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Finish on Dan Wesson Revolver ?

SoCo Dav
A friend just showed me his Dan Wesson 357 revolver & I was stunned at the quality of the bluing. I have a few 'blued' guns, NONE anything like the D wesson !
The Dan Wesson Collectors assoc (http://dwcollectors.org/?p=68)
says

Dan Wesson revolvers are legendary for quality craftsmanship, and blue versions are particularly noted for a deep "mirror-like" finish. The Dan Wesson story embodies the Golden Age of American Firearms development and manufacture, and is the epitome of American manufacturing innovation and excellence.

When I ask to have one of my revolvers (S&W #13) REblued to match the Dan Wesson WHAT SHOULD I ASK FOR, SPECIFY ?
Thanks
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • asphalt cowboy
    Just ask them if they are familiar with the blue of the Monson Mass. DW mod.15. If they are, tell them that's what you want.
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  • andrewsw16
    I have one also. As you state, DW's have a very high quality deep mirror finish. It beats the heck out of my S&W, even though it has a very nice high gloss finish.

    Try contacting them directly with your question. We'd all like to hear their answer. They are now owned by CZ and can be reached on the internet.
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  • tsr1965
    SoCo Dav,

    For that kind of finnishing job, you are going to easily have at least $150.00-200.00 invested. It would be my advice, to leave the S&W alone, and look over on the auction side and get yourself a nice Dan Wesson.

    Best
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  • azpowerwagon
    Ask your gunsmith for a Master Polish blue finish. And tell him to please leave the lettering/insignia and edges as they were prior to polishing. The results are not cheap as noted. If you want cheap then just have it bead blasted and dipped[:D]. More hand work involved and all the screw holes should not be polished over without dummy screws placed in them, otherwise they end up looking like a funnel opening. It's your firearm and you can have it your way.
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  • 11b6r
    I have a DW Model 15 that I bought in 1978, carried as a daily weapon for many years- bluing still looks like a black mirror, great trigger, more accurate than many match guns. IMHO, one of the more underappreciated guns made.
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  • SoCo Dav
    quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
    IMHO, one of the more under appreciated guns made.


    When I looked around for 'Value' on my friends Dan Wesson, the internets said they consistently sold for MUCH more than their 'blue book', so maybe not so misunder-appreciated after all..

    Thanks for all the responses
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by SoCo Dav
    When I ask to have one of my revolvers (S&W #13) REblued to match the Dan Wesson WHAT SHOULD I ASK FOR, SPECIFY ?
    Thanks


    As mentioned, you'd want the "master blue" job done.

    Its not just the bluing, but carefully polishing the gun to a mirror like finish everywhere BEFORE dipping it in the blue tank that creates the black finish with the super-depth appearance.

    Doing the refinish isn't easy; it requires a good bit of practice and experience to get it right without messing up the details on the gun. Consequently not everyone who offers a re-blue is able to achieve these sorts of results.

    Its your money, of course, but instead of having your Smith refinished this way, I'd agree with TSR.

    Unless you happen to live right next to one of the few individuals who do this, once you factor in shipping costs, you're probably not going to get a true master-reblue job done for under $300, or in some cases even more. EG:

    http://www.fordsguns.com/index2-1.htm
    http://www.gunbluing.com/price_list.htm

    In my opinion it simply doesn't pay to sink $300 into refinishing a $350 gun only to end up with a $400 gun.

    If you're after that particular finish, I'd suggest either buying a Dan Wesson or a Colt Python instead (those are also known for their spectacular bluing. . .plus they aren't bad "shooters" either!).

    Either way, the gun will probably appreciate in time and you won't lose money with your investment.
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  • SoCo Dav
    quote:Originally posted by andrewsw16
    As you state, DW's have a very high quality deep mirror finish.
    Try contacting them directly with your question. We'd all like to hear their answer. They are now owned by CZ and can be reached on the internet.

    I wrote CZ tec support, here's their reply

    Thank you for the compliments. We just call it a gloss blue finish.

    Keith Lawton
    Operations manager
    Dan Wesson Firearms
    CZ-USA

    11b6r has a very accurate description
    "(the) bluing still looks like a black mirror"
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