A MUST VIEW IF YOU OWN A MODEL 41 - PSA

As I understand it, The EDM manufacturing process is a precise method of making a part without distortion. The parts that S&W are using are stamped out from sheet metal. Every stamped out part always has a smooth side and a sharp side. The sheet metal being used is a mild steel so the Dies won't wear out in a few hours and therefore the factory part is not very precise, hard or resistant to deformation.

IMHO after owning Model 41's since 1979 and shooting tens of thousands of rounds through them, the weak part of the gun is its Factory Extractor. Once the Volquartsen part is installed, the extraction issues go away! That has been my personal experience with the M41 for 41 years. Of course if there are other separate issues with the gun, simply changing an Extractor might not be the answer, no matter who's part you install. I am simply addressing Extractor issues.
 
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The Chief is correct and as we say during a restoration project on an old car, "while you're in there", make sure that you have a new extractor spring and since the firing pin and it's return spring will be coming out at the same time it would behoove one to check/replace those as well.
 
The Chief is correct and as we say during a restoration project on an old car, "while you're in there", make sure that you have a new extractor spring and since the firing pin and it's return spring will be coming out at the same time it would behoove one to check/replace those as well.

Also make sure that you de-burr the extractor spring hole and slot.
 
You may want to relieve the outboard side of the Volquartsen extractor so it can ride over the rim of the cartridge if a cartridge is in the chamber and the slide is lowered. This allows the M41 to be loaded single shot like a Hammerli X-esse.

As delivered the extractor does not have enough travel to ride over a cartridge rim.

This comes in handy if you are using a long barrel M41 in 50 Meter Pistol competitions.
 
Thanks for the heads up on these. I ordered a couple, even though I have an extra OEM extractor or two on hand.
 
This thread seems to have fallen silent. I received my 2 Model 41 extractors today, much quicker than expected.
 
You may want to relieve the outboard side of the Volquartsen extractor so it can ride over the rim of the cartridge if a cartridge is in the chamber and the slide is lowered. This allows the M41 to be loaded single shot like a Hammerli X-esse.

As delivered the extractor does not have enough travel to ride over a cartridge rim.

This comes in handy if you are using a long barrel M41 in 50 Meter Pistol competitions.

Could you elaborate a bit more on this? Perhaps show a picture with an extractor marked to show what should be removed?

I'm asking because when I load a dummy 22LR cartridge in the chamber for dry fire practice and close the slide the cartridge will eject if I pull it back too far to reset the trigger for the next practice shot.
 
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My 1973 vintage Mod 41 works great with the original but when I received an e-mail from Volquartsen offering free shipping I ordered one for a spare in case it's ever needed in the future.
 
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