Model 41 safety

THE ROLLING STONES · #1 03-26-2010, 05:39 AM

I have just got a Smith & Wesson model 41. The safety is very hard to get on and off. If anyone has any ideals please let me known. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,
THE ROLLING STONES

ab4ka · #2 03-26-2010, 10:05 AM

mine was the same way. From all the info I can find generally they are pretty stiff, and mine was worse because it was dirty. I got mine cleaned up and it works fine but is still stiff, but to be honest I don't use it. If there's a round in the chamber it's because I'm about to pull the trigger

TOM BECKWITH · #3 03-26-2010, 02:28 PM

Pull grips (obviously clear, pull mag, bbl, slide) - note holding screw. Play with tension (screw) and polishing to smooth/lighten. Seldom will be great - just a little more friendly. Too loose and easy to set while shooting.

oldRoger · #4 03-26-2010, 09:50 PM

I have two 60’s era M41s. The safeties are both very hard to work. I doubt if they have been used more than 10 times in 40 years.
I think that very few target shooters use them. Usually I lock the pistol open with magazine out.

BUFF · #5 03-26-2010, 10:51 PM

I believe that the small, stiff safety of the Model 41 is the primary reason you don't see these fine pistols used as field guns. They could be great squirrel and rabbit guns. A fairly fast shot from a holster is pretty much impossible with the safety on.

I always thought a larger safety, with greater purchase for your thumb, would have a small but steady market with Model 41 fans.

Tony C. · #6 03-28-2010, 12:34 AM

I've been shooting my M 41 for more than 15 yrs and not once I ever use the safety, since its a bullseye gun, the only time it has a loaded round in the chamber is when I'm about to start paper punching on the firing line, IMHO safety on a target gun is about as useful as teats on a bull.

TOM BECKWITH · #7 03-28-2010, 10:50 AM

The S&W 41 with a 5" field bbl is a great "Field Gun". My S&W 46 5" with a smoothed out safety is great. No - not as smooth as a 1911 tricked out piece, but works fine - a question as to what you want and the willingness to spend a little time (or money).

THE ROLLING STONES · #8 03-29-2010, 06:00 AM

Tom Beckwith,

I just like to have a little smoother on/off safety. We shoot steel plates one day a month and we do not draw out of a holster. So the need of a safety is not need to be used for that. I would just like it to be a little smoother.

Sincerely,
THE ROLLING STONES

TOM BECKWITH · #9 03-29-2010, 02:34 PM

As noted above - no big trick - just patience Pull grips (obviously clear, pull mag, bbl, slide) - note holding screw. Play with tension (screw) and polishing (detent) to smooth/lighten. Seldom will be great - just a little more friendly. Too loose and easy to set while shooting.

Used or not - a working safety is a basic requirement - in my opinion.

glwbear · #10 04-03-2010, 09:24 AM

I agree with Tom. I've got (3) 41's and when I adjusted the safety so it would work, the safety kept coming on and caused more problems than it was worth. I put it back to being "STIFF" like it came from factory and it's not a problem anymore!

The 41 is a great gun and if your careful, you'll never need the safety as you'll always shoot it until it is empty. For a carry gun............. ?????? I wouldn't want the very light Trigger as you'll probably either shoot yourself or someone else and that isn't GOOD! I suggest that you use the 41 for a Target as this is what it was designed for. For a "Carry 22 Pistol" I'd suggest a Ruger 22 with the heavy fluted Barrel with adjustable sights. Why carry a $1,100.00 41's in the woods. It's would be like wearing a Rolex watch while using an impact wrench or while chopping fire wood with an Ax! Somethings in Life were designed for specific tasks and the 41 is a Target Pistol and NOT a carry pistol! The only way I might even consider to carry a 41 would be with a empty chamber and with a full flap holster so as to protect the entire gun!
Good luck and be Safe in whatever you do!
Gary

Vortec MAX · #11 09-17-2017, 10:05 PM

I am having the same issue with two Model 41 pistols that I just bought. I can fire two or three rounds and the safety engages ever so slightly, but enough to keep you from pulling the trigger. It is very annoying. The safeties are both very stiff. I have to use two thumbs (both hands) to get it off once engaged. I wish it was difficult to engage partially, but it seems to do that all by itself.

This thread is 7 years old. Have there been any recent revelations on preventing this?

Mike

kidcom · #12 09-17-2017, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vortec MAX

I am having the same issue with two Model 41 pistols that I just bought. I can fire two or three rounds and the safety engages ever so slightly, but enough to keep you from pulling the trigger. It is very annoying. The safeties are both very stiff. I have to use two thumbs (both hands) to get it off once engaged. I wish it was difficult to engage partially, but it seems to do that all by itself.

This thread is 7 years old. Have there been any recent revelations on preventing this?

Mike

As Tom says above, adjust the Manual Safety Spring Plate Screw until it's comfortable to use and works properly.

S&WIowegan · #13 09-17-2017, 11:24 PM

It didn't take me long to realize the thumb safety on my first 41 was ridiculously hard to operate, especially with factory stocks. I fiddled with the safety a bit to see if it would get better with use. Eventually I stopped ever trying to use it. All my match use is low ready starts and no holster carry.

chief38 · #14 09-19-2017, 06:27 PM

I eased up my safety slightly on my M41 about 38 years ago and I believe I took out the hold down screw and ever so slightly bent the metal pressure detent with a pair of long noes pliers. It's worked perfectly for 38 years now. I also took an Extra Hard Arkansas Stone and took a few passes just to knock off the super sharp edge that kept cutting my thumb from the safety lever itself.

I believe in keeping the screw tightened or else it could back out. The bending method I used allows for that. AGAIN, just a slight bend will do it!

chief38 · #15 09-20-2017, 05:50 AM

Since the M41 is strictly a Target Pistol and was never meant to be a slim, light concealment gun I never quite understood why the design incorporates such a tiny sharp safety. They could have easily make it a bit larger and smoother without any interference while shooting it.

I do not know of any after market safety that would fit and suspect that the safety on the M41 is so rarely used - hence the low demand for one.

wproct · #16 09-20-2017, 09:37 AM

I have owned 4 different model 41 pistols in my lifetime and every one of them has had a super stiff safety lever and I have just come to expect that its the nature of the model. Like others have stated, for me its purely a range gun and I have never engaged the safety on any of them other than just as a reminder as to how stiff they are.

Last week I purchased my new SW22 Victory Smith & Wesson pistol, and ironically it's safety is super smooth and easy to engage and disengage, almost too easy, but just like my model 41, I love it the way it is!