Smith and Wesson 41- big find, big win. Very excited about this

Here is one for you all to enjoy.

I am constantly looking at and for more 41's. So many hours are spent online and at LGS's looking for a gem or a variation or whatever. I figure the 41 is the best 22 ever mass produced, why not acquire several of them. While at Cabelas several months ago, I notice in the gun library a 41, it's a 7 3/8 inch with muzzle break and cocking indicator. It's in pretty good shape, maybe a 95% gun. Problem is, they are asking $2,999 for it. I think to myself, obviously they have no idea what it is, otherwise they wouldn't be asking that much. I figure they just don't know what in the world they are doing and forget all about it. Fast forward to last week, while looking online, I see the same 41, still listed for 3k. I click on it and learn why they are asking so much, it comes with 2 other barrels. I learned today, that they more then likely are not a set sold with the gun, but still, they have extra barrels.

Here is where it gets interesting.

I go into the store today to look at it in person. From the online ad I can see that one of the barrels is a 5.5 inch heavy and the other is a 5 inch sport or field barrel. It comes in the original box with the screw driver and counter weights. I am starting to see why they are wanting 3k for all of this. The guys working at Cabelas are nice, helpful and all, but you can't expect them to know everything about every gun. Upon looking at the barrels further, I discover that the 5.5 inch barrel is actually an extended front sight barrel. The guys there have no idea.

We negotiate and due to the fact that the gun has been there that long, they come down to $2,500. I agree on it and purchase it. After agreeing on the price, I kindly and as humbly as I can, share some information with them and teach them about why this is such a good deal for me and how if it had been properly advertised, they could have sold it for the full 3k or more. They were still good with the deal and happy that I got it. Win win for everyone.

The gun isn't in perfect shape, but definitely good condition and will be an excellent shooter thst I won't be worried about taking to the range and actually using.

What do you think?

Looks like you really scored with this one. What is the barrel length on the box end label. Any luck it's the 5 1/2 efs. One of the harder boxed guns to find. Looking at the 7 3/8" barrel, more specifically at the muzzle it appears to be an early one or first type which is a few earlier than the box which came out in the mid 60s.
Posting the serial number will help narrow it down.

Aussie Collector said:

Looks like you really scored with this one. What is the barrel length on the box end label. Any luck it's the 5 1/2 efs. One of the harder boxed guns to find. Looking at the 7 3/8" barrel, more specifically at the muzzle it appears to be an early one or first type which is a few earlier than the box which came out in the mid 60s.
Posting the serial number will help narrow it down.

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The label is marked for the 7 3/8 inch barrel, not the EFS. The serial range is the 99,xxx area. I do also have a 5.5 inch EFS that is LNIB.

It might be the photo. The earlier muzzles were fractionally longer sometimes hard to pick in pictures.
Nice on the score on the boxed 5 1/2 efs. I've only ever seen one here which I now have.
That is a nice purchase and well worth what you paid.
There are a couple of different barrel weights to collect also.

That is very nice. Good find! My local Cabela's has a 41 in the Library, priced over $1k, but it is rough.

That's a good score for you and it's good that you're OK with sharing information with the LGS. I am usually tight lipped when it comes to sharing info on rarity or values with the LGSs I haunt, since I've gotten many very good, moderately undervalued deals.

When I bought my Martz Luger (.45), AFTER it was paid for and transferred to me I talked to the shop owner about the gun and its scarcity. The very next day the other (!) Martz 9mm literally doubled in price. Lesson learned.

Always play your cards "close to the vest".
What have you got to lose?
What they don't know won't hurt 'em none.

pasound said:

That is very nice. Good find! My local Cabela's has a 41 in the Library, priced over $1k, but it is rough.

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It's fun getting a rough one for around 7 to 800, but 1k is too much.

Aussie Collector said:

It might be the photo. The earlier muzzles were fractionally longer sometimes hard to pick in pictures.
Nice on the score on the boxed 5 1/2 efs. I've only ever seen one here which I now have.
That is a nice purchase and well worth what you paid.
There are a couple of different barrel weights to collect also.

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Thank you, it's nice to get a good deal once in awhile. I should upload a picture of my 5.5 EFS. It's literally LNIB, so nice to don't dare even shoot it.

jc2721 said:

That's a good score for you and it's good that you're OK with sharing information with the LGS. I am usually tight lipped when it comes to sharing info on rarity or values with the LGSs I haunt, since I've gotten many very good, moderately undervalued deals.

When I bought my Martz Luger (.45), AFTER it was paid for and transferred to me I talked to the shop owner about the gun and its scarcity. The very next day the other (!) Martz 9mm literally doubled in price. Lesson learned.

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I kinda felt like it was the right thing to do. Alot if us, including myself, don't know what we don't know. I rather be taught then be ignorant.

That’s a really good price considering all that came with the package. The 99K serial number should place it in the late 1968 or early 1969 range but we know how crazy S&W shipping dates can be.

The box is very interesting also. The solid line border was used from 1957 to 1966 and ended when Bangor Punta acquired S&W. But your box is labeled “a Bangor Punta Company” that dates it between 1966 and 1985 so how did a 68 pistol end up in a 1966 box? All things are possible with S&W that makes collecting them so frustrating.

I believe that the red ramp field barrel was introduced in 1980 with the last production run of the 5” field barrel. I might be wrong about that - it wouldn’t be the first time. Does your barrel have the upright ampersand? Was it drilled for the internal weight?

If the false muzzle cap was included with your pistol, I’d suggest using it when you shoot your M41. The compensator picks up a lot of fouling and is difficult to clean. Being aluminum, it can be easily damaged by aggressive cleaning.

My 5 1/2” EFS came from a seller that thought he got a good price for a standard heavy barrel. I didn’t tell him got a very good

That’s a really good price considering all that came with the package. The 99K serial number should place it in the late 1968 or early 1969 range but we know how crazy S&W shipping dates can be.

The box is very interesting also. The solid line border was used from 1957 to 1966 and ended when Bangor Punta acquired S&W. But your box is labeled “a Bangor Punta Company” that dates it between 1966 and 1985 so how did a 68 pistol end up in a 1966 box? All things are possible with S&W that makes collecting them so frustrating.

I believe that the red ramp field barrel was reintroduced in 1980 with the last production run of the 5” field barrel. I might be wrong about that - it wouldn’t be the first time. Does your barrel have the upright ampersand? Was it drilled for the internal weight?

If the false muzzle cap was included with your pistol, I’d suggest using it when you shoot your M41. The compensator picks up a lot of fouling and is difficult to clean. Being aluminum, it can be easily damaged by aggressive cleaning.

My 5 1/2” EFS came from a seller that thought he got a good price for a standard heavy barrel. I didn’t mention to him I got a very good deal on a EFS!

I hope you stay active here. I would love to learn and discuss with you all things about the S&W model 41.

Bastogne71 said:

That’s a really good price considering all that came with the package. The 99K serial number should place it in the late 1968 or early 1969 range but we know how crazy S&W shipping dates can be.

The box is very interesting also. The solid line border was used from 1957 to 1966 and ended when Bangor Punta acquired S&W. But your box is labeled “a Bangor Punta Company” that dates it between 1966 and 1985 so how did a 68 pistol end up in a 1966 box? All things are possible with S&W that makes collecting them so frustrating.

I believe that the red ramp field barrel was reintroduced in 1980 with the last production run of the 5” field barrel. I might be wrong about that - it wouldn’t be the first time. Does your barrel have the upright ampersand? Was it drilled for the internal weight?

If the false muzzle cap was included with your pistol, I’d suggest using it when you shoot your M41. The compensator picks up a lot of fouling and is difficult to clean. Being aluminum, it can be easily damaged by aggressive cleaning.

My 5 1/2” EFS came from a seller that thought he got a good price for a standard heavy barrel. I didn’t mention to him I got a very good deal on a EFS!

I hope you stay active here. I would love to learn and discuss with you all things about the S&W model 41.

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On the red ramp sight, I believe your line of thought to be correct. Something else I noticed that you may have more knowledge on is this. On my other (2) 5 inch sport/field barrels, they do not have a crowned and recessed end of the muzzle, they have a protruding rim type end of the muzzle. They also do not have a red ramp sight on them. I should include pictures, some of them are pristine.

It did include the muzzle cap protector. I will keep your advice in mind. This gun is is great shape, but I consider it to be a shooter, I may leave the muzzle break on, may take your advice and take it off.

The EFS seems to be easily overlooked if your not an avid collector, good job on your score of one at a good price.

I will be staying active on here, happy to talk anytime.

Thank you!

over the years I have documented the history of the box. Your box is correct. There are quite a few changes in the box and yours is correct for your gun, third type I call it. I have a few 41s 41-1s and 46s simular vintage same Bangor punta box.

41aficionado said:

On the red ramp sight, I believe your line of thought to be correct. Something else I noticed that you may have more knowledge on is this. On my other (2) 5 inch sport/field barrels, they do not have a crowned and recessed end of the muzzle, they have a protruding rim type end of the muzzle. They also do not have a red ramp sight on them. I should include pictures, some of them are pristine...
...Thank you!

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You DEFINITELY need to "include pictures" for the benefit of those of us who hang around here for the express purpose of learning more about all things S&W...

Very nice M41 and with extra goodness. It should be a tack driver with that long barrel. I love mine, been shooting it in 2 gun .22 shoots this year. Not a safe queen, a working girl now. I added a buffer to it to protect it. Enjoy.

BC38 said:

You DEFINITELY need to "include pictures" for the benefit of those of us who hang around here for the express purpose of learning more about all things S&W...

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OK, I’ll try and post a picture for you.

The left hand barrel is a cut down 7 3/8” with the face turned down to leave a “nub” that makes it appear as a sleeved barrel. The internal steel weight has been capped with a domed plug. This barrel came with a September 1959 model 41 and is typical of the earliest field barrels.

The middle barrel is also a very early field barrel but this one was forged and machined, not a cut down, as a 5”. It is not drilled for an internal weight and the front sight is not a separate part but machined to the barrel. Also a very early production.

The red ramp barrel is a cut down 7” barrel from, I believe, the early 1980’s. It has the recessed crown, upright “&”, lacks the high polished bright blue finish, and was not drilled for an internal weight as this feature was eliminated with the change to the 7” barrel. This barrel was offered as an accessory only, not as a complete pistol.

There are several other production runs of the field barrel such as the 7 3/8” barrel cut flush with the recessed crown. I certainly would welcome any addition to my knowledge anyone can provide on this subject.

S & W Handguns catalogue dated May 1984 Page 22
Handgun accessory Chart Model 41 5" Field Barrel
Order No. 066920000 5" with Red Ramp Front Sight
Order No. 066930000 5" with Patridge Front Sight

Excellent find, enjoy in good health!

41aficionado said:

While at Cabelas several months ago, I notice in the gun library a 41, it's a 7 3/8 inch with muzzle break and cocking indicator. It's in pretty good shape, maybe a 95% gun. Problem is, they are asking $2,999 for it. I think to myself, obviously they have no idea what it is, otherwise they wouldn't be asking that much. I figure they just don't know what in the world they are doing and forget all about it. Fast forward to last week, while looking online, I see the same 41, still listed for 3k. I click on it and learn why they are asking so much, it comes with 2 other barrels. I learned today, that they more then likely are not a set sold with the gun, but still, they have extra barrels.

Click to expand...

Congratulations, I've been watching that same 41 since November of last year in hopes that they might mark it down. I think you made an awesome score! Enjoy!