Just spent some quality time at the range yesterday with my new (to me, it's from approx. 1980) Model 41 w/ the 7 3/8" barrel. What a fantastic pistol, it is right up there with my High Standards.

While some of you recoil in horror, my question concerns which is the best mount for a red dot on this pistol. At this point I have located two such mounts; the S&W supplied mount and the Weigand mount. At this point I do not forsee going the Clark route.

Appreciate any thoughts any of you might have on this.

Where are you finding the S&W mount? I do not seem to find them on their website.

The Weigand rails for the 41 are 4 times the cost of those at Midway and Bullseye gear.

Ed, I failed to mark it; but, I believe the S&W rail was on Brownells. However, Brownells did not have the Weigand rail.

I mounted a Burris Fast Fire Red Dot unit on a mount made by BME. The mount fits in the dovetail for the rear sight. If you go that way you must be sure to get the mount for the older barrels. This avoided having to drill and tap the older barrel.

eljay, I was hoping to use the solution you suggest as I was familiar with BME due to my plan to use one of their mounts on my HS Trophy. However, my M41 does not have a dovetail. Thus I am back to the d&t for a rail solution.

If it is in fact a 7 3/8" barrel with muzzle brake, like the one pictured below, they are worth much more if they are not altered. So I would not recommend drilling and tapping it. You would be better off buying a new or used drilled and tapped barrel and leaving the original alone. Then you can switch from iron sights to scope/red dot with a simple barrel change.

The BME mounts are good but I don't think I've seen one done on a 7 3/8" barrel since, as you've stated, that rear sight doesn't sit in a dovetail. It might be worth a call to see what they say.

I've used a B Square clamp on mount on my long barrel 41 for about 30 years now. Have a Mark V red dot. I don't know if they are still available. If they are you just clamp it on the barrel just ahead of the slide. Just two bolts clamp it on like a vice. It has a metal bar that goes back to the open sight to keep it from sliding back during firing. Don't even have to remove it to field strip the gun.

Thank all of you for the great thoughts. I believe my next step will be to sit down with my local gunsmith for his input and a final decision on a course of action.

Again, thanks all of you have been most helpful.

Picked up my Model 46 already D&T with an old-school Tasco ProPoint red dot that is about the same size as the gun... Would love to get a Burris FastFire or other new, smaller sight. If it was my choice, I'd go with something that did not require D&T.

I am currently revisiting a new barrel; if I can find one. Few sources and they are out of stock.