Dan Wesson Specialist .45 ACP
Model: 01992
Dan Wesson Specialist .45 ACP
Model: 01992
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Dan Wesson Specialist is forged from stainless steel. Frame, slide, barrel, all of it. At 42.3 oz, it is the heaviest .45 ACP handgun in this group, heavier even than the all-steel CZ 97 B at 41.3 oz. That mass has a purpose: .45 ACP recoil feels remarkably flat in a gun this heavy. The Specialist also ships with an integral Picatinny rail, tritium night sights with a green front/amber rear setup, 25 LPI front strap checkering, ambidextrous thumb safety, and a detachable two-piece magwell. It arrives closer to a custom shop gun than a factory 1911.
Buy the Specialist if you want a duty-grade 1911 that does not need any modifications out of the box. The tritium sights work in all lighting conditions, the rail accepts any standard weapon light, and the VZ Operator II G10 grips provide aggressive traction without shredding your shirt. Skip it if you need to carry concealed: at 42.3 oz and 8.75" overall, this is a nightstand or duty belt gun, not a concealment piece. The Springfield 1911 TRP is the closest competitor at 42 oz with a similar feature set, though it lacks the Specialist's Picatinny rail.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Ships with everything a duty or home-defense 1911 needs: Picatinny rail, tritium night sights, ambidextrous safety, detachable magwell, and 2 magazines with bump pads. No modifications required.
- Forged stainless steel frame and slide with a cold hammer-forged barrel. The forging process produces a denser, more uniform grain structure than cast or MIM parts used in some competitors.
- 42.3 oz unloaded. Add a loaded 8-round magazine and a weapon light and you are well over 3 lbs. This is heavy even for a full-size .45 ACP, outweighing the polymer-framed Glock G21 by 13 oz.
- 8+1 capacity in a gun this large. The FN FNX-45 Tactical offers 15+1 rounds in a similarly sized package, nearly double the capacity, with a polymer frame that weighs 9 oz less.
Category Rankings
How the Dan Wesson Specialist .45 ACP ranks among full-size .45 ACP handguns.
Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for .45 ACP ammunition.
.45 ACP Ballistics →Where to Buy
No prices available at this time.
Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size .45 ACP handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Sig Sauer 1911 Nitron .45 ACP
Sig Sauer
|
— |
|
Springfield Armory 1911 TRP .45 ACP
Springfield Armory
|
— |
|
Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded .45 ACP
Springfield Armory
|
— |
|
Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard .45 ACP
Rock Island Armory
|
— |
|
CZ 97 B .45 ACP
CZ
|
— |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the Dan Wesson Specialist?
Dan Wesson is a subsidiary of CZ Group (CZ-USA). The Specialist is built in the USA at Dan Wesson's Norwich, New York facility. All frame and slide forgings are done in-house, and final assembly and fitting are performed by hand. Dan Wesson 1911s share the CZ Group's quality control standards but are a separate product line from CZ's own pistols.
Can I remove the Picatinny rail from the Dan Wesson Specialist?
No. The rail is machined directly into the dust cover of the frame. It is not a bolt-on accessory. If you want a similar Dan Wesson 1911 without a rail, look at the Dan Wesson Valor, which shares the forged stainless construction and similar fit/finish but has a clean dust cover.