Dating UEHXXXX SW41?

[Wee Hooker]

Hi all, I've been away for a while. good to see you folks still chugging away. Anyway, I have an opportunity to purchase a clean mod 41 from a local source at a decent price. Serial number is UEHXXXX. Neither of my SW bibles go up that far in date. I'm figuring mid 201X? Can anyone help?
Also, any reason to steer away from this dash no/model year? Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[SonofaGunsmith]

1997 according to my sheet

 

[Hair Trigger]

If you get the original box with it, there is a Julian date on the box, on the end label where it says "Spec Ord".

 

[snw19_357]

Agree with Hair Trigger but I think it is new enough that it won't have the Spec Ord number, just a date like '030824' (today).

 

[Hair Trigger]

Also, any reason to steer away from this dash no/model year? Thanks for any help in advance!

It seems like the older the gun is, the better its quality and how it shoots, from reading posts from owners. My experience with mine, made in 1985, is that it needs to be clean around the extractor to function well, and performs better with ammo around 1240-1300 fps. Mine has a very nice trigger break and is very accurate, and is totally stock. I bought it about 3 years ago, practically new. The previous owner, who bought it new, said he only shot it a few times and then stored it, as he was deployed for quite a while and later never had much opportunity as his job had changed. (He was Army SF). I read a lot about newer guns not having the same level of fit, and problems with function, but I feel those are hit-or-miss issues and most are okay. I do believe they need a pretty good wear-in period to shoot well, mine seems to get better every time I take it out. It's one that goes with me on every range trip.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Thanks to all that answered. Thanks especially for reminding me about the Julian date. Seems I used to know that back in my SW collecting days. DOH! The mind is just getting old I guess. Turns out the owner quoted me the wrong prefix anyway. I just picked it up and the gun is actually UEFXXXX vs UEH. Original box is dated 30512. I'm good with that. The gun reportedly has less than 300 rounds through it. I believe it as it looks absolutely mint. Nice to have a 41 in the collection again!