I bought a new Model 41 last week and after I got it home and disassembled it I noticed it has some signs of dry firing. The breech face on the barrel has a nice firing pin mark where the firing pin normally hits.

It doesn't seem to be affecting the function of the gun, but I'm wondering how much of an affect this will have in the long run. I'm sure it can't be good for accuracy since there's a small peened in lip that can scratch/deform rounds as they enter the barrel. Any thoughts on this?

I bought a new Model 41 last week and after I got it home and disassembled it I noticed it has some signs of dry firing. The breech face on the barrel has a nice firing pin mark where the firing pin normally hits.

It doesn't seem to be affecting the function of the gun, but I'm wondering how much of an affect this will have in the long run. I'm sure it can't be good for accuracy since there's a small peened in lip that can scratch/deform rounds as they enter the barrel. Any thoughts on this?

I would think it would have had to have been dry fired a lot to get such an indentation. I doubt it would effect accuracy. I store my pistols (including my 41), with the firing pin spring relaxed. So the last step after cleaning is a dry fire. I just looked at my 41, and have no such mark as yours.

If you decide to fix it you may want one of these rather than taking a file to it.

Lemur6,
It will not affect accuracy, but will cause misfires, when the divet gets bad enough. The problem is that the area under the rim of the case, on the barrel will not support the cartridge rim enough to cause the the priming compound to go off at the firing pin strike. this is a common problem with "bullseye shooters". When you shoot, save a couple of empty rimfire cases to use as snap caps. Technically the proper length firing pin length will not cause this. But, I have seen a lot of rimfire semi-auto pistols with this problem.
JWB

I read somewhere a simple test to see if you should/shouldn't dryfire a rimfire with an empty chamber. Simply put a strip of thicker paper (like posterboard) over the breechface , close the slide, and pull the trigger. If it indents it hard or tears it, likely you will suffer the peened chamber if you dryfire a lot. A fellow on my shooting team has a 41 that he's dry-fired many thousands of times, with no mark. As JW said, I think it shouldn't be an issue if all is just right.

I use an empty casing as a snap cap to release the spring tension.

Bob

You can also pull back the slide 1/16" or so and pull the trigger relieving the spring.

Unless it affects functioning or accuracy, I would shoot the heck out of it and not worry about it! If you have accuracy or functioning problems send it to S&W and have it fixed.