Any Smith & Wesson Mod. 41 21lr Experts?

MP-44 · January 12, 2020, 06:47 PM

Brand new gun

The manual safety. It is fairly easy to engage but feels locked in place when trying to disengage, not stiff or binding but stuck. I believe if I used pliers it would snap off. I have to wiggle and play with it and it finally drops.

Sending it back to S&W would be a pain, even with a return label as none of the FEDEX counters in my area will take firearms and the main hub is a very long way away and heavy traffic ( 2.5hr round trip ).

Plus I hate to send it back for something that should be an easy fix.

Suggestions?

burrhead · January 12, 2020, 08:30 PM

I don't know anything about your safety problem but when I sent a pistol back to Springfield using their label, I handed the package to a FedEx Express driver and off it went. Same thing with a Ruger one time.

Jim Watson · January 12, 2020, 08:54 PM

I don't recall engaging the safety on my M41 in this century.
Their safeties are notoriously hard.
Even Bob Loveless gave up on it for his Field Pistol custom and went condition 3.

You might check on Rimfire Central .com.

T. O'Heir · January 13, 2020, 02:25 PM

Sounds like somebody either disassembled it and didn't reassemble it correctly. Or the safety was replaced for some reason and wasn't fitted the way those parts are supposed to be.
It's none of FedEx's business what you ship, but they are not the only courier.
Like Jim says M41 safeties rarely get used. Don't recall ever using mine. In any century.
Go here and talk to Smith.
https://www.smith-wesson.com/custome...ipping-returns

dgludwig · January 13, 2020, 08:19 PM

Whether you plan to use the safety or not, it should work as intended. I'd send it back to Smith & Wesson on their dime. They have earned a good reputation over the years for customer service.

rodfac · January 14, 2020, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Whether you plan to use the safety or not, it should work as intended. I'd send it back to Smith & Wesson on their dime. They have earned a good reputation over the years for customer service.

Absolutely....the M41 is nearly a custom gun and the flagship of S&W's target guns....they'll fix it pronto, if my experience is any indication. Rod

roadrash · January 14, 2020, 03:52 PM

Whenever I have sent a gun back to Smith and Wesson under warranty I was able to schedule a Fed Ex pickup at my home

wild cat mccane · January 14, 2020, 09:59 PM

FedEx absolutely has the right and you don't get to disagree.

You agree to announce what is in your box the second you ask them to ship.

Shipping your package, knowing the value, etc is THEIR business.

Send it back. I've returned a new 686 recently. Wasn't an issue at all.

1-DAB · January 15, 2020, 01:45 PM

it's mainly there to make the lawyers happy, not for actual use by the shooter. it's a target pistol, load, aim, shoot. never intended for carrying in a holster, just raise from the bench and fire. mine is stiff too, never used at the range.

Mike38 · January 15, 2020, 07:12 PM

MP44, if you don't get help here, try at the Bullseye-L Forum. There are many M41 owners there. Then again, in Bullseye competition, few if any use the safety. Loaded or unloaded the pistol is always pointed down range, so not many people use the safety. Matter of fact, I have no idea if the safeties even work on my target pistols. It's been that long since I've used the safety.

Lavan · January 18, 2020, 02:25 AM

I find that using a safety in a target gun makes me "feel better" if there's any hitch at the range.
Rarely. And I only use it if I'm not yet sure what the "hitch" might be and it's also still in my hand while I evaluate whether it's time for "gun down."
That's my way. And I do remember my M41 being very stiff.

dgludwig · January 18, 2020, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Then again, in Bullseye competition, few if any use the safety. Loaded or unloaded the pistol is always pointed down range, so not many people use the safety.

Too, if not being fired, in sanctioned Bullseye matches, the pistol is laid on the bench pointed downrange; the action open; the magazine removed and an empty chamber indicator inserted in the chamber. All that said, as I opined earlier in this thread, any pistol equipped with a safety should function as intended.

jstanfield103 · January 18, 2020, 09:19 PM

When you use the S&W label, use the instructions that come with the return label and FedEx will pick it up at your front door and bring it back and drop it off in your hand. Someone has to be home to sign for it of age. Easy Peasy. They had mine for a month when sent back. Too long but I got it back. They did not even ask what it was and did not care. They picked it up and S&W had it in two days.

MP-44 · January 18, 2020, 09:25 PM

Quote:

When you use the S&W label, use the instructions that come with the return label and FedEx will pick it up at your front door and bring it back and drop it off in your hand. Someone has to be home to sign for it of age. Easy Peasy. They had mine for a month when sent back. Too long but I got it back. They did not even ask what it was and did not care. They picked it up and S&W had it in two days.

No one is home during the day for them to pick it up. Do they pick up and deliver late? Does S&W send you a tracking # when they return the pistol so you know the day it will arrive?

jstanfield103 · January 18, 2020, 11:29 PM

I am not sure on late deliveries , I called S&W and they told me when it was to go back out and expect it

gunslinger123 · July 1, 2022, 12:05 PM

Good thing you didn't send it back to S&W for warranty work. Sent my brand new Model 41 Performance back to them for warranty service/repair since after 3 weeks, reassembly of the slide became impossible. Their so called "customer service" is sadly nothing short of terrible. They sent me the fedex box, to it to a PacMail location no problem. They got the gun on 5/16 but didn't check it in for 4 more days. Told me repair time was 3-4 weeks. Called after 4 weeks and told it was 5-6 weeks. Called again and was told it was 4-5 weeks. Asked that agent, (rude male) to speak with his supervisor. He forwarded me back to the call in line. I spoke with a woman who stated emphatically that it was 8-10 weeks for repair. Asked to talk to her supervisor. Ultimately, I left a voice message for Paul and 2 for Kate both supervisors. No one ever called me back.
Finally get an email from Kate who stated repair time was 5-6 weeks. She called the gun repair tech, but he hasn't called her back. Its been about 4 days and still nothing. So I still many days later don't have an answer to my simple question when my gun will be seen for repair. Its been over 6 weeks and they haven't looked at my gun, repaired it or will give me an answer when it will be looked at or why it hasn't been repaired in their repair time frame! Extremely FRUSTRATED - IMO SMITH & WESSON CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS! JUST SAYING THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE!

wild cat mccane · July 1, 2022, 08:08 PM

My S&W customer experience on work has been excellent. As recent as this year (2022) on a binding cylinder on a new 686. 2 week turn around.

rodfac · July 3, 2022, 03:03 PM

Plus one on Wild Cat's CS experience with S&W...3-5 weeks on three different guns over the past two years...however...the QC is another story. None of the three should have been shipped in the first place as the problems would have been readily apparent to any sane person who packet the gun up in the first place. Best regards, Rod

totaldla · July 4, 2022, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunslinger123

Good thing you didn't send it back to S&W for warranty work. Sent my brand new Model 41 Performance back to them for warranty service/repair since after 3 weeks, reassembly of the slide became impossible. Their so called "customer service" is sadly nothing short of terrible. They sent me the fedex box, to it to a PacMail location no problem. They got the gun on 5/16 but didn't check it in for 4 more days. Told me repair time was 3-4 weeks. Called after 4 weeks and told it was 5-6 weeks. Called again and was told it was 4-5 weeks. Asked that agent, (rude male) to speak with his supervisor. He forwarded me back to the call in line. I spoke with a woman who stated emphatically that it was 8-10 weeks for repair. Asked to talk to her supervisor. Ultimately, I left a voice message for Paul and 2 for Kate both supervisors. No one ever called me back.
Finally get an email from Kate who stated repair time was 5-6 weeks. She called the gun repair tech, but he hasn't called her back. Its been about 4 days and still nothing. So I still many days later don't have an answer to my simple question when my gun will be seen for repair. Its been over 6 weeks and they haven't looked at my gun, repaired it or will give me an answer when it will be looked at or why it hasn't been repaired in their repair time frame! Extremely FRUSTRATED - IMO SMITH & WESSON CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS! JUST SAYING THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE!

Joined just to complain.

FlyFish · July 6, 2022, 01:13 PM

The safety on the M41 is tensioned by a small spring plate that's held in place by a single screw easily accessible by removing the left grip panel. If you remove that screw and plate and the safety operates properly it's a simple matter to slightly bend and reinstall the little plate, using trial-and-error until you get the amount of resistance you'd like. If the safety still doesn't operate properly with the spring plate removed then it's time for a trip back to the mothership.

rodfac · July 8, 2022, 06:16 PM

Quote:

The safety on the M41 is tensioned by a small spring plate that's held in place by a single screw easily accessible by removing the left grip panel. If you remove that screw and plate and the safety operates properly it's a simple matter to slightly bend and reinstall the little plate, using trial-and-error until you get the amount of resistance you'd like. If the safety still doesn't operate properly with the spring plate removed then it's time for a trip back to the mothership.

I've not tried this, having never had a problem with the safeties on two M-41 Smiths, but Flyfish's recommendation rings true to my ear...I'd try it before sending the gun back. Rod

Drm50 · July 8, 2022, 11:55 PM

I’ve got 8 m41s. Three 5”HB old model, Three 7” new model, one 7” old model and one
7 3/8” old model. They all have very stiff safeties. Even one that was put together for company exec.

January 12, 2020, 06:47 PM	#1
MP-44 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: VA Posts: 396	Any Smith & Wesson Mod. 41 21lr Experts? Brand new gun The manual safety. It is fairly easy to engage but feels locked in place when trying to disengage, not stiff or binding but stuck. I believe if I used pliers it would snap off. I have to wiggle and play with it and it finally drops. Sending it back to S&W would be a pain, even with a return label as none of the FEDEX counters in my area will take firearms and the main hub is a very long way away and heavy traffic ( 2.5hr round trip ). Plus I hate to send it back for something that should be an easy fix. Suggestions?

January 12, 2020, 08:30 PM	#2
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	I don't know anything about your safety problem but when I sent a pistol back to Springfield using their label, I handed the package to a FedEx Express driver and off it went. Same thing with a Ruger one time. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

January 12, 2020, 08:54 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	I don't recall engaging the safety on my M41 in this century. Their safeties are notoriously hard. Even Bob Loveless gave up on it for his Field Pistol custom and went condition 3. You might check on Rimfire Central .com. Last edited by Jim Watson; January 12, 2020 at 11:21 PM.

January 13, 2020, 02:25 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Sounds like somebody either disassembled it and didn't reassemble it correctly. Or the safety was replaced for some reason and wasn't fitted the way those parts are supposed to be. It's none of FedEx's business what you ship, but they are not the only courier. Like Jim says M41 safeties rarely get used. Don't recall ever using mine. In any century. Go here and talk to Smith. https://www.smith-wesson.com/custome...ipping-returns __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 13, 2020, 08:19 PM	#5
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	Whether you plan to use the safety or not, it should work as intended. I'd send it back to Smith & Wesson on their dime. They have earned a good reputation over the years for customer service. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

January 14, 2020, 03:52 PM	#7
roadrash Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 367	Whenever I have sent a gun back to Smith and Wesson under warranty I was able to schedule a Fed Ex pickup at my home

January 14, 2020, 09:59 PM	#8
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,623	FedEx absolutely has the right and you don't get to disagree. You agree to announce what is in your box the second you ask them to ship. Shipping your package, knowing the value, etc is THEIR business. Send it back. I've returned a new 686 recently. Wasn't an issue at all.

January 15, 2020, 01:45 PM	#9
1-DAB Senior Member Join Date: May 5, 2010 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 474	it's mainly there to make the lawyers happy, not for actual use by the shooter. it's a target pistol, load, aim, shoot. never intended for carrying in a holster, just raise from the bench and fire. mine is stiff too, never used at the range.

January 15, 2020, 07:12 PM	#10
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	MP44, if you don't get help here, try at the Bullseye-L Forum. There are many M41 owners there. Then again, in Bullseye competition, few if any use the safety. Loaded or unloaded the pistol is always pointed down range, so not many people use the safety. Matter of fact, I have no idea if the safeties even work on my target pistols. It's been that long since I've used the safety.

January 18, 2020, 02:25 AM	#11
Lavan Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: California Posts: 2,716	I find that using a safety in a target gun makes me "feel better" if there's any hitch at the range. Rarely. And I only use it if I'm not yet sure what the "hitch" might be and it's also still in my hand while I evaluate whether it's time for "gun down." That's my way. And I do remember my M41 being very stiff.

January 18, 2020, 09:19 PM	#13
jstanfield103 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 114	When you use the S&W label, use the instructions that come with the return label and FedEx will pick it up at your front door and bring it back and drop it off in your hand. Someone has to be home to sign for it of age. Easy Peasy. They had mine for a month when sent back. Too long but I got it back. They did not even ask what it was and did not care. They picked it up and S&W had it in two days.

January 18, 2020, 11:29 PM	#15
jstanfield103 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 114	I am not sure on late deliveries , I called S&W and they told me when it was to go back out and expect it

July 1, 2022, 12:05 PM	#16
gunslinger123 Junior Member Join Date: June 30, 2022 Posts: 1	Smith & Wessons Warranty/Customer Svc is TERRIBLE! Good thing you didn't send it back to S&W for warranty work. Sent my brand new Model 41 Performance back to them for warranty service/repair since after 3 weeks, reassembly of the slide became impossible. Their so called "customer service" is sadly nothing short of terrible. They sent me the fedex box, to it to a PacMail location no problem. They got the gun on 5/16 but didn't check it in for 4 more days. Told me repair time was 3-4 weeks. Called after 4 weeks and told it was 5-6 weeks. Called again and was told it was 4-5 weeks. Asked that agent, (rude male) to speak with his supervisor. He forwarded me back to the call in line. I spoke with a woman who stated emphatically that it was 8-10 weeks for repair. Asked to talk to her supervisor. Ultimately, I left a voice message for Paul and 2 for Kate both supervisors. No one ever called me back. Finally get an email from Kate who stated repair time was 5-6 weeks. She called the gun repair tech, but he hasn't called her back. Its been about 4 days and still nothing. So I still many days later don't have an answer to my simple question when my gun will be seen for repair. Its been over 6 weeks and they haven't looked at my gun, repaired it or will give me an answer when it will be looked at or why it hasn't been repaired in their repair time frame! Extremely FRUSTRATED - IMO SMITH & WESSON CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS! JUST SAYING THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE!

July 1, 2022, 08:08 PM	#17
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,623	My S&W customer experience on work has been excellent. As recent as this year (2022) on a binding cylinder on a new 686. 2 week turn around. __________________ My wife is a pulmonologist (respiratory Dr) and epidemiologist. If you have any questions on COVID, please reach out to me in PM.

July 3, 2022, 03:03 PM	#18
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Plus one on Wild Cat's CS experience with S&W...3-5 weeks on three different guns over the past two years...however...the QC is another story. None of the three should have been shipped in the first place as the problems would have been readily apparent to any sane person who packet the gun up in the first place. Best regards, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

July 6, 2022, 01:13 PM	#20
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,723	The safety on the M41 is tensioned by a small spring plate that's held in place by a single screw easily accessible by removing the left grip panel. If you remove that screw and plate and the safety operates properly it's a simple matter to slightly bend and reinstall the little plate, using trial-and-error until you get the amount of resistance you'd like. If the safety still doesn't operate properly with the spring plate removed then it's time for a trip back to the mothership. __________________ NRA Benefactor Life Member NRA Certified Instructor: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, PPIH, Metallic & Shotgun Shell Reloading; RSO Pemigewasset Valley Fish & Game Club

July 8, 2022, 11:55 PM	#22
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,378	I’ve got 8 m41s. Three 5”HB old model, Three 7” new model, one 7” old model and one 7 3/8” old model. They all have very stiff safeties. Even one that was put together for company exec.

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