I wasn’t really planning on pickup up another pistol but I was 1911-less and with the uncertainty of possible legislative changes next year I didn’t want to be caught without one. I saw this (in .45ACP) on the EE and picked it up last week. I’ve previously owned a half dozen or so 1911s but never a Dan Wesson. They’ve got a good reputation for making quality pistols and the Heritage is their entry-level offering, although as an entry-level pistol it’s still good some nice features.
The slide and frame are both forged stainless steel, and mine, which was made in 2009, has the sides of the frame and slide nicely semi-polished, while all other surfaces have a sandblasted matte finish, providing a subtle two-tone look. The front step is not checkered, but the matte-finished steel provides a surprisingly secure grip.
The pistol has a “match” barrel, apparently, although I’m not sure exactly if that means anything.
The solid trigger is adjustable for overtravel—I’m not sure if the previous owner adjusted it or not but it’s just about perfect. I don’t have a trigger pull gauge but the trigger is as good or better than the Baer and Nighthawk pistols that I’ve owned.
The mag release is slightly enlarged which I appreciate with my smallish hands.
The slide stop is slightly enlarged too, but not enough to get in the way.
The straight steel mainspring housing is aggressively checkered (25 LPI maybe?) but comfortable to grip. The frame is a standard government frame with no “bobtail” treatment. The grip safety is polished and has the usual “memory bump” than most modern grip safeties have.
The polished safety keeps with the “slightly enlarged” theme, and the hammer is the most “skeletonized” one I’ve ever had.
The rear sight is my favourite to have on a 1911—a Novak-style model.
The front sight, oddly, is a Trijicon night sight. With the plain black rear it’s just about useless in low light, and mine has lost a lot of its glow. I’ll likely add a bit of fluorescent orange paint in the concave section of the sight.
The pistol has a standard-length guide rod and bushing…
…and an attractive grooved rib on the top of the slide. Supposedly this is to reduce glare, but when looking down the sights you don’t see the top of the slide at all.
I usually replace the factory grips on my 1911s with VZ grips but these ones will probably stay—they look great and the stippled portion provides a little extra grip.
So the initial impressions are quite favorable—the pistol is rattle-free, and the slide racks wonderfully smoothly (although the recoil spring is really stout). I’m looking forward to getting it out to the range.
