[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Dan Wesson Valor (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/6/2013 3:57:23 PM EDT
| I have been after a nice 1911 and think I have settled on the DW Valor in stainless. I have read good things about it but would like to hear from actual owners rather than people testing them. Anyone here have one? |
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I have a Valor and enjoy it very much.
The only thing I didn't like and had to have "fixed" was the beveling on the thumb safety. It was quite sharp and needed re-contoured. It wasn't too big of a deal because it is SS and just needed bead blasted. I'm not sure how it would need to be done with if it had Duty Treat. I'm not sure how this year's production pistols compare to the 2010s through 2012s. There are a few parts differences too. Mine 
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Very nice. Parts differences as in no more Ed Brown parts?
As I understand these pistols are the closest you get to full custom without being full custom, as in Wilson, Baer and the like. How would you rate it against a pistol like those assuming you have handled those pistols? Just trying to pick your brain a little. |
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I can't compare against the Browns or Baers. I have never had the chance to shoot or fondle any.
The only comparison I was able to make was against a Colt from 1927 and a Springfield from the early 90s, so they aren't even fair comparisons. Bushing, barrel, slide and frame fittings are all nice and tight. Of course it is a nice shooter too. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I could be mistaken, but looking at some of the newer Valors that have hit gunbroker, it looks like DW changed their parts a bit. The slide stop looks a bit different, and maybe the thumb safety. The rollmarks of the serial number aren't italicized anymore either. |
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I love my Valor. If I had to rate it, I would say it is better than any production gun I own including my Baers, Brown and Nighthawks.
I know someone here is going to call those manufacturers semi-custom, but that really isnt a term. It was made up by Dane Burns to try and make his products more.appealing. |
I like my VBOB. It's awesome, accurate, and the grips won't slip in your hand even if they're soaked in the blood of your enemies and slicker than snot.
Really though, the checkering is very nice and rough enough to chafe you should you CCW next to bare skin. I fondled an Ed Brown, one of the monolith ones I think and the lock up was so tit I almost couldn't rack the slide... The trigger was smooth and felt like it broke at 3 pounds. I'd put my VBOB against it any day with the exception that the slide racks much easier and I own it and don't want an Ed Brown. 
The VBOB doesn't have mim. |
| The Valor is a top of the line production pistol. I've had mine for approx. 2 years and it has been problem fee and accurate the entire time. The slide was very smooth right out of the box and after about 500 rounds it felt like it was moving on ball bearings. The trigger breaks like glass and has no slop what so ever. I am very, very pleased with mine. |
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Quoted:
I've had a VBOB for a little over a year now, best pistol I've ever owned. That said, do yourself a favor and get the duty treatment. I carry in a MTAC and the kydex hasn't left a single mark on it. The duty treatment is nice too but this will be my BBQ gun lol so no carrying! Well maybe a little... |
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If you are certain you want a stainless then this won't affect you. But should you change your mind due to a "deal" being found on one of the black ones, keep in mind there was an original black version of the Valor that differs from the black and stainless available today.
Assuming the "deal" in question is all original parts(except grips), then the newer version will have a Heinie Straight 8 rear sight instead of the older Novak style. If it has Novak style, it's either been change or is the older(much less expensive) model of Valor. Just a heads up. You can also look at the checkering of the front strap. It goes higher on the newer models. |
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I prefer stainless. On a production gun and even the occasional semi-custom, I will find a sharp edge or something else that isn't exactly where I want it. Case in point: like zaskar017, I recently beveled the right side thumb safety on a SVI because it was rubbing a spot sore on my hand and ain't nobody got time for that. A few minutes with some files and it looks like it came that way from the factory.
No refinish necessary. |
| Do yourself a favor and check out the bobbed version of the Valor the Vbob. I got a black Valor last year and love it but I really like the feel of my Vbob. It just feel great in my hand. Or since both are great guns get one of each. Then you don't have to make a decision on black or SS you can have one each way. |
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I have a Valor (in duty-coat) and a CCO...love 'em both. If pushed to get rid of all my 1911's except one, my sentimental favorite would be my 30+ old Wilson Master Combat built on a Colt GM. but for a working gun the Valor would have to win IMO. Luckily I don't!
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Quoted:
For the record, this thread made me bid on a used Valor on gunpoker. I didn't win because the gun sold for NIB price, but I did hope I could have gotten a second one a little cheaper Thanks OP 
 Ditto....now I'm looking for one in Duty Treat at a good price to replace the stainless my daughter took.
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Valor's are an awesome value IMO. Everything is fit together so well from machining to hand fitting. Material's are great, and parts are of high quality. They are definitely a new age 1911. I had a Les Baer Premier II before the Valor, and the Baer had that classic 1911 feel to it, but the Valor was far ahead in quality. I know you said you read a bit about them, but check this out if you haven't. This is what sold me on getting a black Valor. |
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I've had just about every 1911 out there and I like the Valor. I think it's one of the nicest stainless 1911s available.
The rollmarks look nice. You know what it is, but it's not emblazoned with goofy shit all over the slide like most Wilsons, Nighthawks, Browns and some Springfields. |
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I have had my Valor since the first of December. My specific one is without a doubt the finest pistol I have ever seen. The gap between the slide and frame is almost invisible until you look closely. The trigger is exceptional, and being dressed in black for formal occasions, you could take it with you to any party. I only have about 250 rounds through it thus far, so it is still in the process of completely smoothing out. I only say that last part because I have a Kimber Eclipse which is the absolute best pistol they have ever made, and after 12000+ rounds through it, it is smooth. My son now owns that Kimber, and I have the Valor.
But let me say this for the Valor. If I were to ever fall on hard financial times and had to sell every firearm I own, I would sell everything but the Valor. I will never get rid of it or let one of my kids take it until one of them gets it in the will. It is my bottom line weapon. |
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[borat] Very Nice! [/borat]
More Valor Porn Click To View Spoiler |
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It's funny that I stumbled upon this thread as I have been wanting to pick up a Dan Wesson for a while and found a "used" stainless Valor today at my local shop. I was there picking up something else so I just put money down on it but it looks brand new with factory box and all the goodies for $1200.
I was really wanting a vbob but I guess I will just have to suffer with this one
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Quoted:
It's funny that I stumbled upon this thread as I have been wanting to pick up a Dan Wesson for a while and found a "used" stainless Valor today at my local shop. I was there picking up something else so I just put money down on it but it looks brand new with factory box and all the goodies for $1200. I was really wanting a vbob but I guess I will just have to suffer with this one Was that the same one from months ago I asked you about? |
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Here's mine: http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j88/Engineer303/ammo_and_guns/sIMG_2090_zps51110471.jpg I do not like thin grips, so those came off as soon as I function tested the gun. Beautiful pistol. 
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Quoted: Here's mine: http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j88/Engineer303/ammo_and_guns/sIMG_2090_zps51110471.jpg I do not like thin grips, so those came off as soon as I function tested the gun. I really need some black grips for mine. That looks gorgeous |
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Here's mine: http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j88/Engineer303/ammo_and_guns/sIMG_2090_zps51110471.jpg I do not like thin grips, so those came off as soon as I function tested the gun. Trigger? |
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Quoted: Trigger? 10-8 Flat Trigger. Another preference. I liked them so much that I purchased a bunch and am slowly fitting them to all my other 1911s. |
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So, today after really looking at my new Valor I noticed some issues with the finish on the slide. For the money spent on the pistol would you guys accept this??? See below...
Cell phone pics but you will get the idea. This pic shows inconsistent spotting of the finish forward and below of the ejection port 
The following 2 pics show a shiny area above the safety, as if it were caused by wear. I have not fired it yet much less had it my hands for more than 15 minutes 
I just sent an email to Dan Wesson about it. Also, you guys with stainless Valors, do you have similar issues? I don't think Im being too picky since I just dropped $1600+ on this thing. |
I've owned one for r 3 years and it my EDC. It has a trigger that is a trigger snobs wet dream. Frame to slide fit is off the charts and overall build quality is on par with guns costing 600-900 dollars more. They must be handled to be appreciated. Do a side by side comparison of a DW Valor and a TRP, or any other similarly priced pistol. THere is no comparison. In that price range it more evenly compares to guns like Les Baer TRS, Nighthawk GRP etc. I own both of those as well in 5" government but the DW gets the carry duty just about every day of the week.
Conceals easily. 
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Quoted:
Here's mine: http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j88/Engineer303/ammo_and_guns/sIMG_2090_zps51110471.jpg I do not like thin grips, so those came off as soon as I function tested the gun. Is that a factory magwell? |
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Here's mine: http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j88/Engineer303/ammo_and_guns/sIMG_2090_zps51110471.jpg I do not like thin grips, so those came off as soon as I function tested the gun. Maybe it's the camera angle, but your Valor looks very "square", especially the trigger guard. Compare your pic to the OP's a few posts above. It looks like DW forgot to do all the beveling on your pistol. 
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Quoted: Maybe it's the camera angle, but your Valor looks very "square", especially the trigger guard. Compare your pic to the OP's a few posts above. It looks like DW forgot to do all the beveling on your pistol. I just double checked and there is beveling on the trigger guard - must be the angle of the photo and/or the lighting. |