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Safety problem Smith and Wesson model 41

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 4:44 pm
by dryfire
I have this love hate relationship with my SW 41. This gun groups well for me, but often times when I am expecting the gun to go bang it does not because my grip is high in the web and the safety has been pushed up. This causes my attentional concentration on the dot to be disturbed. Now I have to think about something else, why isn't the gun going bang. I have heard that others have had this problem with the 41. This problem causes me to loose points in my bullseye matches. I do understand that there must be a functional safety on the gun so I can't make it less than functional. How have others who have had this problem solved it apart from selling the gun and getting another that does not have this problem.

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 6:27 pm
by Rover
Why does the safety have to be functional if you never use it?

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:22 pm
by SMBeyer
Because thats the rule.

SW 41 safety problem

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:40 pm
by dryfire
NRA rules for conventional pistol states:
3.4 .22 caliber pistol or revolver last sentence states, "All standard safety features of the gun must operate properly."

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:50 pm
by SMBeyer
I am far far from a gunsmith but I would think there would be something that you could peen on the safety to give it more friction so it wouldn't go on so easy.

Scott

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 10:08 pm
by spence
Wow. The safeties on both my 41's are so hard to move as to be completely useless. I couldn't accidentally engage one no matter what I did.

That's the perfect safety for a bullseye gun. Can't engage it even if you want to.

Maybe yours could be adjusted to act the same.


Spence

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:12 am
by Kirmdog
I sometimes have (had) the same problem with my 41. The solution, at least for me, was to check the safety was off AFTER I got my grip. The safety on mine is hard to move but I unintentionally hit it sometimes with the knuckle at the base of my thumb and flip it on and I wouldn't notice it or feel it go on. Just get in the habit of checking to make sure it's off with your non shooting hand after you pick up your 41 and get your grip. Once it's off you should be fine.


Kirmdog

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:54 am
by m1963
When I was still shooting Model 41's I had the same problem. My grip was so high on the gun that I would engage the safety right before a string of fire. Result- alibi after alibi. An old gunsmith provided me with a quick fix which stiffened up the safety enough that it would no longer engage just as a result of my grip. However, the safety remained fully functional.

One can find a good explanation of the fix, here:

(12th post down)

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/sh ... p?t=276931

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 12:27 pm
by jackh
I have a 41 with a safety that will not engage because the pin that is supposed to go against the sear and hold it in place, hits the end of the sear and cannot go past.

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:53 pm
by Rover
"That's the rule."

Damn, in 30 years I can't remember anyone checking it, but I have been considering buying a Walther GSP even though it is an "assault weapon" under NY State law.

The early model GSPs, from 1968 to 1977, had a manual safety catch on the left side of the frame. This feature was omitted in 1977 because it was an unnecessary feature on a competition pistol. (Wikipedia)

Safety Problem Smith and Wesson Model 41

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:31 am
by mr alexander
Rover,

For those of us who do not speak or understand the language, please

translate: "Hijo de puta culeros!" into English. I barely remember any of

the 2 years of Spanish I studied in high school, having graduated back in

1973. Do not know exactly what this means, but I suspect that

Mrs. McFadden would have slapped me for saying this out loud in class.

Muchas Gracias! (Many Thanks!).

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 11:56 am
by spence
Google Translate indicates that it involves canines, parents and the very, very last part of the GI tract.

spence

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:59 pm
by Rover
I don't know where my response to you went the first time, but I removed the phrase and promised Mrs. McFadden would have bitch slapped you.

I don't know how it got there in the first place, but I suspect one of our moderators was in some kind of frenzy. Spence has the idea.

I first heard the phrase in Spain, referring to our President.

.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:27 pm
by sobakavitch
. . . .

Safety problems SW 41

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 1:01 pm
by dryfire
m1963, thanks for the suggestion. It worked. I shot a match today no alibis.

Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 2:45 pm
by m1963
Glad to be of assistance.

Model 41

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 8:23 am
by bullseyeman
I had the same problem, but the solution is more simple, place your thumb in the same spot each time along with your grip. If you do that, the safety won't click on.

Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 11:06 am
by dryfire
I am an advocate of whatever works for you. The answer is in the result.

Re:

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 3:53 am
by jackh
jackh wrote:I have a 41 with a safety that will not engage because the pin that is supposed to go against the sear and hold it in place, hits the end of the sear and cannot go past.
Just reviewing old stuff here. I never got a comment or suggestion on this issue. It still has me stumped. Perhaps I should picture it for you, or send the gun to KC

Re: Safety problem Smith and Wesson model 41

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 4:59 pm
by kameljock
I had the same problem with my 41. the safety has a small detent stamped into it. I removed it and judiciously
used a small pin punch to reset the detent. 6 months later it is still good.