Model 41 magazines

[PattonTime]

I am curious about the follower differences in these magazines.
They are supposed to be very similar vintages, yet the picture of two shows casting marks and the three are very different and certainly steel.
Did Smith use multiple types of steel magazine followers in the sixties?

 

[PattonTime]

Come on you fountains of knowledge, who can answer my magazine question?
Which type is correct, or are both ?
On solid looking type , is it plastic like newer ones ?

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

PT - interesting question - basically there were/are about 6 basic types including the 41-1 22 short. Very early welded on sides followed by center seam in back - both with steel followers and pin hole for breakdown. Then plastic follower followed by 12 round mags with orange plastic follower and some where in there the base was no longer drilled for the takedown. Will expect to see Civil 1977 to come with any corrections/additions and some excellent pictures to better illustrate - and possibly a timeline. I have really never "studied" the metal followers for differences, but would expect some variation from run to run. Suggest you pull up Civils postings for many great pictures of all variations of 41s and 46s.

 

[civil1977]

Your first three mags appear to be normal metal follower mags and they are sought after by shooters and collectors both. The second two mags are plastic follower mags. As for the metal followers, I don't believe they are a cast part. I believe they were stamped from sheet steel and then folded in half to make the appropriate shape. Some were probably polished more than others throughout production so that probably explains the differences you are seeing.

Here's a top down view of metal followers in both a .22 short mag and a regular mag.



And fully disassembled.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

With base pin - detent the pin and slide base off. Without exposed base pin - will defer to those with better description, but basically slide the follower up and the base plate can be slid off. Believe some have drilled a hole for easier removal.

 

[824tsv]

You push the pin that pokes through the bottom of the base plate in until it's out of the way and pull out on the base plate being careful to not let the spring and pin disappear into the nether regions of your room, or worse get it in the face.

Tom beat me to it. This process only applies to the magazines that Civil1977 shows in his great pic's. I've never handled a 41 magazine that didn't have a pin held base plate.

 

[civil1977]

For the newer style mags without the hole, you have to stick something through the side slits, snag the spring, lift it off of the base plate and slide the base plate off.

 

[OldGrump]

Civil1977 beat me to it!
This was posted by Gagunner 2 back on 5/4/2009.:
"Base plate is still removabe.The plunger on the bottom of the spring can be lifter with something such as a dental pick and base plate pulled off.Once removed,drill a hole through the base plate and you can use a punch to lift the pin the next time you want it removed.Just did it today to the 2 I just got from Midway."

I had to use a pair of pliers to pull the base off of mine. Use some masking tape on the pliers to keep from scratching the base. Be careful of the spring, you don't want to get one of them in the face!!