Smith and Wesson Model 41

[hapyhar0ld]

I first wanted to thank everyone on this forum for their help. Everyone has been extremely helpful and friendly anytime I've had a question. With that said, this forum has also caused me great pain, financial pain, as I now make purchases that I normally wouldn't.

Today I was at the local gun show and ran into this beautiful 41. It has the cocking indicator which said to me that it was pre-1978. The serial number starts with 967xx which lead me to believe that it was born in the late 60s. I'd rate it at 95%+. The gentleman was asking $1,400, which in my opinion was WAY too high, especially since it did not have the box or any of the other accessories. After some haggling, I still ended up paying too much, but I had to have her. A short trip to the ATM and voila, my first 41.

[gvsteve]

Good luck with your 41.. Took me 2 years to get mine and it's a pleasure to shoot. It will make you look like an expert when you get to the range.

[824tsv]

You did good hapy, it's by far the nicest pistol I own and goes with me everytime I head to the range.

[DustyJacket]

nice piece

[mkk41]

Congrats! I have a 'no-prefix' Model 41 too , and as the old saying goes , they just don't make 'em like that no more!

[loutent]

That's a beauty - mine is on the way - I probably paid a touch too much too but I will forget about that soon - in fact, I already have

[AKRuss]

Nice gun. I purchased mine in the late 1970s. The shop in Anchorage had two of them; a brand new long barrel and an older short heavy barrel with extendable front sight. They were $250 for either one. It took me a long time to figure out which one to buy - I really wanted both of them but didn't have the bucks. I purchased the older gun and shot indoor competition with it at the University in Fairbanks for several years. It's a great shooter. Mine use to like Federal target ammo and never hiccupped with it. I just got a pair of old man's shooting glasses a few days ago and plan to give the M41 another go.

[hapyhar0ld]

Originally Posted by loutent

That's a beauty - mine is on the way - I probably paid a touch too much too but I will forget about that soon - in fact, I already have

My wife was having a hard time swallowing the price tag, as was I, but we figured this is something we will pass onto our son some day. And whats a few extra hundred dollars for somethig youre going to enjoy for the rest of your life?

If anyone has time can someone try and date this for me?

[PALADIN85020]

Nothing could be finer than a good 41! Here's mine, shipped in May, 1972. Custom case made in SE Asia.

John

[ladder13]

A M41 is a must have, imo

[Larry from Bend]

I believe I bought mine in '75. They were hard to find back then, too. Quite accurate. Mine has killed a jillion Gophers, a bunch of rabbits and small game like Skunks and such.

[hapyhar0ld]

Lots of beautiful guns! Two quick questions.

1. Would it be blasphemous to turn this into a suppressor host? If not, has anyone had any luck and could share their experiences?
2. Could someone date this gun for me? 967xx.

[Sprefix]

I love my 41, and the "field" barrel is awesome. I've looked for one(field barrel) for some time and got a deal on the bay. It is as new and just as accurate as a 41 should be. I might have to look for a 7"(+) barrel for it just to round it out. I've got a Browning "gun vault" carry case that would house the trifecta nicely should it come to pass that I do get the longer barrel. Durn! Off to the various sites to investigate another barrel. And CONGRATULATIONS!!! You will not regret the money spent on that beauty. I really like that case John.

[ACP1]

I purchased mine in April, 1980. One of the things that has always bugged me about my 41 is that the inside of the sliding parts are very rough. Is that normal?

It is smooth operating, always shoots fine and the outside is quite nice.

[hapyhar0ld]

I'm not sure if its normal but mine is the same way.

[NE450No2]

I started shooting a 5" Heavy Barrel Mod 41 @1966/1967, I was in the 9th grade. I used it for Bullseye competition. I still have it and it still shoots great. I think it is the finest 22LR semiauto ever made.

I think the 7" 41 would make a great field hunting gun.

[Troystat]

Hey Sprefix those grips on your 41 look really nice are they Rosewood? They look different than most of the grips I have seen.

[Barrie]

They look more like the plastic ones from a M46 as thats the colour they came in. If they are wood then they are replacement grips for sure. I have Rosewood grips on my 46 but Walnut on my 41. Love them both needless to say.

[Sprefix]

Yup Troystat, they are rosewood. I snapped that pic at the range. They appear a bit more shiny than they really are. Maybe the light and the snake oil combo. I'm a fan of the redder woods. Those grips came factory on my dads' 41 from the 80's, Barrie. The ones that were on my gun at time of purchase(new) were a bit more blonde. As I prefer red and he blonde, we swapped and are both happy. I also have some Herretts' trainers NIB for it.

[LaserBudd]

Hey hapy,
You asked if it would be a bad thing to turn it into a suppressor host, right?
Well I have a 41 which I bought late in 2012 (NIB--5-1/2 Heavy) and was looking for a 7" barrel for it and luckily came across a deal for a Clark 6-1/2 Optic barrel, with an UltraDot II on it at real good price, plus another 5-1/2 Heavy (with a really lousy re-finish job done on it) for FREE.
Sent the 5-1/2 to EWK Arms to have it "threaded" for a (future) suppressor and he re-finished it for me (Eric is GREAT).
I have put a "Muzzle Brake" on it, but have not tried my buddy's suppressor on it yet---he is dying to try it on his 41 with the suppressor.
IF I can figure out how to post photos on here, I'll get some up.

[A-37]

I bought this one LNIB in 2002. The Jinks letter shows it was shipped in August 1958. That's about the time I saw the engraved Model 41 on the cover of Gun Digest and knew I had to have one. I made the walnut presentation case.

There are three Model 41s for sale on this forum now. The 5.5"s aren't getting much attention; the 7-3/8" is. Price is everything. Model 41s and Model 52s, priced right, usually move on the first day.

Notice that the brochure tells us that only one magazine was included with the gun.

[GM4spd]

41 is one of the all time great handguns! Pete

[hapyhar0ld]

Originally Posted by LaserBudd

Hey hapy,
You asked if it would be a bad thing to turn it into a suppressor host, right?
Well I have a 41 which I bought late in 2012 (NIB--5-1/2 Heavy) and was looking for a 7" barrel for it and luckily came across a deal for a Clark 6-1/2 Optic barrel, with an UltraDot II on it at real good price, plus another 5-1/2 Heavy (with a really lousy re-finish job done on it) for FREE.
Sent the 5-1/2 to EWK Arms to have it "threaded" for a (future) suppressor and he re-finished it for me (Eric is GREAT).
I have put a "Muzzle Brake" on it, but have not tried my buddy's suppressor on it yet---he is dying to try it on his 41 with the suppressor.
IF I can figure out how to post photos on here, I'll get some up.

Please let me know how it turns out! I was going to either get a factory barrel and have EWK thread one for me or I was going to puchase one from Clarks. I can't believe you scored it for free...if it doesn't work out and you want to part with them, please let me know!

[Barrie]

Sprefix I also have the Rosewood grips on my 46 at this time as I really like the look of them as well. Sure brightens up the look which is much better in my view also.

[LaserBudd]

I'm gonna try to post some pics now.

BTW, that is a "Muzzle Brake" not a Supressor!!

Cool, huh?
Can't wait to try it with the "Can"

FYI, I have a Grandson that is a SEAL and I laser-engraved the brake as a Salute to the SEALs and ALL of our Armed Forces serving to protect our Rights.

[Zappa]

I bought mine used in 1984 for $290, S/N shows it was made in 1979. It was the second handgun I ever purchased, and I'll never sell it. Had it refinished in electroless nickle back in 1986 along with 2 mags, never seen another one like it, but the finish has held up wonderfully.

[PALADIN85020]

I like the early-style guns with the long barrel, a cocking indicator, and the factory muzzle brake. This one left the factory in May, 1972.

John

[Barrie]

I took the Muzzle Brake off of mine as I found it was shooting high and slightly left with it on. Put the false nose piece on it and it now shoots very straight. I believe a lot of owners had this problem besides myself.

[aldrichg]

Interesting. I just picked up an older 7" bbl that has the "false nose piece" - no compensator. Curious if anyone knows if the factory compensator parts are available anywhere. I'd like to try it on this barrel.

[gunnerbern]

I bought this one new in Jan. '60 for $90. It now has over 100,000
rounds through it. The barrel has been replaced with a Jim Clark 6.5"
unit and an UltraDot scope. It shoots inside 10s at 50 feet with CCI
standard velocity.

[Barrie]

Aldrichg I suggest you get ahold of Tom Beck from our Forum here as if anybody knows where to get one its him for sure. I have one but its not For Sale.

[greekfed]

Originally Posted by LaserBudd

Hey hapy,
Sent the 5-1/2 to EWK Arms to have it "threaded" for a (future) suppressor and he re-finished it for me (Eric is GREAT).

Eric also did the venting on my 41 and I agree he's GREAT!!