Is it too late to join the club? I've had a hankering for a .41 for quite some time now, hoping to be able to find a nice 6" model 657. Current confiscatory prices that original S&W's are currently demanding haven't allowed that, however, and I simply NEVER see used .41's for sale locally in any brand or model of gun.
While in a LGS the other day killing a bit of time before the local gun show opened I asked if they might have any .41's on hand and the guy told me they didn't. Knowing they have a 10-day hold policy on all newly arrived firearms in case a gun has been stolen, I asked if they might happen to have any in the 10-day hold area. He replied, "Oh, yeah, that one over there", pointing to a 5.5" Redhawk (my personal next choice after a Smith) lying on a work table behind the counter. They wouldn't give me any information as to how much they'd be asking for it, but the owner told me to call her the following Wednesday which would be the day before it became available for sale.
Long story short (sort of), after filling out the 4473, waiting for it to be transferred across the state line to my FFL and serving my 3-day Illinois Gestapo waiting period she finally came home with me yesterday! I already have some brass I'd been optimistically saving for such a time, and bullets are due to be delivered in a day or two so hopefully soon the old RCBS will be cranking out some rounds....
Can't wait to try out this classic caliber.