DW 357 Monson Mfg. with plain wood grips... any thoughts?

[DW357]

I am new to the board... read most every post in the DW forum looking for info on this 357 I recently purchased from a pawn shop.  From everything I have already read it appears to me that I have a model 15 or 15-2 (what is the difference?) Monson mfg. 357. from some time in the early 70's.  The serial number is 895XX. Set screw on back of trigger, set scew under front sight at front of barrel, set screw on frame behind cylinder, adjustible rear sight. Stamped Dan Wesson Arms Monson, Mass. USA on reciever right hand side and Dan Wesson Arms 357 Magnum GTG. on barrel right hand side.  The blueing is rich in color... almost black and flawless.  gun looks to have been fired only a few times... paid $300 which looks to be a fair price.  Any additional info. board members could provide me would be appreciated.  I have not seen any other plain grips like this gun it has no logos just a checkered diamond shape and indented thumb rest on the left.... any thoughts?  Trying to ad photo but not sure if it will come through.

[blhof]

The 15 series was the model with adjustable sights, the -2 originally referred to the barrel length. 15-2, 15-4, 15-6, 15-8, ect,,, The stainless models had a 7 before the 15 as 712, 714, 715.  You can get a barrel wrench for it and get additional barrels from 2" to 15" The 12" and 15" are no longer produced but come up on auction sites regularly.  I had a Monson 15 for years and it was the most accurate pistol I had.  The trigger was a little stiff.  If yours is; they have spring kits which are easy to replace, thanks to the side plate design.  I put a Bullseye kit and single action was almost dangerous, very light.  The only drawback was it wouldn't fire some factory ammo due to light strike.  I used WW primers and reloaded with 100% firing. Many parts from the new DW's fit the older models; barrels, shrouds hammers ect..There are also a lot of new old stock parts out there in old gun shops and come up on auction regularly.

[El Hombre]

Actually the original model 15 had an external barrel nut and the rear of the shroud extented down the front of the frame. These have come to be known as the "pork chop" shrouds because of their appearance. When the shrouds were redesigned with the internal barrel nut, and the shroud extension removed, the 357 adjustable sight model became known as the model 15-2.
There for a while there were a number of different grip offerings from the factory. I don't recall what model that is on your gun, but I have seen it before, I'll check my old catalogs & see what I can find out.

[DW357]

Thanks for the input... sounds like I have a 15-2.  The single action has a very light trigger pull, double action seems fine too although I have only dry fired it at this time.  I did see a similar pair of grips for sale on Ebay last night but thought it was a bit weird that every other grip has some sort of DW marking and mine is so plain.  any additinal info that you have El Hombre is much appreciated.... what impressed me was the quality of the finish on the gun... smooth and almost jet black or dark black/purple... nicer than any gun I hae owned before and to think that it is 30 years old....  I am looking forward to shooting it.