{"id":72266,"date":"2017-04-06T09:47:55","date_gmt":"2017-04-06T13:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=72266"},"modified":"2017-04-06T09:47:55","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T20:47:37","slug":"wheelgunners-1911-dan-wessons-valkyrie-silverback-full-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wheelgunners-1911-dan-wessons-valkyrie-silverback-full-review\/","title":{"rendered":"A Wheelgunners\u2019 1911? Dan Wesson\u2019s Valkyrie & Silverback \u2013 Full Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

For more information, visit https:\/\/cz-usa.com\/product-category\/danwesson\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To purchase a Dan Wesson 1911 on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=Dan%20Wesson%201911<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Like many of the names in American firearms, Dan Wesson has quite a history. I was rather curious when this project started myself, what were the odds that someone else randomly named Wesson had started a revolver company? Well, it turns out, not that great. Dan Wesson was actually the great grandson of Daniel B. Wesson, the co-founder of Smith and Wesson. The younger Dan also actually worked for S&W from 1938 until 1963. When Smith and Wesson was purchased by the Bangor Punta Corporation, Dan Wesson went his own way in order to produce American made, high-quality revolvers held to demanding standards. Dan wanted his revolvers to excel both as duty guns and in competition, and worked tirelessly to that end. The Dan Wesson revolvers that resulted, which featured a unique switch-barrel design and some interesting chamberings, proved extremely accurate, but anyone that has ever been in manufacturing knows that the best product doesn\u2019t always win. Sales were less than spectacular on the original models, and the company experienced a series of upheavals after Dan Wesson\u2019s death in 1978. The original company went through some serious financial troubles and was eventually sold to the CZ Group\u2019s American branch in 2005.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

The Valkyrie (top) in 9mm is a CCW-ready 1911, while the Silverback (below) in .45 ACP is a stunningly accurate beast.<\/p><\/div>\n

They Make What?<\/h2>\n

While Dan Wesson might have earned its reputation for radical revolver designs, it in recent years has developed a solid line of high-quality 1911 pistols. So what do you do when you have a product name known for high quality and demanding standards, but that hasn\u2019t found a good commercial following yet? Well, if you are CZ-USA, you double down on that quality and expand the line. The Dan Wesson series of 1911 pistols now has 28 models, available in a variety of calibers. And one lone wheelgun, just to keep things interesting. There is every shape and size of 1911 you can thing of, to cover competition, tactical, and CCW needs. And from what I can tell, the new Dan Wesson is poised to give any custom 1911 maker in the country a run for their money.<\/p>\n

As an introduction to the line, I received two models of 1911, the Silverback<\/a> in .45 ACP, and the Valkyrie<\/a> in 9mm. Both pistols have proven to be extremely well built, and are shining examples of what an American-made 1911 can be.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

The 9mm Valkyrie from Dan Wesson features an Officer’s-sized frame and a Commander-sized slide and barrel.<\/p><\/div>\n

VALKYRIE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 9mm Valkyrie is built on Dan Wesson\u2019s new ECO frame. The ECO frame is a variation most similar to an Officer\u2019s frame in size, that is to say it is a \u00bd inch shorter in the grip. Pretty much a good rule of life, Officers are a \u00bd inch shorter, at least. This frame is also aluminum, and was designed to really cut down on the weight of ole slabsides for a CCW piece. Rather than feature a 3-inch or 3.5-inch Officer\u2019s-style barrel ( see what we did there?), the Valkyrie features a Commander-style 4-inch barrel. Dan Wesson refers to this as a CCO style, or Concealed Carry Officers. It is pretty much the best of both worlds, a long enough barrel to shoot accurately, and a lightweight and compact frame. The slightly shorter grip on the frame does help with concealment all out of proportion to what has been chopped, and the 4-inch slide and barrel balances very nicely.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

The author really liked the shooting characteristics of the Valkyrie, despite its compact dimensions.<\/p><\/div>\n

SPECS<\/strong><\/h2>\n