Smith and Wesson quality control is hit and miss lately on any firearm they sell except for their plastic guns. I am a "never say never" type of individual and several yars ago I listened to the baloney about only buy a vintage M41. I did so and got burned on the pistol which was an early cocking indicator model. After that I just swore off M41's altogether and went on with life, until I saw a new PC M41. I knew I wanted one as that model checked all the boxes for me even with the negative comments about them. I took a chance and bought one and it was love at first sight, for about 20 rounds. A day or so later that pistol was in the mail back to the Mothership.
When I got it back after a 6 week wait it was with great anticipation and low expectation that I shot it after cleaning it. It is and has been flawless ever since. I am a happy camper with my PC M41. I know there have been some negative comments made about this pistol as of late, but I have no complaints. The question becomes and will never be truthfully answered, how many M41's are sold and how many go back for warranty claim work? S&W certainly isn't going to give that information out, but here is the truth as I see it. Buy new and you at least have a warranty to fall back on. Buy used and unless you have a rock solid right of return you are stuck with what you have. Unless I know who owned a used firearm, or it has full right of return, I will only buy new. I purchased many a nice looking used firearm in my time and most needed some level of work to get them up to snuff. I don't want to play that game anymore.
Will a PC M41 sit on the OP's shelf for a long time? It may, but we aren't talking about an average run of the mill .22 plinker here. Like many other things, it's going to take the right person to walk in the store and see it, pick it up and feel its heft and say "I want this". If I were the OP I would have to do a full and complete exam of the pistol before accepting it for stock including a good hard look at the barrel interior. Poorly machined barrels are killing the M41 right now and there really is no excuse for this on a premium .22 target pistol. Remember this, we always hear the bad when something isn't right on a new anything, but rarely will people say much if something works right for them. That is just human nature akin to the guy who posts that he is having a problem with something, gets a bunch of helpful solutions to his problem and then you never hear a word from him after that. That drives me nuts!
Rick H.
