All about the Model 41 target pistol...
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
I've just acquired this model 41. It is essentially new in box shows no signs of ever been fired. I will be requesting a letter for this one as I am a bit mystified over its configuration. It seems to be based on the Rapid Fire ISSF 41-1 in .22 short, even the owners manual indicates. Yes the slide is aluminum, the muzzle brake is here, as well as the weights and all other accessories and paperwork. HOWEVER it is in .22LR as marked on the barrel. I have verified with a snap cap both magazine and chamber. Not sure if this is somewhat a unicorn, special order, or just a run of the mill 41 in a different configuration. The box end label is a little confusing on barrel length as well. I am looking forward to the research. Knowledgeable comments are most welcome as I start the deep dive.
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FlyFish
Member
Couldn't agree more. I bought my M41 in the early 70s and used it in Bullseye competition for years. I was lucky - mine cycled fine and was plenty accurate with just about any ammo. They're fine guns for sure, but the oft-repeated claim about them being the "best target pistol ever produced" is just silly. Some years ago I upgraded to a Walther GSP Expert and learned how good a real world-class target pistol can be.
30+ years ago these were plentiful and great target guns. Now I hardly see them.
ol777gunnerz
Member
info
The first post shows that only 9,875 model 41's were made by the end of 1958. Mine is serial number 12,900, Roy Jink's files show it shipped in Sept. of 1958. Some are dissing the accuracy, at 70 1/2 yrs. of age, I can hit eight inch plates at 75+ feet 5 out of every 6 shots, with long skinny arms that shake, but adore those factory large grips, either hand.
The first post shows that only 9,875 model 41's were made by the end of 1958. Mine is serial number 12,900, Roy Jink's files show it shipped in Sept. of 1958. Some are dissing the accuracy, at 70 1/2 yrs. of age, I can hit eight inch plates at 75+ feet 5 out of every 6 shots, with long skinny arms that shake, but adore those factory large grips, either hand.
Aussie Collector
Member
Nice purchase. There were quite a few 41s around your serial number that left the factory as 41-1s. I have a few myself. When a 41-1 was ordered and none were in stock S&W would assemble one from a standard model 41, replacing the barrel, slide, slide stop/extractor, spring, magazine, and the parts list. Sometimes a "-1" was stamped next to the "41" on the frame. I have some with the stamp and some without...
The box makes perfect sense to me. The barrel is 7 3/8" long. The description on the label is unusual, the package came with an extra barrel being 5", 4 extra mags, and a set of counter weights with aluminium upper.
As with all things Smith & Wesson nothing is certain, your gun could have been shipped as a 41 with conversion kit for .22 short....which I think is unlikely considering you have the .22 short parts list.
The barrel being in .22lr is the odd thing that stands out to me. Changed by previous owner, oversight by S&W at assembly, ordered like that... hopefully a letter will tell more.
Can you tell us, the magazine's is there four spares, and are they all for .22 or some for .22 short?
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The Norseman
Member
Supreme Target Pistol
Paladin85020, S&W Mdl 41 22lr; other great article.
As always thank you!
I have one, and really enjoy shooting it, it was made
in 1979, 5-1/2”bbl, got it for $375.
My only complaint is, my S&W Mdl 622 22lr 6”bbl
with adjustable rear sight is just as accurate.
I won’t insult with what I got that for.
Never selling it, well maybe……never mind.
Paladin85020, S&W Mdl 41 22lr; other great article.
As always thank you!
I have one, and really enjoy shooting it, it was made
in 1979, 5-1/2”bbl, got it for $375.
My only complaint is, my S&W Mdl 622 22lr 6”bbl
with adjustable rear sight is just as accurate.
I won’t insult with what I got that for.
Never selling it, well maybe……never mind.
OLDSTER
Member
Another great article John. In your opinion, how does the 41 stack up against the likes of Feinwerkbau, Hammerli, Pardini, Benelli, and Walther. I've read ( can't remember where ) that the 41 even bests, on occasion, those fine dedicated pistols on the international Bullseye circuit. IMO, when the competiton is at that level, it's the shooter not the gun. My '78 model will put 5 shots in one dime size hole at 50' from a rest.
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Jim Watson
Member
There are people who think it is worthwhile to reline even a Model 41 barrel.
Thank you for the reply. Yes 4 spares and all .22 LR. Letter request goes out tomorrow.
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Aussie Collector
Member
Are you sure the slide is aluminium. Looking at the pictures is hard to tell although it does look blue where the aluminium slides are closer to black. Can you see which stop is on the gun. Slide stop/ extractor. There are three main types. .22 short which has a small step. early model 41 has a longer step, and later stop has an extra long step.
The fact you have the four mags, I'm now leaning to your model 41 being given the 22 short parts list in error.
OP
I really don't know - never fired or even handled any of the above pistols you mentioned. I suspect that as always, the majority of the accuracy results in the real world are more in the hand of the shooter than in the mechanism of the gun.
John
double-dipper
Member
John, Great read about the 41. I don't own one but, It's on my short list. I have Ruger's that I shoot bullseye at our small little local gun club at. I've seen 41's win a bunch of them bullseye shoots.
Absolutely! The gun is very light. I have another NIB 41 with a 5" barrel that is very heavy compared to this one. It is indeed aluminum. I also just heard from Roy for ship date, 1965!
Some photos of the slide stop and safety and barrel marking.
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My name's not John but having owned many .22s including 41s, a 46, Hammerli, Walther GSP,... I can say the 41 has a higher bore axis than some of the fancier guns which hurts it in getting back on target. It's also simply not as reliable as several of the others. It's not actually more intrinsically accurate than say a nice Ruger Mk. but it just *feels* a lot more refined and with a better trigger that translates into higher practical accuracy (for me at least). Similarly while the accuracy of my Walther and Hammerli is perhaps a little better than the 41, they all can shoot better than I can hold them. The difference is the Walther and Hammerli feed and fire every time and no 41 I've ever owned is as reliable. Having yet another failure to extract can just rattle you and impact your shooting of it's a slow-fire event or it can simply disqualify you in timed competition.
I've pushed, pulled, prodded, cajoled, and pleaded with my 41s to work "just for this one stage" and despite all that, lots of different ammunition, and some new parts they just seem to have a knack of letting me down. For informal shooting where the occasional failure to extract or eject isn't a big deal I love them above all other .22s.
Now cue the obligatory several folks who never had one fail, the several (but fewer) who never had one run right, and the vast majority who find them sort-of reliable.
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