thoughts on the DW Razorback

[Kenk]

Any thoughts on the DW Razorback, good, bad, or other? There's a ton of info on them out there, but wanted see what you all thought
Thanks

Ken

[Graybeard]

I don't own one but I've shot a couple of them. They're very nice, well made guns. I prefer front grip strap checkering on hard recoiling 1911s, which the DW doesn't have. The two I've fired had excellent triggers out of the box. The only caveat I can offer is I ran across a guy at a steel shoot with a brand new one. He told me DW replaced one he had bought about 6 months earlier because of galling issues. I thought the gun makers had that figured out more than a decade ago. He wasn't unhappy about it. DW paid all the costs to get a new gun to him and threw in some extras to make it right.

[Kenk]

Nice, it's great that some companies still value a high level of customer service

[Rojo27]

Hello Ken,

I've been very satisfied with my Glock 20 for many years.  Successfully utilized it for hunting; woods defense when camping in areas known for animals possessing real ability to make short work of grown man, and even as a truck gun.  It's been wet, muddy and never disappointed me; in many of previously mention scenarios, it'd still be my first choice.  Beyond it's many wonderful utilitarian attributes which combine to make it an all around fantastic tool, aesthetically it has its challenges.  Course beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 
For last several years I've pined away for a classically attractive; well made with craftsmanship & smooth, reliable function; excellent accuracy 1911 design in 10mm.  When you attempt to find all those characteristics in a less than $5,000 custom, hand made pistol.....  Your prospects get very, very narrow.  After rediculous amount of research on various candidates and their pros & cons I began to focus on Dan Wsson Razorback as best solution for my situation. 
A little over two months ago the right opportunity came along to pick up a gently used (about 500 rounds) properly broken in (Derr Precision customizing) Dan Wesson Razorback from a member of this forum. 
400 rounds later (from cheap plinking 10mm to nuclear Underwood) I've been completely thrilled. 
Couple of reflections: 
1.  Most accurate pistol I own.
2.  Outstanding trigger.
3.  Tightest, most precisely fit 1911 I've ever picked up. 
4.  No hiccups or function failures of any kind thus far. 
5.  Very handsome, well made pistol.
6.  Dan Wesson recommends using FP-10 as lubricant & proper break in process and previous owner used it and swore by it, so that's what I continued to use. 
7.  I personally find the frame &  24lbs recoil spring tame the hottest Underwood loads, while no doubt will remain in you mind what your shooting, it's not unpleasant and pistol is still very controllable. 
8.  Novak tritium night sights.
9.  Came with two 8 round magazines.  I added a 9 round Tripp mag.  No issues.

Like anything else, I'm sure limited numbers of lemons have made it into distribution but this one has been perfect so far.  Realize I'm gushing so, I'll shut up and conclude.  My experience is only about 2 1/2 months and 400 rounds but thus far it's been everything I was hoping for.

Regards

[Kenk]

Rojo, Thanks for your efforts on this. I am not only grateful for your time spent, but I am also more at ease buying this pistol
Thanks again!

Ken

[10mm4ever]

I have an RZ-10, I bought brand new and I am pleased with (now). The model I have is the brushed stainless one, the issue I have is the tight fit of the raw in the white stainless steel, and not enough polishing of the rails before bead blasting, leads to the slide locking to the frame occasionally, how often I can't say. Back in 2015 when I bought mine the issue raised it's head quite often over in the 1911 forum. I hand racked mine a 1000 times empty, cleaning it multiple times along the way, it was oiled with Dan Wesson supplied oil. Somewhere along the way it got very sluggish returning to battery, upon stripping you could see faint burrs raising. I returned it to DW they polished the rails and did a number of modifications on their dime. It has run flawlessly since it's return, it has had a hiccup with with reloads that came out of my G20, the DW chamber was to tight to accept the Glock bulge, I now perform a push through sizing as my as my first step in reloading, problem solved. The only thing I wish they included is front strap checkering (as previously stated) I have old school Pachmayer  wrap around grips on it for now, eventually I will get it checkered (to many gun projects). In conclusion I would recommend the RZ-10 finished in their Duty Treat (I think that is their current finish) as they have had no issues with galling with those models. If you prefer the brushed stainless steel model, I would suggest hand racking and cleaning before shooting, run it soaking wet during break-in, clean it often. And by all that is Holy DON'T bring up galling over at the Dan Wesson Forum   

[Graybeard]

I have an RZ-10, I bought brand new and I am pleased with (now). The model I have is the brushed stainless one, the issue I have is the tight fit of the raw in the white stainless steel, and not enough polishing of the rails before bead blasting, leads to the slide locking to the frame occasionally, how often I can't say. Back in 2015 when I bought mine the issue raised it's head quite often over in the 1911 forum. I hand racked mine a 1000 times empty, cleaning it multiple times along the way, it was oiled with Dan Wesson supplied oil. Somewhere along the way it got very sluggish returning to battery, upon stripping you could see faint burrs raising. I returned it to DW they polished the rails and did a number of modifications on their dime. It has run flawlessly since it's return, it has had a hiccup with with reloads that came out of my G20, the DW chamber was to tight to accept the Glock bulge, I now perform a push through sizing as my as my first step in reloading, problem solved. The only thing I wish they included is front strap checkering (as previously stated) I have old school Pachmayer  wrap around grips on it for now, eventually I will get it checkered (to many gun projects). In conclusion I would recommend the RZ-10 finished in their Duty Treat (I think that is their current finish) as they have had no issues with galling with those models. If you prefer the brushed stainless steel model, I would suggest hand racking and cleaning before shooting, run it soaking wet during break-in, clean it often. And by all that is Holy DON'T bring up galling over at the Dan Wesson Forum   

Interesting that yours had the start of a galling problem, too. I always thought galling was caused by using the same SS alloy for both the slide and frame, not just tight fit. Also thought the cure was using 2 different SS alloys. Sounds like DW took care of you. I don't think that would deter me from buying one. There's always the Colgate toothpaste trick.

[10mm4ever]

The galling issue is not as frequent as it was in 2015 & 16 but it occasionally Still raises it's ugly head, I spoke with the gunsmith that worked on mine he said that DW was using a bead blasting media that was not giving a surface that was needed for sliding parts, also when it came back from DW  you could see faint machining marks after they polished the rails, indicating to me that they should have been polished all the way out before bead-blasting. I work in the petro/chem industry, many years ago a engineer came up with the bright idea to replace all the studs and nuts to close pressure vessels from carbon steel (a very high grade) to stainless steel, the next shutdown we were cutting all the galled stainless studs off and replacing them with carbon steel. Stainless can be a tricky material. I still prefer a forged carbon steel knife, there is no magic alloy to replace good old fashioned forged carbon steel

[Kenk]

Thanks folks!

[Graybeard]

That's good info 10mm4ever. Thanks for sharing it.

[Kenk]

Absolutely, Thanks again, hope to pick one up soon : )

[Mistman]

I bought one new in '15. Did the hand racking 100's of times, used only the supplied oil. Mine locked up after 12 rounds fired, it galled pretty badly. Sent it back, they lapped it but the rails were still nasty looking. Seemed to function alright after that though the slide stop would engage all the time. While trying to work through that the
firing pin stop fell out. I got a little frustrated w/it and let it go. I have a bunch of 1911's, only 1 10mm now, a Springfield custom shop gun. I don't have any DW 1911's, I hear good things about them but have no interest in trying again.

[Kenk]

Thanks Mistman, I think we have all gotten one of those at one point or another

[Graybeard]

Mistman, that's a pretty bad experience. Fitting a slide stop can be pretty easy if you've done it before or have someone talk you through it. My question is, assuming the firing pin was in place, how does a firing pin stop fall out? Was the firing pin stuck far enough forward to allow it to just drop out?

[10mm4ever]

I bought one new in '15. Did the hand racking 100's of times, used only the supplied oil. Mine locked up after 12 rounds fired, it galled pretty badly. Sent it back, they lapped it but the rails were still nasty looking. Seemed to function alright after that though the slide stop would engage all the time. While trying to work through that the
firing pin stop fell out. I got a little frustrated w/it and let it go. I have a bunch of 1911's, only 1 10mm now, a Springfield custom shop gun. I don't have any DW 1911's, I hear good things about them but have no interest in trying again.

mistman did you discuss your issues over in the 1911 forum in the DW section??? If you did I'll get the popcorn out!!!