Folks,
The purpose of this post is to maybe answer some questions, if there is anyone out there like me. I was searching for some options to ease off the sharp bottom edge of my DW Valor. It’s a full size Govt gun, 45ACP, and duty coat. First let me clarify there was absolutely nothing wrong with the factory part, and the swap was done purely for personal preference. This is my everyday carry gun about 250-300 days a year. The remaining days (middle of summer on the Outer Banks of NC in shorts and a T Shirt) I carry my 45ACP DW Vigil Commander. I also want to add that Endre at DW, who is always extremely helpful, had given the option to “round heel” the bottom edge as you can see on my Vigil pictured. That would have required the frame itself being machined and refinished. I decided against this as I wanted to leave open options for the future.
Having said all this, I wanted a mainspring that was slightly rounded but not beyond the existing frame. The “drop in” options I settled on were VZ’s aluminum machined by Pete Single and Stan Chen’s all steel part. Although I did not go with the aluminum, the VZ part is very well made as you would expect, affordable, and cosmetically pleasing. I decided not to install it as I wanted to stick with all steel. That left me with the Stan Chen. Brownell’s offers blued or stainless in 20,25, or 30 LPI. I chose 30LPI. Yes I also know my Valor is Stainless then Duty finished, but the black/blued steel version was a perfect color match. The part was very tight and needed a small bit of fitting on the channel ears but nothing else.
The main reason I’ve posted this is for those that may be looking to do the same thing for whatever reason. At least my experience in research didn’t lend itself to much information and comparison pictures. If someone is in fact looking to swap out, here is my results. First pictures are the Valor with the Chen installed, then the factory mainspring alone, and finally the Vigil as it comes stock just for comparison.
![43509F91-9EA1-4290-8B12-FDCB54DF3BF9.jpeg]()
![9BC38D43-62D4-42BC-A189-D34AF18C00A0.jpeg]()
![2CA5DB52-71A6-406A-BCD9-15E91DB1236D.jpeg]()
![0D5E626D-CB09-453F-9090-BDA9324F0B0F.jpeg]()
The purpose of this post is to maybe answer some questions, if there is anyone out there like me. I was searching for some options to ease off the sharp bottom edge of my DW Valor. It’s a full size Govt gun, 45ACP, and duty coat. First let me clarify there was absolutely nothing wrong with the factory part, and the swap was done purely for personal preference. This is my everyday carry gun about 250-300 days a year. The remaining days (middle of summer on the Outer Banks of NC in shorts and a T Shirt) I carry my 45ACP DW Vigil Commander. I also want to add that Endre at DW, who is always extremely helpful, had given the option to “round heel” the bottom edge as you can see on my Vigil pictured. That would have required the frame itself being machined and refinished. I decided against this as I wanted to leave open options for the future.
Having said all this, I wanted a mainspring that was slightly rounded but not beyond the existing frame. The “drop in” options I settled on were VZ’s aluminum machined by Pete Single and Stan Chen’s all steel part. Although I did not go with the aluminum, the VZ part is very well made as you would expect, affordable, and cosmetically pleasing. I decided not to install it as I wanted to stick with all steel. That left me with the Stan Chen. Brownell’s offers blued or stainless in 20,25, or 30 LPI. I chose 30LPI. Yes I also know my Valor is Stainless then Duty finished, but the black/blued steel version was a perfect color match. The part was very tight and needed a small bit of fitting on the channel ears but nothing else.
The main reason I’ve posted this is for those that may be looking to do the same thing for whatever reason. At least my experience in research didn’t lend itself to much information and comparison pictures. If someone is in fact looking to swap out, here is my results. First pictures are the Valor with the Chen installed, then the factory mainspring alone, and finally the Vigil as it comes stock just for comparison.
