Dan Wesson 357Max help with value please.

[lar4570]

Hello, I need some help with determining the value of a Dan Wesson 357 Max please.

Let me state first off, that this gun is not for sale here.
This revolver belongs to the widow of a friend that died from Covid.
I am helping her clean, price and move some of his collection.
Another friend of mine is interested in buying it, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a reasonable value that will work for both parties.

This gun has seen some hard use, but still locks up tight. It's just abit ugly.
Wayne was a Dan Wesson Fan and probably picked this up as a project gun...
Anyway, here are some pics. It does not have a front sight blade, but I found a place to order them and have one, just need to install it.
It has an 8" barrel with vented shroud, Blued, Monson mfg., does not have a box or tools.

[potatojudge]

About $900

[needsmostuff]

Don't get me wrong, I'd sure like to have that gun.
But with no tools and that much "experience" in the finish I'd be voting for about $750.
I would guess a standard 357-barrel spanner would still be proper.

[bradshaw]

Oct 11, 2024 8:54:27 GMT -5 needsmostuff said:

I would guess a standard 357-barrel spanner would still be proper.

*****

DWA Model 40 8V .357 Maximum spanner wrench for muzzle nut is larger than spanner wrench for Model 15 .357 Mag, “8V” stands for 8” barrel with Vent shroud. This is the standard silhouette configuration to squeak the revolver below the IHMSA limit of 4 lbs for Production guns.

DWA stretched the M44 .44 Mag frame to fit the .357 Maximum. The Maximum has a thicker barrel than the .355 Mag, hence requires a wider spanner.

Note: Muzzle Nut in photo shows abrasion from incorrect use of spanner wrench.

Muzzle nut (barrel nut)
The DWA muzzle nut is soft steel, with very fine thread. The fine thread maximizes clamping pressure from a small turn. Teeth on the DWA spanner wrench are harder than the muzzle nut. In an effort to end abrasion of the nut, I asked DWA to harden the nut. DWA sent me two or three, which I still have. Hardening warped the nut, making it impossible to tighten without turning the barrel into the frame; a failed experiment.

Spanner wrench
Clamp Barrel Shroud in padded vise. Apply forward pressure against spanner wrench----to prevent wrench from tearing castellations on muzzle nut.

Loctite
It was standard operation procedure for IHMSA silhouettes to secure the barrel against loosening by applying Loctite to threads on the Muzzle Nut. Both Blue and Red Loctite were used. This shooter will try to loosen muzzle nut with moderate hand torque (always firmly push wrench into nut). Unless the nut loosens with moderate counter-clockwise torque, heat muzzle nut with butane tirch or other heat source to defeat Loctite. This is especially important if the stronger Red Loctitie has been used.

Some silhouette competitors Loctite frame-end and muzzle-end of barrel. To remove: 1) heat & remove muzzle nut, 2) pull (do not twist) shroud, 3) heat barrel @ frame; unscrew. (With shroud removed, barrel turns freely in frame----unless it is glued.)
David Bradshaw

[sixguntech]

I am a bit of a Dan Wesson fan, that gun looks to be a bit of a project and the parts missing, are not always so easy to come bye or cheap, I would think I was getting a good deal around $600 and that I was over paying at $700. Steve

[45MAN]

Messr. Bradshaw: EXCELLENT EXPLANATION, AND FULL OF INFO I WAS UNAWARE OF. THE INCONSISTENCIES IN, AND THE WORRY ABOUT, BARREL NUT TENSION FROM ITS REMOVABILITY, LOOSENING, etc. DROVE ME NUTS SO I MOVED MY DW 357 MAX SUPER MAG, AND LATER MOVED A 45 COLT DW, AND HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED BUYING ANOTHER DW REVOLVER.

[pattontime]

I have the same gun myself. I watch for them on Gunbroker, and in clean shape, they sell for about $1200 - $1500, depending on condition and whether it includes a box and tools.
I don't see many Model 40s with a lot of wear, I think a lot of people bought them & never shot them much, like the Model 29 S&W back in the 70's,now the Model 15 Dan Wesson which is a more standard 357 Magnum I often see those in similar condition but they still seem to bring $500 or more. People try to get $200 or more just for the large frame DW grips on E-Bay.
But every gun is worth just what someone will pay for it.