S&W model 41

cody45

January 13, 2003 00:50

this gun came out in 1957. some magazines list a 7" barrel others a 7 3/8" barrel. did they offer both? i would like to chat with an expert on this model. Just picked up one from this site and im impressed with the quality of the early guns. my serial # is 196XX anyone know the year of manuf? thanx in advance.

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  cody45

  January 13, 2003 00:50

  Is it really all that? I shot one years ago, and thought it was okay.
  
  I keep hearing about it and it's reputation as being one of he best .22 autos. I have many Ruger MKII's and do great with them. Several have the Volquartsen trigger kits in them.
  
  I see there's plenty of 41's to be had on the auction side. looks as if S&W is even producing new ones.
  
  I've never been a big fan of S&W autos. Love their revolvers though.
  
  Any real advantage to an older 41 over a new one?
  
  TIA! [:)]

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  nmyers

  January 13, 2003 03:05

  I'm not an expert, but I can tell you that the early M41 long barrel was 7 3/8" long, with a short extension that permitted attachment of either a false muzzle or a muzzle break; weights could be inserted in a tube under the barrel. There was also a weight set that could be hung UNDER the barrel.
  
  When the barrel weight option was dropped, the barrel was shortened to 7", and it remains there today.
  
  I don't know exactly when yours was made, but I would guess in the late '50s. It should have the loaded indicator at the back of the frame, a desirable feature.
  
  Neal

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  cody45

  January 13, 2003 06:14

  thanx mmyers: mine has a muzzle brake with it but from breech to muzzle not counting the brake it is 7" exactly. how were the weights attached under the barrel, mine looks like it has slight grooves on top of the tube.

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  nmyers

  January 13, 2003 06:35

  The muzzle break/false muzzle are held in place by a single screw that runs in from the front. The weights screw into the tube below the barrel, and the muzzle break retaining screw screws into a hole in the center of the weight.
  
  Neal

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  JudgeColt

  January 13, 2003 09:25

  The 7 3/8-inch barrel was dropped in 1978. When the barrel was shortened, the groove for the hanging Olympic weights was dropped, as were the muzzle brake and cocking indicator. Like most Smith & Wesson changes, in my opinion, those reduced the quality and desirability of the pistol. A pistol in the 196XX range probably would have been made in 1959 or 1960, but there are no serial number charts for the Model 41. (I do not have my Supica Second Edition handy, but I do not recall that it has a serial number chart for the pre-A prefix serial numbers.) The Jinks book says the first Model 41 was number 1401, and that 679 were made in 1957 and 9875 were made in 1958, thus the last 1958 pistol was probably 11955. I will check Supica 2 this evening and see if it has charts that Supica 1, which I have in my hand, does not have.

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  cody45

  January 13, 2003 11:33

  thanks guys for the info i appreciate all the knowledge i can get about this gun. do either of you know the year S&W dropped the high lustre blueing? thanx in advance.

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