all about. This pistol has a 5 match grade barrel, stackable tritium night sights, VZ Operator II G10 grips, ambidextrous thumb safety, black duty finish and comes with two 8 round magazines, a cable lock, the factory paperwork and a factory plastic hard case. Specialist - Dan Wesson Firearms UPDATED FOR 2020 Specialist View All MSRP $ 1,849.00 - $ 2,179.00 Updated for 2020. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. A deep beavertail with palm swell is well fit to the receiver, allowing for a solid purchase and positive grip safety disengagement. vs. Dan Wesson Specialist. This is one of the few guns I own that I really have just because I enjoy shooting it over everything. Please bear in mind this is my opinion. The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. Some complained about just how aggressive the G 10 stocks were. The Dan Wesson Specialist Commander 1911 has a match-grade 4.25-inch barrel. Dan Wesson gave the Specialist a classic long-style trigger with texturing on the face for a tactile grip. 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Most come sighted for the six oclock hold and 230-grain loads. All Rights Reserved. In all my reading and research over the past couple days I now find myself deciding between two DW 1911 models. 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! This semi auto pistol is ready to work, with fixed night sights and a tough, no-nonsense Cerakote finish that resists corrosion and The frame sports an integral 1913 Picatinny, 25 LPI . The people at my FFL are veterans of the industry and see a lot of firearms. Its a quality product and Im very happy its mine. A full-size 1911, this Specialist is chambered in 9mm and loaded with features to satisfy a public servant's special requirements. 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. Coupled with the pistols heavily checkered grips, this makes for excellent handling. Something great about a 1911 in my hand and the feel of it as Im shuffling through rounds, its something uniquely special. To be honest, the Specialist Distressed looks a lot like the blued 1911 that I carried for about a decade, except the bare metal where the bluing was worn off kept wanting to rust. Dan Wesson Vigil CCO 7 RD 45 ACP Cocobolo Shadow Grip (Save up to 1%) Price These magazines look great in the firearm and I have never had any issues with feeding despite this being a 1911 in 9mm. 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. The obvious differences between the two are the rail on the Specialist (which might make it more pleasant to shoot), and the top of slide serrations on the Specialist. Known as the Government Model type, the five-inch barrel steel-frame pistol weighs about 40 ounces. So, the next time you see fit to disparage that fella going on about his 1911-style pistol, look at your own autoloader and know that without John Browning and his 1911, you may have been carrying a Luger offspring, and no one wants that. The Vigil is the DW entry level gun and the Valor is, and has been for a long time, the flagship DW gun. 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. Home Firearms Handguns Review: Dan Wesson Specialist 1911 A Love Affair. I must admit Im leaning towards the 2011s like the Springfield Arms prodigy or the new Dan Wesson models. In the 1911 world, Dan Wesson has helped to separate the wheat from the chaff. The Specialist features a checkered front strap. Dan Wesson V-Bob 45 ACP Two-Tone 1911 Pistol with 10 Grips. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The Specialist ships with two 8-round magazines with bump pads (10 rounds in 9mm) and is available in either a matte stainless finish or our Duty Black finish, which makes for an especially hardy pistol that scoffs at everyday wear and tear. The first magazine of ammunition was shot offhand at a target 10 yards away, and every round went exactly where the front sight indicated. Quick view. $1,965.00 $1,849.99. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide, frame with 1913 rail, 25 LPI checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety and G10 VZ Operator II grips round out this package. Kimber 1911 For Sale . The Specialist and The Valor. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. With the rear sight incorporating a ledge, the pistol can be racked one-handed using a belt, tactical vest, jeans pocket, or table, for example. I never cleaned or oiled the gun before use and despite this, theDan Wesson Specialist worked flawlessly. Constructed with a forged stainless steel slide . If you wanted to throw a light on it and use it as a home defense gun, its fairly well set up with night sights and a weapon light slot. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. While this does not change the function of the serrations cutting glare between the sights, it does give the pistol a bit more of a traditional profile. 's blog. However, considering they aid you in funneling that fresh magazine into the gun and help with a speedy reload, I get why it was included with this pistol. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. This firearm is used and is sold as is, it comes with the original box and two mags. If you are looking to step up your self-defense sidearm, I highly recommend taking a look at the 2020 Specialist line. The pistol features ledge-type rear sights with a tritium insert.