Anniversary of the Dan Wesson Firearms Acquisition

This February marks the 20th anniversary of the acquisition of the renowned American manufacturer Dan Wesson Firearms, which was purchased by Česká zbrojovka in 2005 through its subsidiary CZ-USA.

The company was originally founded as a revolver company in 1968 by the great-grandson of Daniel B. Wesson, the renowned firearms designer and co-founder of the legendary Smith & Wesson company. Under Czech-American leadership, it has become one of the most respected manufacturers of modern M1911 pistol clones.

The company was founded by Daniel B. Wesson II. with the goal of producing the best revolvers with superior features and exceptional durability, together with a level of quality and exceptional craftsmanship that would be appreciated by even the most demanding users. Under his leadership, the company launched, among other things, the 15 and 715 models, which revolutionized the world of revolvers thanks to their user replaceable barrels.

As part of the diversification of its portfolio, Dan Wesson developed its first 1911 model in 2000, which changed the future of the legendary brand. In the decades that followed, the company produced some of the finest 1911 handguns on the world market. The current Dan Wesson lineup consists of various derivatives of the 1911 pistol. Among the most popular models are the Specialist Commander, Heirloom 2024, DWX Compact, and DW Kodiak Optics-Ready.

CZ, CZ-USA, and Dan Wesson are proud members of the Colt CZ Group.