Model 41 date and magazine question

[Dueeast]

I bought a used Mod 41 with the 5.5" barrel. Ser # A 4482xx. seller thinks it's a 1977. I have to ask here because S&W doesn't seem to let you look up through their website.
Also, it only came with 1 magazine. I see new ones for $30, and used ones for up to over $100. Is this a collector thing? I just want another for shooting. Thanks.

 

[Drm50]

Don’t keep up on dates, I go by old model, has cocking indicator, new model doesn’t. I have several 41s, the magazine deal is collector stuff.
The new mags will work as well as old. I did have one 41 that I had to tune magazine release to run the new mags. Only difference in them is old mags have metal follower and slightly different slot for mag release. New mags have plastic followers. I have seen mags lately as low as $26 and change.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I bought a used Mod 41 with the 5.5" barrel. Ser # A 4482xx. seller thinks it's a 1977. I have to ask here because S&W doesn't seem to let you look up through their website.
Also, it only came with 1 magazine. I see new ones for $30, and used ones for up to over $100. Is this a collector thing? I just want another for shooting. Thanks.

That serial number puts it in 1977-78 range (A385001-A475000), according to the Standard Catalog. To get any closer you'd need a Letter from SWHF, which you can request on this site. Costs $100.

I've got a 7" version from 1985, only got one magazine with it. Sure would be nice to have another, but I manage without it, and I shoot mine a lot.

 

[chief38]

I can only tell you my personal experience with magazines on my 1979 vintage M41. The new manufacture magazines were 0 for 4 when I tried them about 5-6 years ago. 2 did not even go into the gun and 2 were not feeding properly. All 4 went back and I got a refund. They are thin, cheaply made and just did not work at all.

I purchased 3 used (but in great condition) magazines online on eBay. They were all the original metal follower type and all work 100% perfectly and smoothly as they should. The used ones were more expensive than the new ones and I paid different prices for each one as they came from different sellers. Probably around $35 - $45 each and were in very good condition. The good news is they all work flawlessly and will last the life of the gun!

 

[Troystat]

For what it’s worth I have an older 41 with one original magazine with the metal follower and 5 newer ones with the plastic followers. All work great and I have fed at least 10k rounds through the gun using all the mags and have not had an issue with any of them.

 

[Bastogne71]

I bought a used Mod 41 with the 5.5" barrel. Ser # A 4482xx. seller thinks it's a 1977. I have to ask here because S&W doesn't seem to let you look up through their website.
Also, it only came with 1 magazine. I see new ones for $30, and used ones for up to over $100. Is this a collector thing? I just want another for shooting. Thanks.

Smith & Wesson did not make any attempt to assemble or ship their products in serial number order so we can only give you our best guess when your M41 was shipped. With that in mind, yours probably shipped in the last half of 1978 or the first half of 1979. If your pistol has the cocking indicator, it is most likely 1978 before the change was made.
To give you an example of how frustrating dating by serial number can be, consider that #A486834 was shipped in May 1978 but #A4868852 shipped in June 1976. 18 digits apart but 2 years apart in shipping date.
You pistol would have been sold with two magazines with metal followers.

 

[KalamazooKid]

I watched EBay and bought magazines in lots of 2-4 at a time and paid on average about $40-$60 ea. With the exception of one, they all work flawlessly in both of my M41s. When running properly, these pistols are a pure joy to shoot. Enjoy yours!

 

[Drm50]

I would rather have the old magazines with metal followers but I won’t pay premium money for them. Couple years ago when there were rumors they were shutting down 41 production I bought 3 mags, then 10. Had several 41s so didn’t open but 1 mag. I have 9 new mags that all worked in the 7 41s I now own ( all old models ) as well as a few others I traded off. Also worked in 3 different 422s. I’ve got 2 old mags for each pistol and a dozen
old models in reserve.
I’ve never seen a cheaply made 41, 46 or 422/622 magazine that was cheaply made. The magazine bodies all look identical to me.

 

[Drm50]

I got 42 mags not counting one in each pistol. I’m down to 7, had 10 a few months ago.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Can never have too many mags or extra barrels. I modded a few of these to 12 shooters. As much as I love my Woodsmans if I had found one of these first I might not have as many Colt .22s.

 

[Highmaster]

Model 41 date

Smith & Wesson did not make any attempt to assemble or ship their products in serial number order so we can only give you our best guess when your M41 was shipped. With that in mind, yours probably shipped in the last half of 1978 or the first half of 1979. If your pistol has the cocking indicator, it is most likely 1978 before the change was made.
To give you an example of how frustrating dating by serial number can be, consider that #A486834 was shipped in May 1978 but #A4868852 shipped in June 1976. 18 digits apart but 2 years apart in shipping date.
You pistol would have been sold with two magazines with metal followers.

My " oldest" 41 by serial ( #30xx) should be a 1957 but was shipped in Feb 1958.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I see the older magazines at gun shows for around $40 several times a year.

 

[chief38]

For what it’s worth I have an older 41 with one original magazine with the metal follower and 5 newer ones with the plastic followers. All work great and I have fed at least 10k rounds through the gun using all the mags and have not had an issue with any of them.

OK - great to hear that. I can only report and post from my own personal experiences and I have not had similar luck, nor have my shooting club bud's. I was even told by S&W CS to get the used ones as the new ones rarely work properly in older guns, but again, I am happy for your experience. Makes things easy.