How did you conclude that the base current will be 5 to 10A?
Very nice numbers which ignore the base resistance. I'm surprised you forgot this important circuit component. Remember nobody said it was good practice.
But I actually went to the bench and found that a real TIP41C actually drew only 1.5A from a 1.5V supply when connected B-E.
A few pages ago somebody said vizier87 wasn't being truthful when he said a 1.5V battery from E-B worked. I believe the criticism was unfair.
Nobody said it was good practice.