2018 New Products From Dan Wesson

Jeremy S.

6 years ago

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That’s 2018 the year, to be clear, not that the Dan Wesson company is releasing 2,018 new products. We’ve already covered CZ-USA’s new stuff, so now it’s DW’s turn.

The DW 50th Anniversary Limited Edition “is an all-stainless handgun finished in a high-polish nitride to resemble a high quality blue.” But it should be significantly more durable. Cool. It’s also engraved on the frame and slide and sports a set of ivory-look G10 grips with DW logo medallions. The grip safety has an gold inlaid “DW” and the recoil spring plug a “50th.” A brass-bead front sight rounds it out. MSRP is $2,999.

Dan Wesson’s Vigil series lowers the cost of entry into the DW concealed carry line without sacrificing quality. For instance, there are still zero MIM parts here. Four variants “CCO, Commander, Government, and Government Suppressor-Ready” all have aluminum frames and stainless slides with DW’s Black Duty finish. The semi-autos all have a tritium front sight, serrated rear sight, and cocobolo grips and are available in 9mm or .45 ACP. Cost is $1,298 for all but the Suppressor-Ready, which is $1,397.

Okay, the Wraith gets two photos because I think it looks badass. Suppressor-Ready, government-size, and all stainless steel with a Distressed Duty finish. With a barrel length of 5.75 inches, the Wraith available in 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto. It offers a manual thumb safety and a grip safety. The two boring ammo calibers are $2,077, and the 10mm will run you $2,375 because they know it’s the one everyone is interested in anyway.

I reviewed the full-size Discretion. I loved the Discretion. Now Dan Wesson is making a Commander-sized flavor, which is a nice idea for a suppressor host since the can adds plenty of length of its own. Available in 9mm or .45 chambering for $2,142. (which is good, because $2,147 would seem a bit random and definitely too much).

The new Dan Wesson DW ECO will be available with an OD Green frame, bull barrel, night sights, and black grips in 9mm or .45 ACP. MSRP is $1,662.

Dan Wesson’s A2 was a big hit last year with its blued finish. It’s DW’s vision of what a third-generation M1911 would have been. For 2018, they’re offering it old school Parkerized in both government and commander sizes. MSRP is $1,363.

In the past, DW’s Pointman has been a limited-production offering. For 2018, it still is so if you want one you better get on it, because they rarely make enough. MSRP is $1,597, with 25-lpi mainspring housing and frontstrap checkering.

Featuring our serrated rib on top of the forged slide, it has an adjustable target sight in the rear and fiber-optic sight in the front, and front and rear cocking serrations. The frame is forged stainless with an undercut triggerguard and 25-LPI frontstrap checkering. The flats are polished to a soft-brushed finish, and the rounds are sandblasted for a nice contrast. Double-diamond cocobolo grips finish it off.

DW’s CCO-sized Pointman Carry will be available this year in 9mm as before, but .45 ACP and .38 Super are now being added to the mix. MSRP is also $1,597, with plenty of holsters available.

Finally, the Specialist is an accessory-railed, more Operator-y version of the Valor. And, now, Dan Wesson Firearms is making a Distressed version so it looks like it may have actually done some operational operating. In fact, it’s a hand-weathered version of their Duty finish. DW says every piece of every Valor is hand-fit, polished and blended in the United States. It’ll be available in full-size and Commander for $2,012.

All in, Dan Wesson compares favorably with pistols from companies like Kimber and Springfield Armory and many others for both civilian and law enforcement consideration.

Some background: Daniel B. Wesson, the great-grandson of D. B. Wesson, co-founder of Smith & Wesson founded Wesson Firearms Co., Inc. in 1968, with manufacturing in Monson, MA. CZ-USA in early 2005 acquired Dan Wesson Firearms and is now managing it as a part of the CZ corporate group. Dan Wesson Firearms has corporate headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas, and the customer service and manufacturing plant is located in Norwich, New York.