Smith & Wesson Model 41 (M41) Best Years (if any)?

My 14 year old is looking at starting in Bullseye and for the near term that gets answered by a Ruger 22/45 due to an attempt to minimize weight and obtain the thinnest grip possible.  However, the kid is growing like a weed and that pistol isn't my long term vision of where I want him to be equipment size.  I would like to get him a M41 to make the transition to a 1911 easier down the road when he starts shooting center fire.  

Are there specific years or production windows that I should be looking for or to avoid?

Dave Salyer put some pics up recently of some guns for sale. Nice couple mod 41 in there. He may know the guns. Message him

I picked up a 1970's era model 41 with a 8.375 inch barrel from Dave Carrol, and have been really happy with it, there are a lot of them out there and if you look around you can pick one up with little trouble, keep it really clean and get an extra recoil spring and a case of CCI SV and you should be good to go.  I have gotten extra mags on e-bay.