My full size is steel.

I bet the compact is aluminum.

 

My compact is aluminum.

I'm just stumped (? maybe not the best word) for how the FS is steel when the web page for it clearly says aluminum. If it's steel, then what else on the page for the FS is wrong?

 

The DWX Full Size Frame is Steel. The DWX Compact Frame is Aluminum.

 

My full size is steel...

The DWX Full Size Frame is Steel. The DWX Compact Frame is Aluminum.

The DW web site shows all of the DWX's are aluminum-framed.

Not to say that they never made a steel DWX, but I've never seen nor heard of one.

 

‘I’ve never a had a magnet stick to aluminum frame before. Unless of course there was steel behind where I placed the magnet.

I made sure that no steel was behind the frame.

Now you have me questioning my methods. I’ll get more in depth when I have time.

 

I don’t own one but had shot my friends before and maybe CZ has brought out new Optic Ready in Aluminum frame? I could not recall since it has been a couple/three years since I had shot his. I had to call my Buddy (one of those guys who has to be the first to buy the latest anything) last night who had one of the originals DW DWX Full Size guns-no optic cut and he said they were steel framed. He has of course sold his as he does with everything after the ‘shiny new‘ wears off. So someone here who has the original not optic ready DWX from the 2022-23 time period may be able to clarify this too? I didn’t recall this particularly until he mentioned it because it was long enough ago when I shot it that I don’t remember but after he said it—I did recall. He stated the gun was “pretty heavy”… sent me these links:

https://danwessonarmsusa.com/dan-wesson-dwx-9mm-pistol/

Dan Wesson DWX 9mm Pistol
$1,909.00

SPECIFICATIONS
Caliber	9mm Luger
Capacity	*19 Rounds
Magazine Type	Double Stack
Frame	*Steel
Grips	Aluminum
Trigger Mech	SA Only
Sights	Adjustable Rear, Fiber Optic Front
Slide Finish	Duty Finish
Barrel Length	5″
Weight	43 oz
Overall Length	8.52″
Height	5.85″
Width	1.25″
Safety	Ambidextrous Thumb Safety
California Compliant	No

https://danwessonarmsusa.com/dan-wesson-dwx-40-sw/

Dan Wesson DWX 40 S&W
$1,909.00
SKU92002
ModelDWX 40 S&W
Caliber.40 S&W
Magazine Capacity15
*Frame MaterialSteel
Slide FinishDuty Finish
GripsAluminum
Overall Length8.52 in
Barrel Length5
Height5.85 in
Width1.52 in
Trigger MechSingle Action
Front SightFiber Optic
Rear SightAdjustable
SafetyAmbi thumb safety
Product NameDWX 40 S&W

https://danwessonarmsusa.com/dan-wesson-dwx-40-sw/

Reviews from back then:

Dan Wesson DWX Review [Range Tested]

Part CZ 75 and part 2011? We take a hands-on look at the Dan Wesson DWX to see if this pistol is better (or worse) than its inspiration.

www.pewpewtactical.com

DAN WESSON DWX SPECS & FEATURES
Specs:
Caliber: 9mm
Action: Single-action only
Capacity: 19+1
Overall Length: 8.5″
Barrel Length: 4.95″
Height: 5.85″
Width: 1.5″
Weight: 43 oz
Frame Material: *Steel

Hands-On: Dan Wesson DWX - The Truth About Guns

It was fall of 2019 when Dan Wesson first announced and showed off the DWX pistol, which was slated to hit dealers the following summer. As a huge fan of both the CZ 75 platform (in particular the competition-oriented models) and the 1911 platform (with a sweet spot for Dan Wessons), I was truly...

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

“A full-length Picatinny rail dust cover extends right to the muzzle. All *steel top and bottom, the DWX tips the scales at 45 ounces and with a bull barrel and that long accessory rail there’s plenty of weight at the muzzle to help it shoot flat.”

Dan Wesson DWX: The Best Of Two Worlds? [Hands-on Review]

Masterpiece or monster? We go hands-on with the Dan Wesson DWX to find out what happens when a 1911 and CZ 75 love each other very much!

www.recoilweb.com

“It’s as soft-shooting as only a 43-ounce, *steel-framed pistol can be, and its remarkably consistent 4-pound, 2-ounce trigger allows the shooter to hammer without disturbing the sight picture.“

 

It looks like the DWX was offered with a steel frame, but DW's site now shows all of the DWX's as aluminum frames. It's a little puzzling though, as the FS DWX shows a weight of 43 oz. - same as the steel-framed pistols described on pewpewtactical and TTAG. Awfully heavy for an aluminum gun! Wonder if there's a typo on the DW site, and the FS really is steel (?).

Note that "danwessonarmsusa.com" is a scam site, only online since September (2024), and not affiliated with Dan Wesson:

Is Danwessonarmsusa.com legit or a scam?

Danwessonarmsusa.com (dan wesson arms usa) was registered with Global domain group llc on 3rd of September 2024.

stopgunscams.com

I wondered why the price of the DWX was lower but thought maybe it was because they were the older guns before the optic cut. If CZ was better at answering the phone with someone knowledgeable we could find out first hand. That scam site sure went to some work to list models of DW guns. They even have the Revolvers on that site… thanks for finding this out. I would never buy from them online and I know CZ never sells directly through their site or at least don’t think so? So we still don’t know if the new optic cut DWX are aluminum or steel. There was just a post on here by StuartV(above poster) who did a trigger job I had answered in his post. But I see he is asking if the DWX is steel or aluminum. Now I am confused if he owns a DWX you would think he would know the difference. Maybe he can do what Reinz did and do a magnet test for our inquiring minds?

 

I wondered why the price of the DWX was lower but thought maybe it was because they were the older guns before the optic cut. If CZ was better at answering the phone with someone knowledgeable we could find out first hand. That scam site sure went to some work to list models of DW guns. They even have the Revolvers on that site… thanks for finding this out. I would never buy from them online and I know CZ never sells directly through their site or at least don’t think so? So we still don’t know if the new optic cut DWX are aluminum or steel. There was just a post on here by StuartV(above poster) who did a trigger job I had answered in his post. But I see he is asking if the DWX is steel or aluminum. Now I am confused if he owns a DWX you would think he would know the difference. Maybe he can do what Reinz did and do a magnet test for our inquiring minds?

I do not own a DWX. I am thinking about buying one. I saw someone else post this question on reddit. That made me curious. I see on the website "aluminum". Someone on the subreddit posted that it's steel.

So, I came here and asked - because I trust y'all more than reddit, and because I was hoping @Keith DW would chime in with a definitive answer.

 

Well now I know that I am not inept with my feel or magnet!

 

“I do not own a DWX. I am thinking about buying one. I saw someone else post this question on reddit. That made me curious. I see on the website "aluminum". Someone on the subreddit posted that it's steel.”
So, I came here and asked - because I trust y'all more than reddit, and because I was hoping @Keith DW would chime in with a definitive answer.

Okay, guess I am confused about your thread(s) and posts on this... you own a DWX but a Compact model… right? When you say above you don’t own a DWX you mean in FS… right? But you do own a DWX in the compact size… right?
Your thread stated you own a DWXc here:

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/dwx-compact-trigger-disappointment.1073581/?post_id=14093642#post-14093642

“Now that it is broken in, the trigger on my DWXc is good. I adjusted the sear spring and the pull/break weight is a hair over 3#, which is great for my purposes.”

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/dwx-compact-trigger-disappointment.1073581/?post_id=14093642#post-14093642

So this was a quote from

My compact is aluminum.

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/dwx-compact-trigger-disappointment.1073581/?post_id=14093642#post-14093642

You state here you have a DWXc pistol? I thought this because of your other post above? So, which is it… do you own a Dan Wesson DWXc and you are considering a DWX FS gun now? I am truly curious because I am thinking seriously about buying one of these pistols... I am not big on aluminum frame guns and it appears now all there DWX pistols are aluminum. So would you prefer a steel FS over an aluminum... why? I do like the new versions have a optic cut.

 

Okay, guess I am confused about your thread(s) and posts on this... you own a DWX but a Compact model… right? When you say above you don’t own a DWX you mean in FS… right? But you do own a DWX in the compact size… right?
Your thread stated you own a DWXc here:

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/dwx-compact-trigger-disappointment.1073581/?post_id=14093642#post-14093642

“Now that it is broken in, the trigger on my DWXc is good. I adjusted the sear spring and the pull/break weight is a hair over 3#, which is great for my purposes.”

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/dwx-compact-trigger-disappointment.1073581/?post_id=14093642#post-14093642

So this was a quote from

https://www.1911forum.com/threads/dwx-compact-trigger-disappointment.1073581/?post_id=14093642#post-14093642

You state here you have a DWXc pistol? I thought this because of your other post above? So, which is it… do you own a Dan Wesson DWXc and you are considering a DWX FS gun now? I am truly curious because I am thinking seriously about buying one of these pistols... I am not big on aluminum frame guns and it appears now all there DWX pistols are aluminum. So would you prefer a steel FS over an aluminum... why? I do like the new versions have a optic cut.

I own a DWX Compact - often abbreviated as "DWXc". I try to be careful to be accurate in my terminology because the naming can certainly be confusing - as you've demonstrated. So, if I say DWX somewhere - and not DWX Compact or DWXc - then either I really do mean the full sized gun, OR I screwed up.

I do not own a DWX. The closest I have come was fondling one at my LGS a year or so ago. That DWX had the nicest trigger of any production, factory gun I have ever laid a finger on. I have had an itch to buy one ever since.

My curiosity about aluminum or steel is kind of academic. I am curious to know what it is, but it doesn't really affect my buying decision. What DOES influence my buying decision is the weight of it, not the material, per se.

For ME, full sized guns are not for concealed carry. If I buy a DWX it would be to shoot it in USPSA and IDPA matches. In IDPA, the pistol would need to weigh under 45 ounces, with an empty mag and optic mounted. My current understanding is that the DWX is very close to that and, at worst might be slightly over the weight limit, but only need to have the grips changed to something lighter in order to be under.

Whether it makes weight by having a steel frame or an aluminum frame doesn't really matter. It just matters that it's under the weight limit - and, I suppose, is under BUT close to it. I wouldn't want a super light gun for shooting matches.

In general, I would choose an aluminum or steel frame over a plastic frame. As long as it's aluminum or steel, I don't much care which it is (unless it's for concealed carry - then I want lighter weight, so I'll choose aluminum). As long as it's metal, what I really care about is how it shoots. And that is something where it seems to me that a well-designed pistol with an aluminum frame can shoot really, really well. And, a poorly-designed pistol can have a steel frame and still shoot like crap. So, me personally, I wouldn't rule out any gun just because the frame is aluminum.

My DW Guardian is an alloy frame (not steel) and it is my favorite pistol. It shoots and handles amazingly well. It's ONLY knock is that it's a single stack, so it doesn't hold as much ammo as I would like.

 

This ain't exactly the kind of pistol you buy sight unseen.

Al vs SS is pretty obvious on a DW. Their SS is a bit heavy.

 

For goodness sake. Full size is and always has been steel, compact is and always has been aluminum, and a website typo is currently the cause of the confusion.

 

No way that a DWX fullsize will be IDPA legal.

Ill go weigh my Ts2 without grips. I'll bet it's way over.

 

No way that a DWX fullsize will be IDPA legal.

Ill go weigh my Ts2 without grips. I'll bet it's way over.

I was wondering about that with its weight… I don’t shoot competition anymore but it appears DW may have gone aluminum on both FS and Compact models. I am thinking about getting the FS DWX but the LGS has special order on them only.

 

My compact is aluminum

 

I called the LGS and have them sending in a FS DWX which I understand will be a while from their distributor. I don’t plan on carrying the gun if I buy it—but maybe since I carry a FS 1911 now... to be determined. Have wanted one since I shot my friends a few years ago. I wish he had kept me in mind before he sold his off.

 

There are no variants of the Dwx. Only the same models they've always had.

Dwx compact. Al frame.
Dwx compact. No rail.
Dwx. Steel frame.

 

It all started off with looking at gun.deals for pricing on the DWX guns quite a while back and seeing some at various sellers—which was repeated numerous times from sellers and writers in articles about the DWX.
I literally lifted the term from some sites with direct quotes regarding what they termed as “variants” of the DWX. I used the info to get a reference for pricing from my LGS.

“Designed initially for competition use, the DWX has evolved into much more than that, with both full-size and compact variants”
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/10/25/dan-wesson-meets-cz-in-the-new-pistol-named-dwx/
I was trying to get more info on them since they don’t have any at the LGS’s here. I have read as much info as I have found on both the FS and the Compact but don’t know anyone personally who owns the Compact size. The few DWX guns they have gotten in sold out immediately. I really wanted to know more about the compact DWX before I plopped down $2K on one or the other. I am limited to pretty much FS guns because of the size of my hands. I have a Glock 30 but have to use an extension and a FS mag in it to get the right grip on the gun. I shot my buddy’s FS DWX a couple years ago and really liked it but wanted to know more about the Compact Model of the DWX—hence my interest in the posts on it. I asked my LGS to order one since they will give me a good price and they placed the order on Friday, I went in today and put a cash deposit on the FS DWX which the owner told me now comes with OS cut.
I guess gun writers and businesses which sell them don’t know the correct terminology on the DWX models either since they refer to them as “variants” a term I am used to seeing on H&K’s too. Guess I will find out soon enough.

DWX “Variants”:
“When it comes to feeding the DWX, the full-size *variant uses a magazine based on the P-09/P-10, while the compact models utilize a 75 Compact magazine.”
Best of Both Worlds: The New Dan Wesson DWX

“Designed initially for competition use, the DWX has evolved into much more than that, with both full-size and compact *variants.”
https://www.impactguns.com/dan-wesson-dwx/ IG just used the DW in their Ad.

“The DWX tantalized the market at the 2019 SHOT Show with two *variants previewed—full size and compact”
Dan Wesson Firearms DWX Pistol Review: Something Old, Something New - Small Arms Review

“Whether for competition or carry, magazines accommodate P-09/P-10 F styles, while the compact *variants run 75 Compact magazines.”
UPDATE: Dan Wesson DWX Hybrid CZ 75-1911, Finally Headed to Market

“Full-size DWX pistols use a magazine based on the P-09/P-10 F, while compact *variants use that of a 75 Compact.”
Dan Wesson Merges a 1911 With A CZ For The New Dan Wesson X

“Full-size DWX pistols use a magazine based on the P-09/P-10 F, while compact *variants use that of a 75 Compact.”
Dan Wesson DWX Semi-Automatic Pistol

Even the AI generated answer that popped up on DuckDuckGo had this for an answer:
“The Dan Wesson DWX is available in two main *variants: the full-size DWX and the DWX Compact. The full-size model features a 4.95-inch barrel and is chambered in 9mm, while the Compact version has a 4-inch barrel and is designed for concealed carry, also chambered in 9mm.”

 

 

Wow, I am gone for a few days and things have blown up! We have been trying to get the webpage updated and clearly a mistake was made, with all the other changes. We will get this updated ASAP.
So you can sleep better at night, the full size still utilizes a SS frame while the compacts are aluminum.

 

Thank you for the confirmation.

I did see that the web page has been updated to reflect OR, Railed/non-railed SKUs and such. Progress! Yaay!