Dan Wesson Valor vs Les Baer Premier II.  Price is not a consideration in this range of choices.
I appreciate any input.

Dav Wesson Valor is a better pistol and the have much better customer service.

Baer all the way.

Premier II has adjustable sights and very wide safety levers.   It's more of a target gun than the Valor, which is set up more for carry.

Honestly though, between the two, the only reason to buy a Baer is because you specifically want a Baer.

Weigh it out:

Accuracy: Baer puts theirs in written guarantee. Does DW?

Fit: Baers are famously tightly fitted. Baer says to not field strip them until 500 rds have been fired. Does DW?

Value for the $: We can argue this one all day long but which one will hold more of its original cost? I vote Baer.

Wow factor: I've had people who owned some nice 1911s shoot my Baers & they were all impressed.

This is not to deride DW in any way, they do indeed build quality guns. But a Baer is simply & clearly in a higher class of gun. What is truly a shame is Ken Mays doesn't notice this...............  

I can't speak to all the DW models (and it is certainly not the case on the DW 10mm I own) but the Valor is right up there with the Baer from everything I've seen.  Dave Severns did a comparison a few years ago on 1911forum where he did a detail strip of the Baer and Valor and not only did the Valor have at least as much, if not more, hand fitting than the Baer, it also used some better parts.

The best thing Baer does is use Kart barrels and fit them so tight to the slide stop that the barrel lugs pretty much beat themselves into alignment with it.  The bushing is tighter than Dick's hatband too.  This is why the Baers are (incorrectly) said to have such a tight slide-to-frame fit, even though if you remove the barrel and bushing, you'll see the slide moves pretty easily.

People think the 500 round recommendation is for the slide to lap itself it, but it's really for the lugs to beat divots into the slide stop and vice versa.   I think the other reason is that Les doesn't want to be bothered by complaints about reliability until the barrel and slide stop are mated.

Having said all that, I don't really like the Valor personally and I feel like Baers have more personality, which is why I have 5 Baers and one DW.  It didn't help that my DW was kind of a trainwreck too, though I have it running well now.

It is a tough call personally I would buy the Valor. Les Baer does something’s better then DW abut DW does some thing better then LB does. The Valor will be finished better and have better sights as well as CS. The LB may be a tiny bit more accurate but chances are you will never notice and LB finish is horrible tool marks every where internally and not built to standard 1911 specs like the DW is. Triggers are about the same some are better on both brands some aren’t. Small parts used have to say DW uses better parts with exception of the Barrel LB uses Kart barrels which IMO are the Gold standard.. As a whole I prefer DW Over LB own several of both brands.

Thanks for all the input.  I'm slightly leaning toward the Valor with their night sites and stainless frames and slides, I once owned a Premier II but never a Dan Wesson.

OOPS! Double post, sorry.

I would get the Wesson.

My Specialist was a turd from the get go and it went back twice before it would work, they have the shittiest resale of any 1911 I've owned and I happily took it in the ass to get rid of it, my Baer shot circles around the DW even after DW replaced the entire top end.

If you're looking at the Valor the Baer equivalent would be the UTC or a Thunder Ranch Special although the TRS may be discontinued as it's no longer on Baer's site.

You may have gotten a Turd but they dont have bad resale value no worse then a Baer does.... Used Baers generally sell for couple hundred more then a Valor for a TRS or UTC same gun different roll marks but the original price is a couple hundred more so its a wash on resale value..

both are really good guns with great reputations. I have owned a Valor, and it was finished well and looked nice. shot like a champ, too. ended up selling it a while back and now my 1911 stable has 2 baers and nothing else. one set up for competition with magwell, FO sights, etc. One TRS that I plan to practice/train/carry until all the blue is gone.

It's crazy how well fit and easy to shoot it is. I usually go for 10+ yard hostage head shots right from the holster and the gun just shoots where I want a bullet to go. Everyone that's shot it wants it or calls it their favorite out of whatever toys we have at the range that day. I like the hard fit and hard use philosophy and the Baer guns just run and shoot like they should.

He's had this DW for sale for a couple months, it's going to either sell for $1100 shipped or go back to sitting in his safe. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Equipment-Exchange/Dan-Wesson-Blued-Valor/88-1774299/ I would take it for $1100 shipped, I like blued guns and the Wesson is a step up from a Colt

Now find me a UTC or TRS for $1300-$1400

Have seen several sell on Addicts for 1400. And the gun market is deader then dead right now it’s summer time everyone’s selling knowones buying. It happens every year if there is no big scare in politics.
And then he fact of the matter is the Blued Valor was discontinued because they didn’t sell. Then they were heavily discounted to liquidate the inventory they were selling for around 13-1500 new on gunbroker.

There is one on Va gun trader with a jewled barrel, sitting for $1,300 and another sitting at $2,000 which is higher than what Crazy John sells them for.
Baer used prices ain't all that either.

OP can't go wrong with either, though I don't like adjustable sights.
I've owned 2 valors and 4 baers. I only sold my stainless valor to pay down debt. I would be hard pressed to pick between the Valor and the UTC. My Valor triggers have made my Baer trigger's their bitch, the Baer's are slightly more accurate in my hands, The Valor's 25lpi checkering is better than Baer's 30.
The Valor's stock sight kick the ever living shit out of the chinese novak knockoff's that Baer uses.
But I love the Baer's, there is just something to them, they have soul.

I've had a Baer Custom Carry 5" and DW Valor 5" blued. Of the two, I prefer the Valor.

For me Baer's excessive tightness and out of spec frame were really deal breakers. If you are really into super tight guns and like the thick Baer front strap, then the gun might be great for you.

The Valor on the other hand feels right in the hand, is well fit, and shot every bit as good as my Baer.

Personally I wouldn't even consider another Baer, but I understand that for certain types, they have their appeal. For what it's worth, they are both gone now. After jumping ship to Wilson, there was no need to hold on to either of them, but the Valor certainly closes the gap better.