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
Three Reasons the U.S. Supreme Court Should Reaffirm that AR-15 Bans are Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court has finally agreed to review the constitutionality of AR-15 bans. As the mainstream media is unlikely to give a fact-based analysis of these bans, here are three points that should be in every article about this challenge.
America 250th Anniversary Ammo Offerings
We’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of the greatest country on Earth, and we have some new limited-edition munitions to commemorate that achievement.
Tennessee Police Department Adopts the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
Beretta USA recently announced that a major metropolitan police department in Tennessee has approved, and begun to field, the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun, a more-affordable model recently introduced by the company.
America’s Lever Revolution
America is known across the world as a nation of gun owners, but only one firearm action has the distinction of being uniquely American: the lever-action.
Power Package: The Springfield Armory Heatseeker Pistol
Springfield Armory is jumping into the bolt-action handgun market with its new-for-2026 Heatseeker pistol, which is based on the company's Model 2020 rifle action.
The Armed Citizen® July 6, 2026
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
Interests
Power Package: The Springfield Armory Heatseeker Pistol | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- Remington We the People 250th Anniversary Ammo Ships to Retailers | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- XS Sights Adds Pre-Drilled Fiber Optic Sights for Smith & Wesson Revolvers | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- Remington Performance Wheelgun 22 Rimfire Built for Classic Revolvers | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
