50th Anniversary Question - Dan Wesson

I believe that many of these will be in NIB condition for a long time. That doesn't mean they won;t be collectible, but it lowers the chances and the theoretical ceiling of value.

I personally don;t care for case hardening on a 1911, but that's very nice. I have had much success with every DW I have owned, but I don't know that I'd put one away as an "investment".

SRTSnake said:

Not really sure on that one.
Never seen one without scroll work, or with case colored frame and Valor inscribed. What does the box label say? The serial number should be able to place it in an anniversary edition run. Stickers and grips don’t really confirm authenticity.
My opinion only but I don’t think it’s correct.

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That's interesting. I didn;t even consider the missing engraving!

DW releases a yearly "Heirloom" edition, I believe. The first one was stainless and I believe the second was case hardened. Is this one of the "annual" guns rather than a "50th"?

I have purchased no less than 4 DW's that came with 50th anniversary stickers and none of them were a 50th gun.

Seller provided the following….

The stock number is 01941 and the upc code is 806703019413. They released three separate limited edition 1911s that year.

Here is a few that was talked about on Addicts

I believe that's the 2021 Limited Edition. It's a very nice gun, but Googling the 50th will show it's not the same..

I agree with the others. That's not a 50th anniversary model. I'm only seeing one place that model is linked with 50th anniversary. Which I'm assuming is the same one you're looking at based on the photos and those grips. I'd pass on it for that asking price.

Here you go, definitely not a 50th.
a case colored Valor. I didn’t know they made one

USMC-Nav said:

I am looking at a nice Dan Wesson 1911. It is the 50th anniversary edition. Looking on the internet the ones that I see have
scroll work done but this one does not. Are these common or uncommon? It is shown with the factory grips in the foreground.
Seller has all paperwork and says it has had only two magazines fired through it. I am thinking of buying and just putting away.
What is the value in your opinion if you will share your thoughts. Does it have future collectability?

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I have the 50th anniversary and this.one is not it

I’ll take some pictures a bit later in the day

I would imagine that a DW specific forum has hashed this out better and/or maybe it has been hashed out here.

50th Anniversary of... what now? Of Dan Wesson as a gunmaker? So like three entities ago, and old school "pork chop" revolvers?

The pistols shown here are attractive but am I the only curmudgeon that thinks this "anniversary" is silly?

The original Dan Wesson and the Bob Serva 1911 Dan Wesson are linked by a name and, as far as I know, nothing else? It wasn't even as if Bob Serva purchased a gunmaker, that didn't happen.

Sevens said:

I would imagine that a DW specific forum has hashed this out better and/or maybe it has been hashed out here.

50th Anniversary of... what now? Of Dan Wesson as a gunmaker? So like three entities ago, and old school "pork chop" revolvers?

The pistols shown here are attractive but am I the only curmudgeon that thinks this "anniversary" is silly?

The original Dan Wesson and the Bob Serva 1911 Dan Wesson are linked by a name and, as far as I know, nothing else? It wasn't even as if Bob Serva purchased a gunmaker, that didn't happen.

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You're absolutely right. It gave them a reason to embellish, polish and nicely finish a quality gun, but it is indeed a leap to go for "50th" when it is exactly what you are describing, the first entity of DW after breaking away from the family business.

You obviously know, but the revolvers that were made 30+years ago and the name that Serva purchased and 1911's that followed are linked by name alone. I don't think that is curmudgeonly, just a statement of fact. Now, "I will never buy another DW because of this fraud!" would be the kind of high-level curmudgeonly behavior that I can only really look up to.

_Dan_ said:

Apologies for the low quality picture. In any case, this is the 50th anniversary and dog fur
View attachment 1159838

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That's beautiful. I love the engraving and while that high of a polish usually scares me away, it really works with that one. Am I correct in that the front strap is serrated rather than checkered? Do you shoot that? I think I would shoot it, but I don't think I'd holster it.

That's a stunner for sure.

I miss the old valors so much

Merton said:

That's beautiful. I love the engraving and while that high of a polish usually scares me away, it really works with that one. Am I correct in that the front strap is serrated rather than checkered? Do you shoot that? I think I would shoot it, but I don't think I'd holster it.

That's a stunner for sure.

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Thank you!
The front isn’t serrated which surprised me. This is the only firearm I own and have yet to fire. I keep keeping it for a special occasion

Merton said:

That's beautiful. I love the engraving and while that high of a polish usually scares me away, it really works with that one. Am I correct in that the front strap is serrated rather than checkered? Do you shoot that? I think I would shoot it, but I don't think I'd holster it.

That's a stunner for sure.

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New Year day 2024 will be the first time we take this puppy shooting; hopefully it will be above 0F.

I’m really looking forward to it. Thank you for providing the prompting to do so!

Life is too short for waiting and waiting to wait…

_Dan_ said:

New Year day 2024 will be the first time we take this puppy shooting; hopefully it will be above 0F.

I’m really looking forward to it. Thank you for providing the prompting to do so!

Life is too short for waiting and waiting to wait…

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New Year Day '24? Is that a mistype, or are you waiting a full year? If so, is there significance? I have a feeling you meant to type "2023", but I of course don't know.

Merton said:

New Year Day '24? Is that a mistype, or are you waiting a full year? If so, is there significance? I have a feeling you meant to type "2023", but I of course don't know.

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a typo indeed! Monday (1/1/2023)

Thank you as always! I will post proper pictures after I clean this new pup.

_Dan_ said:

a typo indeed! Monday (1/1/2023)

Thank you as always! I will post proper pictures after I clean this new pup.

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I can't wait to see them! Hopefully I can get some 01/01/23 targets up as well!