I have the 5.5 inch Model 41 and like it a lot. I have a chance to pick up a 41 with the 7 3/8" barrel with the Muzzle break and I am wondering how they are. Anyone here have one and how do you like it compared to the shorter barrel? How do you like the Muzzle break. This gun worth getting? Thanks.

I have the 5.5 inch Model 41 and like it a lot. I have a chance to pick up a 41 with the 7 3/8" barrel with the Muzzle break and I am wondering how they are. Anyone here have one and how do you like it compared to the shorter barrel? How do you like the Muzzle break. This gun worth getting? Thanks.

I own two model 41 pistols and I have a representative of all 4 barrels for them. My preference is for the 5 inch field barrel for general purpose use, casual fun shooting and such. I don't really care for the 5.5 heavy as much as the other 3 simply because I don't shoot as well with the heavy barrel. My 7 3/8" with the comp is the best for accuracy, and I like the way the thing looks with the comp on the end. I am thinking of having my 7 inch non comped barrel cut down to 6 inches and installing a Trijicon red dot in place of the rear sight just for something different. As far as whether it is worth buying it depends on the price and if you like the way it shoots for you.

I can get a pristine LNIB for 700. out the door with box papers etc. Can't remember the number , but it is an older one just judging from the older style box and the really good blueing.I can't get to shoot it first though and I have never shot one of the long barrels, especially one with the comp. I do like the way it looks.
It seems like in terms of value they are about the same and it is a matter of preference. I would have thought the comp models were more rare as you don't see them all the time.

If you look on Gun Broker, you will find quite a few examples of the 7 3/8 with the compensator, the quit making that model in 1978, so they did make quite a few in 21 years.

$700 out the door with box/papers etc is a pretty fair price. The nice thing is that you can pick up a 5 1/2" bull barrel and swap back and forth easily.

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USPSA TY23298

I actually already have the 5 1/2 which is also LNIB. I just thought it might be neat to have the 7 3/8 with the muzzle break in addition.

That sounds like a good deal for one to me, I paid $850 for my 1968 comped pistol with the cocking indicator-pristine condition but no box. I suspect that you will like the way it shoots, they are just longer than the 5.5 and the balance is a bit different. The longer sight radius is the key to better accuracy with these, I think they made the 5.5 with a extendable front sight for this purpose as well.

Oh, in that case, they're terrible and you definitely don't want it! If you send along the sellers info I might be able to help them unload that old clunker

From what I have gathered doing research on 41s over the last few months, and the little bit of handling I've done, it seems like more people prefer the balance of the 5 1/2" model. I have a 1972 5 1/2" barrel model in the safe and while I have shot it a bit, and love it, it's a present for my father, so I may wind up having to buy another to go with the 7 3/8" barrel version I pick up on Monday....can't wait for that.

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USPSA TY23298

Went in and bought it today. It is really nice nice, but low and behold, the numbers do not match on the box but it has papers and tools. I put a box through it and it is really sweet. It is an A serial number putting it at 1970. I think this one may be a keeper!

mine(A prefix) came with the 7 3/8's with comp(I removed the comp as I heard they lead up) and loved it.....then got a 5.5" barrel and prefer that a bit more

I'd check to make sure the barrel isn't damaged inside. This can happen but a good close inspection will show you if there is a problem. This is about the only costly part if something needs repair. And, Yes, a bulged barrel will affect the accuracy and I mean a whole lot.

Frankie; You need more than just the "A" to tell what year your guns was manufactured. The "A" prefix series guns began in 1970 at A115001 and continued until 1984 when the Serial Numbers were changed to using the "TAA" prefix. If you new gun still has the "Cocking Indicator" it places it between '70 and '78 when the Indicator was dropped. 1978 is also the year the 7-3/8" barrel was dropped in favor of the 7 inch without the option of using a Muzzle Brake.

In the Model 41s the Frames and Barrels were not "matched" by the Factory and even a Factory Letter will not tell you what the barrel length was that shipped with your particular serial number. There are a few exceptions to this "Rule" as with everything Smith & Wesson but the box end label would be the only way of 'knowing' what barrel length shipped with what frame. Since your box isn't the one your gun shipped with then you may never know for sure.

The one very nice "thing" about the Model 41 is that the first guns made in '58 will accept barrels that are current production.

Didn't realize that about the frame. The serial number on mine is A1402XXA. Only thing I can say is that it is super clean and the blue is really good and matches perfectly from the frame to the slide. If it was ever replaced, it was with one from the same vintage.The accuracy of this thing is incredible. After shooting I cleaned it and inspected everything inside and out and it checks out perfect. It also came with the cap if you don't want to use the muzzle break, which was with the tools. The only thing wrong is the box not matching, which is a bummer and almost broke the deal for me.

That "cap" is called a "False Muzzle" and is worth a few bucks all by itself. Sounds like you got one of the good ones!!! Not that I've seen many 'bad' ones just that I do like the older ones myself. Does yours have the Cocking Indicator? By the Serial Number it should have.

Not too many years ago the folk that make Break Free gun lube started making a product called "Carbon Cutter" and I suggest you find a bottle of this stuff. It works really well for removing the "Carbon" build-up in the Muzzle Brake. Your gun is old enough that I would suggest you use mainly "Standard Velocity" or "Target" ammo in your gun. Brownells sells a "Buffer" that is well worth the few dollars to protect your gun from becoming "battered" which can happen from a steady diet of High or Hyper Velocity ammo. It won't have any effect on the function with Target ammo but 'might' save you from having a cracked Slide at some point if you are using the 'fast' stuff.

KKG,
It does have the cocking indicator. What year by the serial number do you figure it is? I have always just run target ammo through the other 41 so it will stay the same for this. Is it better just not to run the break because of the fouling, or just use the carbon cutter? When I bought this gun, it could not have been cleaner if it was new, including the break, so he either really knew how to keep it ultra clean or did not shoot it much at all. Thanks for all the info.

That serial number with a prefix and suffix (A......A) would indicate that it is a duplicate serial number (is the suffix etched or stamped). A factory letter will confirm if it is a duplicate # and also show what barrel was on it when shipped -- you may want to spend the $30 (and wait a few months) for the letter.

Factory Letters are now $50.00 each and there is still a several "months" worth of back-log. I've seen quite a few Factory Letters on Model 41s and most of them did not include the barrel length unless there was something "Special" or "Unusual" about the gun. It just wasn't something recorded unless it was one of the .22 Short Kits Packages that the Factory built at one point or something else that made it special.

Frankie; Good for you on using the Target ammo with your Model 41s. I'd shoot it and enjoy it. The Carbon Cutter is just a recent product that has made the Cleaning of the Muzzle Brake much easier. It has always been possible and many shooters use automotive Carburetor Cleaner since it does pretty much the same thing. The Break Free product isn't near as hard on other things as the Carb Cleaner is - hands, lungs etc.

I always use Break Free. As far as the Suffix- it is all stamped. Not sure what you mean by a "duplicate serial number". The two x's I put in the number are just so I don't put the serial number up for the world to see, if it makes a difference or not. All the numbers appear to have been stamped at the same time including the last A. Is this a bad thing? Too bad about the box. It has an unopened tool kit with everything in it and all the correct paperwork down to the warranty card. The paperwork shows the 7 3/8 with the break. I feel like trying to contact the original owner who is an older gentleman in the area and find out if he may be able to dig the original box up or find out what the story is.

The last two letters I got were requested back in late May ($30 -- price increase must be recent) and came in early September. I have gotten seven letters on 41s, plus one on a 46, and each of them has given the barrel type/length etc as shipped (earliest shipment 10/60, latest 9/69).

The factory would sometimes find that they had stamped an already used serial number on a frame and would add a prefix or suffix to distinguish one from the other rather than destroy the frame -- some collectors will pay a premium for such oddities. The factory letter will confirm if it is a duplicate serial number that has had the A added to give it a unique serial number. I would get the letter.

Note -- see this post on a 41 with a duplicate serial number very close to yours (must have been a bad week in the stamping department)
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5201039...281039813#9281039813

I seem to be better with the 7 3/8". I've had a 5" and a 5 1/2", with one of them (I can't remember which) having a sliding top tangent sight that sticks out to equal about an 8" barrel. I also have an older Hi Standard Victor. Any barrel length is a good investment...especially the older 1970's guns.

Grab it! That's a great price. I have one. If you don't want it please let me know where it's located.
Joel

They did make the 5.5" with the extendable front sight. Here's a picture of one of mine.

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I doubt you can find one for the 2008 price.

Any road, I got the 5.5 for the "barn door" rear sight like M52. The 7" sight seemed "busy" to me, almost as much as a revolver sight.

I had a High Standard "Space Gun" with all the weights and brake. I could not tell the brake was anything but a dirt catcher.

I have an "A" series 41 with the 8.375 inch barrel and the muzzle break, the muzzle break can be a pain to clean so I got a false muzzle cap for mine. I have shot many thousands of rounds through this gun and it shoots very well, easily X ring at 25 yards with CCI SV if I point the gun in the right direction. When I was shopping for mine I wanted the 5.5 inch barrel but I did not find one so I bought the longer barrel. I don't think you can go wrong with either.