Thanks to CZ-USA’s corporate ambition, CZ and Dan Wesson are closerthanthis. That’s because CZ-USA purchased the pistol maker in 2015, placing it under the care and feeding of CZ-USA CEO Alice Poluchova, the Slezská univerzita v Opavě grad who’s been running CZ’s U.S. operations for no less than 18 years. The Wesson brand, once known for its revolvers, now concentrates on building a range of 1911-style semi-automatic pistols.

Dan Wesson’s A2 (above) is a more refined, modernized take on the historical M1911 A1. It sports a lowered and flared ejection port, modern sights, improved beavertail, extended thumb safety, and some slight undercutting of the trigger guard. The slide and frame are forged, as you’d expect from DW, and each component is hand-fit and blended before being finished in matte blue. It will be available in full and commander sizes. Well, “available” is a relative term, as each of these will be limited to a production run of 200 units.

According to the 2017 catalogue, the A2 above is DW’s is “one combat-ready pistol.” Not two. One.

“Equipped with a Trijicon RMR and with an extended, threaded barrel, this double-stack beast is begging to be unleashed on paper and steel.” As Elvis sang, please unleash me, let me go! Dan Wesson Fury chambers the beast with two stacks in 9mm (18+1 capacity) or in 10mm (14+1).

Dan Wesson’s Valor is their top-of-the-line pistol, now available in carbon steel with a blued finish. “Wearing a set of red and black double-diamond G10 grips with polished ats and bead blasted rounds, the Valor Blue has a classic beauty.” All it needs are some star cut-outs on the trigger. Or not.

DW says they created the Specialist Commander in response to demands from law enforcement. “The frame sports an integral 1913 Picatinny rail, 25-LPI frontstrap checkering, undercut triggerguard and recessed slide stop to enable the installation of laser grips. Equipped with an ambidextrous thumb safety, extended magazine release and detachable two-piece mag well, the Specialist is operator-friendly. It is finished with a set of G10 grips that guide the hand into the beavertail and hold it there.” Until an operator operating operationally is ready to let it go, presumably.

Finally, there’s the new 9mm Pointman Carry (PM-C). A “fully stainless take on the CCO concept (Commander-length slide with an Officer frame)” The diminutive pistol is “easily concealed while being incredibly comfortable to shoot.” Hopefully not at the same time. Anyway, all the MP-C really wants to do is ride Sally, ride — if you know what I mean.