S&W Model 41 Info

A-37

November 09, 2002 15:02

Can someone give me the year of manufacture for my Model 41, Ser. No. 14668?

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  Laredo Lefty

  November 09, 2002 18:05

  A-37... your gun was made between 1954 and 1970. They started with #1001, and ended with #115000 in 70'. I guess you could estimate it was made about 1960. My standard catalog of Smith & Wesson only begins giving numbers for each year in 1970 when they started with the "A" prefix on the model 41 serial numbers.
  "Laredo"

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  A-37

  November 10, 2002 03:40

  Thanks for the reply, Laredo. I have the same reference book and still wonder why it can't be a little more specific as to dates of manufacture. Maybe Roy Jinks reads this forum and will pin-point the date for me. As you know, S&W used to provide free histories of their guns. That service now costs $30!

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  JudgeColt

  November 10, 2002 12:14

  It appears LL has consulted the serial number charts in the back of the "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" (Second Edition?), where a general list of semi-automatic serial numbers is given, but with no specific years given by ranges until the "A" prefix was added in 1970. Checking out the Model 41 section would have revealed that the Model 41 was introduced in 1957 (1957 was the first year model numbers were used on Smiths), with the first production M41 bearing number 1401. I concur with LL that the probable year of production is 1960.
  
  I do not have my Jinks book at hand as I write, but it may have more specific serial number ranges and dates in it because I have a year noted next to my earlier Model 41 information that I must have gotten somewhere. (I do not have a factory letter on it, but intend to "someday.") I recently bought an extra copy of the Jinks book on eBay, but do not have it yet. I need one at both home and office when these questions come up!
  
  I assume the reason the Standard Catalogs do not have more specific information is because no one has researched the serial numbers by year. That may be due to the way the Smith records are kept, or because no one can get access, or because no one has made the effort. Spend the $30 for a factory letter, which is cheap for the work involved, and for the value it will add to the gun. (Colt letters begin at $100!)

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  A-37

  November 10, 2002 14:28

  Judge, I'll take your advice and send Mr. Jinks the $30. BTW, being fairly new to this forum, I'm quite impressed with the depth of knowledge displayed by it's members.

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  TOMBECK

  November 10, 2002 15:08

  AGREE, PROBABLY MID TO LATE 1960.
  IF YOU VERIFY WITH JINKS, SHARE IT WITH US PLEASE. EARLY STUFF CAN BE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 9-10M PER YEAR UP TO A SERIES. I WOULD LIKE A MFG DATE REFERENCE IF SOMEONE FINDS ONE.
  TOM B

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  Barrocky

  November 10, 2002 18:26

  I would have guessed earlier on this one,late 1958. The Jinks book says the rare 52-A was built (not released) in late 1960 to early 1961 and is found in the 35xxx range. I would have thought a gun with a 14xxx number would have to be about 2 years earlier. I think the first several years of the auto pistol series had a much lighter yearly production than the later years. I have a 41 in the 42xxx range and have a notation of 1960 for the date on that one,I can't remember how I came up with that date.The Jinks book says the 41 was introduced Sept 1957 at #1401 with only 679 units produced that year. They got going in 1958,producing 9875 additional units by years end. This would put the numbers up around 12xxx by the end of 1958 counting the M41's only.I think you have to add an additional several thousand 39's onto that number by then,which would give us a serial range of around 15-16XXX at the end of 1958. As wisely advised above,the $30 for a letter is the way to go on your nice early example.

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  A-37

  November 11, 2002 08:53

  Thanks to all the responders. My $30 to Mr. Jinks will be mailed tomorrow. I'll post his reply in this forum. The following info might help a few collectors ascertain years of manufacture for their guns:
  .38 Double Action 4th Model, SN 4189xx shipped Sept 2, 1901; .38 Hand Ejector M&P Model of 1905, Third Change, SN 1581xx, shipped October 11, 1910. GunBroker might consider adding a new forum wherein members can post similar historical info from their S&W letters of certification.

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  JudgeColt

  November 12, 2002 06:12

  Barrocky's reply probably explains how I came to have an estimated date for my early M41. I guess I did the math and came up with an estimate. Now I will have to take my own advice and get a letter!

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