S&W Model 41 going away

[DanGunner]

Over on handgun forum I posted an item about S&W announcing that production of Model 41, its iconic target pistol, Will cead

[DanGunner]

Over on handgun forum I posted an item about S&W announcing that production of Model 41, its iconic target pistol, will cease at end of year. It’s already pricey and once production ends it will become even more so. Any serious rimfire shooter should have one.

[GunDog]

Although I have owned and competed with a Smith Model 41, I always preferred High Standard SuperMatics and Victors; just something about their grip shape and overall feel more so resembles that of a 1911. Think nowadays Pardini is the "shooter's choice" when it comes to rimfire competition. That being said, modern CNC machinery has enabled Ruger and even Browning to produce reasonably priced, yet very accurate .22LR pistols

[GunDog]

An afterthought.......didn't Smith & Wesson move production of the Model 41 from Springfield, Massachusetts to Houlton, Maine about 20-25 years ago?

[CALI-gula]

Over on handgun forum I posted an item about S&W announcing that production of Model 41, its iconic target pistol, will cease at end of year. It’s already pricey and once production ends it will become even more so. Any serious rimfire shooter should have one.

I truly do not anticipate any movement in price other than a slight uptick on the last remaining productions guns that will be fabricated by gun dealers. In reality, few current gun enthusiasts have any interest in the current production gun, the very reason S&W is ceasing production of it.

Anyone that wants a nice Model 41 is typically looking to buy something pre-1980s as a collector gun or really nice gun to put a few rounds through it, but not shoot in high volume. It's not a gun that people are putting hundreds of rounds through at multiple visits to the range, even though you could. The .22LR competition game is relatively sparse on interest now days. Everyone wants to be John Wick, so that sort of sport attracts greater attention.

S&W has made multiple thousands each year since 1957 except one or two years when they previously ceased production for a short time but brought it back. Overall production is probably low to mid 6 figures so it's not rare by any means. There is not a lot of variation to Model 41s year over year other than barrel length and some limited special run production guns. In most cases, if you've seen one you've seen them all. Collecting High-Standards or the 3 different Colt Woodsman generations and their various model versions is more intriguing for exactly the opposite reason.

No matter which decade one prefers, there are many Model 41 examples to choose from in as 'NIB' that are not much more in asking price than the current new MSRP production price. Just do a search on Gunbroker and the options are nearly unlimited. You can get a nice early 1970s Model 41 that looks unfired in its box for about the same as what S&W is asking for their current production gun. The reason they survive so well and in such large numbers is that it's not the low cost plinker .22LR most people buy for shooting cans and tossing in the trunk, behind the truck seat, or in the tackle box. Instead, people take special care of it, don't abuse it, and likely rarely shoot it.

All that said, it's so perfect, so reliable for a .22LR, so well made but with so few variants, that it's boring. It would need much more diversity to attain the elevated prices the Colt Woodsmans, Walther, and High-Standard .22LR guns fetch.


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[beerman]

The 41s are awesome guns . After aquiring one in each of the two barrel lengths, I sold off my other 22 pistols.

[k1dude]

The price may already be going up. I bought mine brand new a couple years ago for $1,250. Now the price seems to be around $1,600+ everywhere I looked.

[bigbossman]

Although I have owned and competed with a Smith Model 41, I always preferred High Standard SuperMatics and Victors; just something about their grip shape and overall feel more so resembles that of a 1911. Think nowadays Pardini is the "shooter's choice" when it comes to rimfire competition. That being said, modern CNC machinery has enabled Ruger and even Browning to produce reasonably priced, yet very accurate .22LR pistols

I've got a 1989 Browning Buckmark that will put 10 rounds in the 10/X ring at 25 yards, with Federal Auto Match ammo. I also have model 41 that does pretty much the same. I've never shot a Pardini...... how much better than that are they?