My new (old) DW 38 Special

[Feldhege]

Hello,
  Just thought I would post my latest DW purchase. I found at the gun show today a DW with the L shaped barrel on it. The frame has a very small grip compared to my other DW 357. The gun is stamped Model 15 on the frame but the barrel has 38 special stamped on it. I thought the Model 15 was a 357? This gun also had an adjustable rear sight with HUGE adjustment screws. The bluing looks good on the barrel and the cover plate on the side. It looks OK (still shiny) on the rest of the frame but the color looks a little more charcoal then dark blue. If I am to believe the shop owner, he got it from the widow from an estate sale. He knew nothing more about it. There are no dings in it except on little one on the front of the barrel. I got it for $225. If this is a bad price, don't tell me as I am really happy to add my 3rd DW to my growing collection of firearms. The SN starts with 185XX according to the paperwork. Of course, I can't find the serial number on the gun. I thought it would be where my other ones are (by the cylinder). Any ideas? Thanks for listening.

Robb

PS Yes I will post a picture as soon as I get a chance.

[Cowboybart]

If the gun says model 15 then it is a 357.  Sure fire way to find out is to try and drop a 357 round in the cylinder.   The shrouds are interchangable within the frame size.  I traded my Dad's 6" 357 barrel/shroud for a 2.5" 38 special barrel/shroud.  It works fine.   I have an 8" blued barrel assy for my otherwise S/S 32 H & R mag.  In order to make the gun "look" right I use the 32 barrel w/ a S/S 357 mag shroud. It works fine.    I found a 6" 44 barrel/ shroud that threaded onto my 445.  I had to mill out 3/8" in the ejector rod channel in order to get the shroud to work, but everything works now.  This can only be done w/ heavy shrouds, there is not enough metal to do it w/ a standard weight shroud.

[Feldhege]

Ok I checked it with a 357 round. The 38 specials slide right in. The 357 Mag rounds stop and will not allow the cylinder to close. I have throughly scrubbed the cylinder and all the 357's stop at the same place.  The cylinder looks clean and smooth. The barrel is a 2.5" L shaped one so maybe that is why it is marked .38 special. The frame is the same size as my 357 pistol pak gun. Still can't find the darn serial number on it. Could this be some sort of prototype? I am guessing not as they would have still had to have a number and most of those had EXP in front of them. Maybe when they were trying to come up with the Lil Dan? Just some things that don't seem right about it. What about the sights? My DW357 has adjustable sights but not like these. These have HUGE adjustment screws. In fact the sight looks odd on it though it fits the frame.

I am not trying to make something out of nothing. I am just curious about what you guys think of this piece. I will get some pictures made as soon as I can.

Robb

[Cowboybart]

If a 357 won't fit then it is a 38.   Have you pulled the grip to look on the grip frame stem for the serial #.   The sight may be an after market Millet/ Bomar...  . Some silouetters may trade you sights if you want a smaller set.     I have only seen pictures of the older "L" shaped shrouds, I've never handled one.   Does it have an exposed,  star shaped barrel nut or a recessed 2 prong nut??  If the cylinder is the same length as your 357, a gunsmith could ream the chambers to 357 for ya.

[Feldhege]

OK, I brought it over to my Father's house to show him. He found the Serial Number on the frame area behind the crane. He also confirmed it to be a 38 special and not a 357. Weird that they would make one using a Model 15 frame. I didn't even know they made a .38 other then the Lil Dan. The sights appear to be factory as they have a small rounded front end (where the hinge is for the sight) and the frame is rounded there to match it with no change in bluing. I know I could have it reamed out but as it is, it is a nice conversation piece. The Barrel nut is recessed like on my 357 and uses the same wrench.

Robb

[El Hombre]

Some of the early model 14 & 15 Dan Wessons could be ordered in 38 Special. You would think they would have used a different model number, but they didn't.