The great-grandson of D.B. Wesson, co-founder of Smith & Wesson, began a company in 1968 that has since grown outside the wheelhouse of fine revolvers, and has flourished in the market of semi-automatic handguns. Today, Dan Wesson Firearms provides a full suite of M1911-based handguns, and for this week’s review, American Rifleman's David Herman focuses in on a commander-size M1911-variant built around an aluminum frame and chambered for 9 mm Luger. The Vigil Commander pistol aims to protect those who carry every day. This all-businesslike pistol features a rounded butt, a beavertail safety, tritium in the front sight and many other features that put this pistol in the ranks of value without sacrificing quality. For more, watch this week’s NRA Gun of the Week video, and visit danwessonfirearms.com.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Dan Wesson Firearms
Model: Vigil Commander
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic center-fire pistol
Frame: forged aluminum
Slide: stainless steel
Barrel: 4.25"
Finish: black Duty
Sights: single-dot tritium front; serrated, tactical rear
Trigger: 5-lb. pull
Magazine: nine-round detachable box
Weight: 30.5 ozs. (empty)
MSRP: $1,298
Additional Reading:
Dan Wesson’s System
Tested: Dan Wesson Valkyrie Commander Pistol
I Have This Old Gun: Smith & Wesson Model 1
Tested: CZ USA Sharp-Tail Coach Gun
NRA Gun of the Week: Dan Wesson Firearms Vigil Commander Pistol
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
I Have This Old Gun: Colt 1860 Army Revolver
For the Union Army during the American Civil War, its officers and cavalry troopers relied on one of Colt's most notable firearms: the 1860 Army revolver.
An Affordable Micro-Compact: The Derya Arms DY9Z
The new Derya Arms DY9Z not only fits into the “micro-compact” class of defensive handguns, it adds another adjective: affordable.
Product: Ruger Red Label III Shotgun
Ruger launches the latest iteration in its traditional Red Label shotgun line.
Preview: Ballistol Anniversary Box
Ballistol is one of the most versatile cleaning solutions available on the market, and, in 2025, the company celebrated 120 years in business, with 30 of those years as Ballistol USA.
Review: Savage Stance XR
Savage Arms reworked its Stance pistol in 2025 to incorporate desirable features not available in the first iteration, resulting in the new Stance XR.
Preview: Die Free Kung Fu Grip
A replacement pistol grip for AR-10/15-pattern rifles, the Kung Fu Grip from Die Free Co. utilizes a reduced (12 degree) grip angle that makes shooting a gun with a short length of pull much more comfortable on the wrist—making it an ideal choice for practitioners of modern, squared-up shooting stances.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
