Dan Wesson
Dan Wesson was founded in 1968 by Daniel B. Wesson II, the great-grandson of the legend Daniel B. Wesson, who co-founded Smith & Wesson more than a hundred years before, in 1852. He worked at his great-grandfather’s company for twenty-five years in quality control. But when the family business was acquired by Bangor-Punta in 1965, Wesson II left, cherishing the creation of his own company that would continue to follow the tradition of making the world’s finest revolvers.
Soon after the foundation, Wesson II signed a production agreement with a talented gunmaker Karl Lewis known for his modular designs. One of his inventions was the interchangeable barrel system incorporated in DW Models W8, W9, W11, and W12. Those were medium-framed revolvers in .38 Special or .357 Magnum, and they came with 2.5, 4, 6, and 8-inch barrels that could be changed in a couple of minutes.
In 1971, Dan Wesson Model 14 and 15 came to light. They used interchangeable barrels as well but had a better look due to the redesigned muzzle nut. Several years later, DW Models 14-2 and 15-2 appeared. Those Dan Wesson in .357 Magnum became extremely popular with hunters and target shooters and had a variety of barrel options, from 2.5 to 15 inches.
In the late 80s, Dan Wesson introduced Model 44, a large-framed revolver in .44 Magnum. At the time, the DW M44 gave the lightest recoil compared to other .44 Mag revolvers. The gun became popular among sportsmen, handgun hunters, and people who needed a weapon to defend against bears and predators.
After Wesson’s death in 1978, the company went through several upheavals, ownership changes, and bankruptcies. Since 2005, it’s been a part of CZ USA. Before this last purchase, the company sought diversification, which led to the introduction of DW 1911 pistols in 2000.
Today, the company continues to follow the line accepted on the cusp of millennia, designing and manufacturing iconic 1911 handguns in .45 ACP, 9mm, 10mm, and .38 Super. The most popular models include Specialist, Guardian, Pointman, and Heirloom.
At Gritr Sports, you’ll find iconic 1911 semi-automatic pistols from Dan Wesson Firearms in .45 ACP, 9mm, and other calibers. Shop and enjoy.