Picked up a model 41

[weatherby]

I've shot these a few times and they were always a bit too expensive to try to obtain one of my own. This one was in a range I was comfortable paying 700.
Figured if it didn't like me it would be easy enough to recoup what I spent.

Took it right to the range and it did like me.....a lot.
Function was 100% with the two mags I had.
One is the orange follower 12 round and the other has the metal follower.

The serial has a BMC prefix any help on the year ?
.

 

[tlawler]

Nice pickup, and for $700, a relative steal. I think BMC would make it 1998. Definitely after ‘97 with the laminated stocks.

 

[weatherby]

Thanks Sir
It was an easy gun to shoot well with.
First range impressions were stellar with it.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

You were lucky scoring the 12rd mag . They are not exactly cheap , if you can find them . I got 2 here a couple of years ago , and one in the package at a S&WCA symposium . Mine dates to 1978 , and the best thing I did was pick up a 7.375in barrel here . That really opened it up .

 

[Tom S.]

Nice pickup, and for $700, a relative steal. I think BMC would make it 1998. Definitely after ‘97 with the laminated stocks.

I believe you are mistaking natural wood grain for laminations. The stocks do not appear to be laminated to me. Here are a couple of Model 41's with laminated stocks for comparison:

 

[Bastogne71]

Paul a bit of history,

In 1992 S&W suspended production of the M41 when the factory was moved to Maine. Production was resumed at the new facility in 1994 as what we call the “new model” whose safety did not lock the slide when engaged. Your M41 has the older safety with the tab that fits in the slide when engaged locking the slide. Production in Maine, I believe, started with serial number UAA0001. Your M41 could well have been shipped from existing stock in 1992 or 1993.

From my database:
BMC0677 shipped in December 1992
BMC2873 shipped in August 1993

The 12 round magazine was only produced from 1992 to 1994 so it is a bit of a rarity but could be original to your pistol.

 

[weatherby]

Thanks for taking the time to share on the interesting history Sir.

 

[chief38]

Nice pickup, and for $700, a relative steal. I think BMC would make it 1998. Definitely after ‘97 with the laminated stocks.

Tom, I am not quite sure if those are laminated stocks. At first I thought they were too, but after a closer look, they could be solid wood - hard to tell from the picture. It could just be that particular grain is somewhat reminiscent of typical laminated striations. I can not help date the gun because my old 1st edition of SCSW only goes up to 1996. That said, nice gun for $700!

For best accuracy and reliability the new owner might want to try the CCI 40 grain standard velocity ammo.

UPDATE: I did look up the serial number online and BMC appears to me made in 1998. Stocks can always be replacements too. The owner should see if there is a serial number stamped on the inside.

 

[weatherby]

The grips are not laminated
They are GA wood

 

[larryofcc]

Are these laminated? I cannot tell one wood from another. These are Altamont. Big Larry