Your opinion please: Preference between two Model 41s...

[Duckfood]

My LGS has a couple of older S&W Model 41s... One from 1977 and the other is from 1997... Both with original cases (one cardboard and the other plastic)... Obviously, the '97 model is drilled and tapped, but, I'm not sure I would ever scope it if I bought it...

Both are in pretty similar condition... Looks like honest use with not a lot of scratches or dings, but, neither are what would be considered "Mint"...

The '77 model is priced about $200 more expensive... But, I feel both of them are reasonably priced...

Which one would you choose if you could only get one???

TIA for your input...

 

[H Richard]

What is your age? If you are over 40, the odds are you will have difficulty shooting Iron Sights at some point in your future. If you are going to shoot in any competition, you will wind up with a Red Dot sight on your gun. The Drilled and Tapped barrel will save you probably well over $100 in future sight mounting. That is the "practical" approach. If you are more interested in "Collectable" status, the older gun would be preferable.

 

[murphydog]

If they have the same barrel length, original box and contents, etc., I think the tie goes to the earlier gun, even at $200 extra.

 

[Duckfood]

What is your age? If you are over 40, the odds are you will have difficulty shooting Iron Sights at some point in your future. If you are going to shoot in any competition, you will wind up with a Red Dot sight on your gun. The Drilled and Tapped barrel will save you probably well over $100 in future sight mounting. That is the "practical" approach. If you are more interested in "Collectable" status, the older gun would be preferable.

I am 54... Eyesight is slowly fading, but, not too badly at this time... But, I appreciate the points you've made...

 

[Duckfood]

If they have the same barrel length, original box and contents, etc., I think the tie goes to the earlier gun, even at $200 extra.

Yes... Both are 5" barrels...

 

[Hair Trigger]

Without a doubt, for me it would be the older gun. From my experiences with mine (1985), and what I read here and elsewhere about the machining and function issues of newer guns, I think the ones made from the 1980's and earlier are better guns.

Mine is finicky if not kept clean, but if cleaned after each range session and fed Remington Golden Bullet ammo, it runs perfectly.

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

What do you intend to do with it? Shooter or babied safe queen? The '77 has a higher polish, the '97 less so if that matters to you. Reliability is a toss up. I think the '77 still had the cocking indictor, supposedly worth some premium as a collector. I would probably buy the '77 assuming they are in equal condition, shoot the snot out of it then buy a later drilled and tapped barrel when the urge for a red dot optic surfaces.

 

[tlawler]

My vote would go to the '77 edition.

 

[T44spl]

Does the 1977 gun have the 7 3/8" barrel with the muzzle brake, and spare muzzle cap? it should have an A prefix serial number and the cocking indicator as well. How many magazines are with each gun? The earlier gun should have the magazines with a metal follower Not plastic. The all metal mags are the most reliable feeding magazines and are more expensive when found. For reliability, collectibility value appreciation and better hand fitting the older gun is the way to go. A 1997 model 41 may not be prone to problems. Some of the more recent manufacture model 41's have been reported to be problematic.
For the $200 difference I would pick the older gun if in the condition as you described.

 

[T44spl]

Oops while i was typing I see you responded it's a 5" barrel. More likely they're both the 5 1/2" heavy barrel. If it is the 5" sport barrel on the older gun, definitely buy that one.

 

[Duckfood]

What do you intend to do with it? Shooter or babied safe queen?

Somewhere in the middle... While these are both in really good condition, they've both been shot and show some of that wear...

The '77 has a higher polish, the '97 less so if that matters to you. Reliability is a toss up. I think the '77 still had the cocking indictor, supposedly worth some premium as a collector. I would probably buy the '77 assuming they are in equal condition, shoot the snot out of it then buy a later drilled and tapped barrel when the urge for a red dot optic surfaces.

This is the way I was leaning...

 

[Model52guy]

I own 9 model 41's. All are pre 1988 when S&W went to triple alpha SNs. I have handled some of the newer ones and not been impressed although they shoot well. The fit and finish on the older models are better.

 

[Larks]

You have no choice really - you need to buy both. The '77 because it's the better built gun and you can keep it as iron sights and the '97 because it's drilled and tapped.

Though you could fit a red dot mount into the rear sight slot on the '77.

 

[6string]

Get the older one. Odds are, it'll be the better built gun.

If you really need to use optics, you can get a dedicated optics only barrel from Clark Custom Guns. They are FAR superior to the S&W barrel. They have a match chamber that gives excellent accuracy and, for some reason, improved reliability. Better yet, they have mounting grooves machined into the barrel itself. No need to use a Weaver mount; your optics mount lower to the bore and the gun just handles better in the hand.

Clark Match Barrel for the S&W(R) 41 | Clark Custom Guns