New S&W Model 41
- Thread starter paul858
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Rembrandt
Member
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- Feb 1, 2003
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One of my all time favorites, great pictures.....you'll love this gun.
My work requires an eye for precision and accuracy, so I happen to notice little things. Could it be the angle and lighting of the photo or has S&W quality slipped? Look how uneven the serrations are on the front strap.....and is the front sight post machined off center to one side?
My work requires an eye for precision and accuracy, so I happen to notice little things. Could it be the angle and lighting of the photo or has S&W quality slipped? Look how uneven the serrations are on the front strap.....and is the front sight post machined off center to one side?
ewb45acp
Member
Quality hasn't slipped...
...It's still the same. This is my 41. Purchased in 1981 or 82. The checkering on the grips is also a bit crooked in some places. My dad always said he liked the little imperfections, as they showed that it was done by hand one at a time. I guess thats one way of looking at it. Regardless, that 41 will shoot better than I ever will.
...It's still the same. This is my 41. Purchased in 1981 or 82. The checkering on the grips is also a bit crooked in some places. My dad always said he liked the little imperfections, as they showed that it was done by hand one at a time. I guess thats one way of looking at it. Regardless, that 41 will shoot better than I ever will.
Gixerman1000
Member
Congratulations, the model 41 are some of the best shooting 22’s out there, I bought a new 41 about 6 months ago and it’s by far my favorite 22 pistol.
LynnMassGuy
Member
I'm drooling.
Ahhh gone are the days of walnut, hand checkering, and roll engraving!
Now it is plywood, machine checkering, and laser matrix punch dot engraving.
Those serrations are sad.
CNC equiptment was supposed to solved bad tolerances and sloppy specifications but this only works if you have a skilled operator.
Strange how the old timers could cut better lines with a simple Bridgeport mill.
Still and all the Model 41 is one of the very best .22 long rifle pleasure pistols ever made.
Now it is plywood, machine checkering, and laser matrix punch dot engraving.
Those serrations are sad.
CNC equiptment was supposed to solved bad tolerances and sloppy specifications but this only works if you have a skilled operator.
Strange how the old timers could cut better lines with a simple Bridgeport mill.
Still and all the Model 41 is one of the very best .22 long rifle pleasure pistols ever made.
Paul,
Great gun! Include me in the long list of M41 admirers. Used one many years ago for Bullseye comp. Use one now for fun and informal target shooting. You can buy a second barrel without sights for not much cost and mount a 2X EER scope on it. Then you have the option of shooting iron sights or scope by just switching barrel quickly (few seconds). Have fun with your M41.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
Great gun! Include me in the long list of M41 admirers. Used one many years ago for Bullseye comp. Use one now for fun and informal target shooting. You can buy a second barrel without sights for not much cost and mount a 2X EER scope on it. Then you have the option of shooting iron sights or scope by just switching barrel quickly (few seconds). Have fun with your M41.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
Graystar
Member
Someone needs to make a little tool to open the trigger guard for take-down. Mine is awfully hard to work by hand. I end up putting pressure against the trigger, which is something you don’t want to do.
I figure a flat stick with two small rubber cylinders attached should do the trick.
I figure a flat stick with two small rubber cylinders attached should do the trick.
JMusic
member
Just took a look at mine. Some history. I purchased this over 25 years ago from an old man for 200 dollars. I told him it was worth more but he wanted me to have it. It came with the original box and parts list dated 1959. The SN is 21XXX. The serreations on mine are straight and go from the trigger guard to the magazine opening. I wish I new how to post pictures I would show you guys what workmanship this has. Trigger which has not been touched breaks at 1.75 lbs. The gun has a 1.5 power scope and I regulary outshoot many with scoped rifles.
Jim
Jim
Graystar,
If the trigger guard is that hard to open, you might contact S&W to have it fixed. My gun worked fine with original barrel but the newer, second barrel was VERY HARD to open/close trigger guard. I called S&W. They authorized return (at their cost) of gun with both barrels and adjusted gun/barrel(s) for no charge. Now my trigger guard opens/closes perfectly with both barrels. Took 2 weeks from shipment to receipt. Apparently there has been a small spec change in M41 gun or barrels that can cause very hard closure on some frame/barrel combinations.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
If the trigger guard is that hard to open, you might contact S&W to have it fixed. My gun worked fine with original barrel but the newer, second barrel was VERY HARD to open/close trigger guard. I called S&W. They authorized return (at their cost) of gun with both barrels and adjusted gun/barrel(s) for no charge. Now my trigger guard opens/closes perfectly with both barrels. Took 2 weeks from shipment to receipt. Apparently there has been a small spec change in M41 gun or barrels that can cause very hard closure on some frame/barrel combinations.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
Archie
Member
Great gun!
Do yourself a favor. Get three or four of the firing pin retaining pins from Brownells or whoever. They run some six or seven bucks a whack; but they will break from time to time and gun no workie when they are gone.
I shoot mine every week at the indoor league match. Mine prefers CCI match ammunition for what it's worth.
Do yourself a favor. Get three or four of the firing pin retaining pins from Brownells or whoever. They run some six or seven bucks a whack; but they will break from time to time and gun no workie when they are gone.
I shoot mine every week at the indoor league match. Mine prefers CCI match ammunition for what it's worth.
Graystar
Member
Silly me...I never thought of that. I figured it was just tight because it had to keep the barrel in place and you don't want your gun coming apart while shooting!LHB1 said:
Thanks, I'll give them a call.
Graystar
Member
Mine look pretty good. I believe my model had come from the S&W factory when I bought it 5 years ago (UAYXXXX series?)Rembrandt said:
Also, the serial and other text aren't engraved in my gun...looks like it's been etched or something like that.
Archie thanks for the suggestion. I'll definitely have to remember to put them on my next order.
Quick update. After having shot about 500 rds through the gun today, i have come to the conclusion that the grips will need to be replaced. They're just not comfortable for my hand size/preferred position on the frame. Not 100% sure what I will replace them with, I'm in no hurry. gun shot great. Still breaking it in so there were some feed / extraction / ejection issues. Shooting regular federal ammo. Might try CCI and Eley when I can get them.
in the mean time, a couple more pics with my sig
Quick update. After having shot about 500 rds through the gun today, i have come to the conclusion that the grips will need to be replaced. They're just not comfortable for my hand size/preferred position on the frame. Not 100% sure what I will replace them with, I'm in no hurry. gun shot great. Still breaking it in so there were some feed / extraction / ejection issues. Shooting regular federal ammo. Might try CCI and Eley when I can get them.
in the mean time, a couple more pics with my sig
JMusic
member
If you decide to sell your grips let me know.
Jim
Jim
CraigJS
Member
If you don't mind spending a couple of hundred bucks for grips, get some Nills. They are target grips that have to be felt to be believed! I have a set on my Benelli MP95E target gun and DON'T regret getting them...
http://www.nill-griffe.com/ Click on price list,scrowl 2/3 down to #
Check out the SW113 for M41's they are the type I have. Best grip I've ever shot!! Hands Down!
http://www.nill-griffe.com/ Click on price list,scrowl 2/3 down to #
Check out the SW113 for M41's they are the type I have. Best grip I've ever shot!! Hands Down!
The 71/2" looks nice too -
Beautiful pistol Paul858.
This 7.5" was visiting from a friends collection. Unfortunately, I never got to shoot it ( ). But the worksmanship, feel, and fit of this pistol are wonderful. It's always interesting to me to compare a pistol like this against a more budget minded pistol from the same genre. In this case - a Buckmark. Don't get me wrong - I love the Browning, but the difference in build qualtiy between it and the model 41 were even obvious to my non-gunnie wife.
/j
Beautiful pistol Paul858.
This 7.5" was visiting from a friends collection. Unfortunately, I never got to shoot it (
). But the worksmanship, feel, and fit of this pistol are wonderful. It's always interesting to me to compare a pistol like this against a more budget minded pistol from the same genre. In this case - a Buckmark. Don't get me wrong - I love the Browning, but the difference in build qualtiy between it and the model 41 were even obvious to my non-gunnie wife.
/j
Paul,
I had to modify the grips on my S&W M41 by taking some of that rear hump off and thinning the back portion to reduce distance to trigger. Of course this required completely refinishing the grips with TruOil. BE VERY CAREFUL lest you cut thru the grips completely or thin them so much they break. Might not be what you need but it made my grips fit perfectly. Have been wanting some exhibition grade wood grips but just can't seem to replace these because they fit my hand so well. Good luck.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
I had to modify the grips on my S&W M41 by taking some of that rear hump off and thinning the back portion to reduce distance to trigger. Of course this required completely refinishing the grips with TruOil. BE VERY CAREFUL lest you cut thru the grips completely or thin them so much they break. Might not be what you need but it made my grips fit perfectly. Have been wanting some exhibition grade wood grips but just can't seem to replace these because they fit my hand so well. Good luck.
Good shooting and be safe.
LB
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