If A 1911 And A CZ 75 Had A Baby…

It would be the Dan Wesson DWX. At 43 oz. it isn’t a carry pistol but I bet it would be really fun to shoot. As I noted yesterday, I plan to start posting these news releases as I get them. Or, I should say, those news releases that interest me and which I think will be of interest to you.

From the press release:

Kansas City, KS (December 19, 2022) – What began as an innovative idea among the brilliant minds at CZ and Dan Wesson has finally come to life. These ideas resulted in the jaw-dropping DWX pistol, a grand melding between the signature pistol designs manufactured by the two brands. Available in 9mm, the DWX is ideal for everything from USPSA competition to recreational shooting. 

The DWX starts with the crisp single-action fire control group from a Dan Wesson 1911 and combines it with the ergonomics and capacity of a CZ pistol. The grip angle and contour draw their lineage directly to the venerated CZ 75, providing an excellent fit for most shooters. Correspondingly, the full-size DWX is compatible with standard CZ 75 grips. In addition, low-profile red aluminum grips help drive the shooter’s hand high in the beavertail and provide a fantastic texture to plant it firmly in hand. 

More than just a competition handgun, the DWX sports a locked-breech barrel system for simplicity and features a CZ-style take-down via the slide stop. Borrowing time-proven double-stack magazines from CZ pistol families, the full-size DWX employs the 19+1 magazine from the P-09/P-10.

An ambidextrous safety delivers easy access for right- and left-handed shooters, while a flat, K-style trigger offers a textured face for a positive feel. Front strap checkering aids grip control, while a 1913 Picatinny rail makes it easy to mount a light or laser. A match-grade barrel with a bushing-less barrel system resembles that of the P-09/P-10 and offers shooters unparalleled accuracy and easy take-down. 

DWX competitive shooters will appreciate another benefit of its high degree of tunability and customizability. Many parts already on the market will fit, all built around the 1911 fire control group. With a 1911-style dovetail front sight and CZ Shadow 2-style rear sight, factory and aftermarket options also abound. 

The long-awaited DWX pistol is finally on its way to the American market, at dealers now.

Specs:

DWX Full-Size Specifications:

  • SKU: 92001
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Grips: Henning Aluminum
  • Finish: Nitride
  • Overall Length: 8.5in
  • Barrel Length: 4.95in
  • Height: 5.9in
  • Width: 1.5in
  • Weight: 43 oz
  • Trigger Mech: Single Action
  • Front Sight: Fiber Optic
  • Rear Sight: Adjustable HAJO (click adjustable for elevation, drift adjustable for windage)
  • Safety: Manual thumb safety
  • MSRP: $2099.00

Firearms Industry – Closures and Acquisitions

Just like the rest of American industry, there are changes going on in the firearms industry.

It was announced late last week that the Montana Rifle Company would be closing its doors immediately. They made some very nice higher end bolt action hunting rifles. They had been bought in early 2019 by the Montana Outdoor Group.

From their release on the closure:

“While sales of our popular calibers have been outstanding, production levels have not risen to a profitable level to continue, without additional investments,” CEO Calvin Bontrager explained. “New equipment would be required to reach a service level demanded by our dealers and conservation groups.”


Montana Rifle has been producing custom-grade rifles for nearly 25-years and has been awarded “NRA’s Gun of the Year” in 2016 and “NRA’s Gun of the Year” in 2018. Montana Rifle has also produced limited editions for California Waterfowl, SCI, RMEF, and many other conservation organizations.


“With sales of the popular M1999 control feed actions nearly doubling in 2019, Montana Outdoor Group, is actively searching for restructuring opportunities,” Bontrager continued.

The temporary closures related to COVID-19 are also impacting manufacturing side of the firearms industry.

CZ-USA sent out a message today that production and shipment delays would be the rule for the next 30 days at least. This is due to local and state orders limiting activities which has caused them to close.

CZ-USA operations are subject to an Emergency Order from our local government which forces us to close our facilities in Kansas City, Kansas until at least April 23rd. Likewise, our Dan Wesson Firearms facility in Norwich, NY was closed under similar circumstances late last week due to an order from the state of New York.  


For the next 30 days, production and shipment delays are inevitable. We apologize for the inconvenience we know this will cause — we hold our nation’s Second Amendment rights to be sacred and are very concerned about the impact that emergency orders will have on our customers. We will work diligently to deliver products as soon as legally possible, while maintaining social responsibility and compliance with government orders.

Finally, EOTech has been purchased from L3Harris by American Holoptics LLC.

American Holoptics LLC™, a privately-held U.S. company, has signed a definitive agreement with L3Harris™ to acquire EOTech®.The transaction is expected to close mid-2020 and is conditioned on customary closing conditions. American Holoptics is a subsidiary of Koucar Management, whose strategic acquisitions of Elite Defense® and HEL Technologies™ represent a solid foundation of cutting-edge optical science and weapons systems distribution. The American Holoptics leadership team has an exceptionally broad and deep experience providing high-quality products to the global weapons accessory market. In addition, this team has a proven track record of building customer-first and technology-focused organizations. “We’re proud to sign this agreement to join our team and technology with the EOTech brand,” says Matt Van Haaren, CEO of American Holoptics. “EOTech brings together technologically advanced product lines and production capabilities that will integrate well with our existing business and strategically expand our product portfolio. Together we will deliver an all-new level of service, innovation, and integrity to military, law enforcement and civilian users around the world.” 

Koucar Management is a privately held Michigan-based company that owns companies in a variety of industries including construction, property management, hotels, software, and technology. In the firearms and defense industry realm, they own Elite Defense, American Holoptics, and HEL Technologies. They also own companies like Detroit Taco Company and Cambria Hotels.