EXHIBIT 5.1


                                October 2, 2002


AK Steel Corporation
AK Steel Holding Corporation
Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C.
703 Curtis Street
Middletown, Ohio  45043

Ladies and Gentlemen:

              We have acted as counsel to AK Steel Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("AK Steel"), AK Steel Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Holding") and Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
("Douglas Dynamics" and, together with Holding, the "Guarantors") in connection
with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a Registration Statement
on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), with respect to $550,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2012 (the "Notes") of AK
Steel to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of June 11, 2002 (the
"Indenture"), by and among AK Steel, the Guarantors and Fifth Third Bank, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed on a
senior basis by each of the Guarantors pursuant to guarantees contained in the
Indenture (the "Guarantees").

              In so acting, we have examined originals or copies (certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the Registration Statement, the
Indenture, the form of Note set forth in the Indenture, and such corporate
records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or
comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of
AK Steel and the Guarantors, and have made such inquiries of such officers and
representatives, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the
opinions hereinafter set forth.

              In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and
the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to all



AK Steel Corporation
October 2, 2002
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questions of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently
established, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of
officers and representatives of AK Steel and the Guarantors. In addition, we
have assumed that the Notes will be executed and delivered substantially in the
form examined by us.

              Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated
herein, we are of the opinion that:

              1.  The Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of AK Steel and, when duly executed on behalf of AK Steel,
authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and as contemplated by
the Registration Statement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations
of AK Steel, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally,
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including
principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless
of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

              2.  The Guarantees have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Guarantors, and when the Notes are duly
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, will constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against them
in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to
general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness,
good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding at law or in equity).

              The opinions herein are limited to the laws of the State of New
York, the corporate laws and limited liability company laws of the State of
Delaware and the federal laws of the United States, and we express no opinion as
to the effect on the matters covered by this opinion of the laws of any other
jurisdiction.

              We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to any and all references to our firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus that is part of the Registration
Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP