Smith & Wesson 41: Old vs New?

[Guest]

The serial number on my Smith & Wesson Model 41 puts its production date at late 1985/early 1986. Internet "wisdom" (?) seems to opine that the pre-1993 Model 41s are superior in workmanship, etc than the newer ones are. Never having shot a newer version I have no standing to offer an opinion one way or the other since I cannot compare the two via direct personal experience. Has anyone shot both enough to offer an informed opinion?

[Wobbley]

Older schmolder.  It either shoots or it doesn't.  Less than stellar shooters were made in any era.  Jim Clark made money relining 41 barrels.

[Tim:H11]

My older 41 is awesome. But I've seen a newer one shoot just as well. It's the gun. Just the gun. No matter when it was built. It's either good or it ain't.

[JayhawkNavy02]

Dave Sams told me he thought the mid to late 80s were some of the better M41s in his view.  Then again, he's made money re-lining and doing other work on them regardless...lol.    I'm sure they're a fine pistol no matter what, but the one I've always envied is the M41 Jerry made for a friend of mine in VA.

The forum gunsmiths are the real authorities.  I'm just sitting in the peanut gallery.

[LenV]

The newer one is my back up pistol. Shot quite a few 880's with the old one. I can't seem to break 850 with the newer one. Of course the 880s were when the old one was the "new" one.
!972 and a 2006

[10sandxs]

When i was young (1994), I bought a m41... shot it for three years and hovered arround 810-820. My wife expressed interest in bullseye so I bought her a used buckmark to try it. I put a dot in it and proceeded to shot an 850, including sighters... with a used buckmark... really?! The 41 went away, and I never looked back...

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