I'm looking for some help for my older "A" series Model 41 where the trigger bar is not always engaging when cocked. This problem has just recently started and I've investigated and done most all I can.

In general, everything seems to work. I've totally gone over the area looking for any problems, none that are obvious, cleaned the area thinking maybe over time oil has dried and waxed causing the trigger bar to stick some and not fully engage, checked movement etc.

Here's what happens, when and only when I cock the gun for the first round with the slide locked back and then released there are times when the trigger bar does not go back fully and engage the hammer release. It comes back nearly fully but not enough to totally come up and engage the hammer release. If and when it does (less than 40% of the time) the gun always fires from that point on. So, it's only that first round that may or may not engage, even then it comes back far enough so the cocked indicator shows. If I re-rack the slide it usually (not always) cocks fully, it might take two racks of the slide. My only other thoughts at this point are to change out the trigger bar spring.

I've attached a photo and you can see it is in the un-cocked position now. When it fails to cock, the leading edge of the trigger bar just comes to the lower edge of the hammer release rather than going up fully and engaging. So, again I don’t understand way it does not come up and engage sometimes. I’d rather it totally fail then I could fix things.

Any thoughts, help etc. would be appreciated.

Attached Images

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Amazing timing! I was about to post an inquiry on exactly the same problem with my 41.

I think the magazine disconnect is the source of the problem. It's not lifting enough as you noted to allow the trigger bar to engage. Mine does the same thing but the problem is intermittent. Doesn't seem to matter which magazine I use and it can occur anytime.

I think this can be one or a combination of the magazine catch play, the magazine itself and the size/location of the dimple that engages the disconnect lever as well as the size and location of magazine latch slot, and the disconnector itself. Play, slop, wear or tolerance variations in any of them may contribute to the problem.

My question is .... can the magazine disconnect be removed entirely and if so anyone have a disassembly tutorial? Never liked disconnects in handguns anyway

Did you find a solution? I recently started having an intermittent problem on my Model 41. Occasionally the pistol would not fire. (I felt no sear release when the trigger was pulled, and no firing pin mark on the primer.)

I bought a new trigger bar and spring, but only replaced the spring. (The new trigger bar looks like it will need some filing for a good fit.)

Are there other things to check? I don't think it is an ammo problem. I did a soak in solvent, but have not done a deep disassembly. I didn't completely understand the post about the magazine interactions, but my failures to fire do not come on the first round.

I suggest really cleaning the area under your grips and around the cross bar and put the new spring into it as well. Mine is starting to do this as well on occasion but with certain mags only. I have 12 mags to choose from which helps a lot as I rotate them every time I going shooting.