There are many that don't know the story of the Model 41, how it came to be, and its history. Hope this brief article will help.

John




It’s been called “the Rolls-Royce of .22 target pistols” and for good reason. For over half a century, nothing else has quite been like it on the bullseye circuit. Like the old TV commercial said: “Expensive – but darn well worth it.” Sure, it’s had worthy competitors over the years. The Colt Match Target Woodsman, the Hi-Standard line of “space guns” and Military models, the Ruger Marks I, II, and III have all had their day. But year in and year out, if you could afford one, the S&W Model 41 would always help to put you in the winner’s circle, giving you everything you could possibly ask for in a target pistol. Out of the box, it would allow any competitor to shoot to the best of his or her ability. It has fine accuracy, a long sight radius, both sights mounted directly on the barrel, a great trigger adjustable for weight and overtravel, ergonomic grips, fine balance and interchangeable barrels. None of these features are inexpensive, but if price was no object, here was (and is) your gun. This pistol has been a solid product from its beginning, and it reeks quality. It’s always been made the old-fashioned way – from forged and machined steel. No cast or metal-injected parts, no cheap stampings, no plastic grips are evident here. Holding one belonging to someone else will make you green with envy, I guarantee it. This classic handgun has always had the ability to go toe to toe against other top-notch match guns and come out winning.

The legend that is the Model 41 began before World War II, when bullseye competition was in flower. Competitors had been asking Smith & Wesson to produce a target gun having premium features that would outclass the guns then available. The company listened, but the war years put a halt to any activity that addressed the civilian market. Following the war, however, S&W began to focus its attention on a purely target .22 semiautomatic. The company assigned Dwayne Charron as the chief project engineer and he and his team developed two experimental models, serial numbered as X-41 and X-42. These were completed in July, 1947. The company ran these guns through rigorous tests, and then farmed them out to the S&W pistol team for real-world competition testing. Company president Carl Hellstrom took other experimental guns to the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio to get reactions from the top shooters. After each visit there, he returned with suggestions that were subsequently incorporated into the design. After years of testing, the factory turned out a prototype that they declared the best .22 target pistol that could be made. This prototype was exhaustively tested. After successful tests, the pistol was finally put into production and the first gun came off the assembly line on September 13, 1957. The first Model 41 carried serial number 1,401.

The new gun had a 7 3/8” barrel and was equipped with an aluminum muzzle brake. It featured an easily removable barrel, a match trigger adjustable for weight and overtravel, and a grip angle and controls that mimicked the Model 1911 .45 pistol. It had walnut grips with a thumb rest, a cocking indicator pin that protruded at the rear of the slide, an undercut blade front sight, and a fully adjustable rear sight mounted on an extension of the barrel. It could accommodate internal weights, and if the muzzle brake was not used, a muzzle cap was provided that could substitute for it. A set of optional stacking external weights was offered for a time, and these have become rare and collectible accessories today.

Smith & Wesson was overwhelmed by demand for the new pistol. Inasmuch as the pistols were virtually handmade from forged steel, the company was hard pressed to keep up with orders. By the end of 1958, the factory had produced only 9,875 units. In May of 1959, in response to requests for a field gun based on the Model 41, a lightweight 5” barrel was introduced. Barrels could be swapped simply by pulling down on the trigger guard. The 5” barrel was available on the gun or by separate order. In September of 1960, the company introduced the Model 41-1, which was an aluminum-slide version chambered for the .22 short cartridge. This was not a big seller, and only 1,000 were produced, making them prime collector items today. Conversion units to .22 short for the Model 41 were also made and marketed. A spin-off of the Model 41 was the Model 46, which was a cheaper no-frills version developed in 1959 for the U.S. Air Force. It could be had with a 7” or 5” barrel. In 1964, a 5 ½” barrel was offered as standard for the Model 46. Sales of the Model 46 were not strong, as most competitors desired the more deluxe Model 41, and the Air Force was no longer purchasing .22 target pistols. Accordingly, the factory quit making this model, with a total of only 4,000 having been produced. Model 46s today bring higher prices than used Model 41s because of their comparative rarity. In 1963, a 5 ½” heavy barrel was produced as an option for the Model 41, giving it a balance more similar to the .45 Model 1911 pistol. In 1965, this barrel was offered with an extended front sight, giving it a longer sight radius similar to the longer 7 3/8” barrel. Muzzle brakes, muzzle caps and weights were discontinued as options in the late 1970s.

In 1978, the 7 3/8” barrel was replaced by one measuring 7 inches even, and the cocking indicator pin was deleted from the gun. Today, the older features such as the long barrel length, muzzle brake and cocking indicator bring a premium on the used gun market. While most 41s can be found with 10-round magazines, some 12-shot magazines have been made and offered.

At the turn of the 21st Century, S&W began drilling and tapping the barrel extension for scope mounting. Grips have evolved from walnut to cocobolo to laminated wood. In the late 1980s, production was moved from Springfield, Massachusetts to a newer plant in Holton, Maine. The factory continues to make the Model 41 there today, still from forged and machined parts, and still roll-marking rather than laser etching or machine-engraving all markings on the gun. The Model 41 was never designed for mass production, as it has always been virtually hand made. Production numbers are less than 20 guns per day, and demand still exceeds the ability of the company to produce. Rumors of the discontinuance of the Model 41 due to high production cost continue to abound, but it’s still around, in production for over 50 years.

The pistol illustrated left the factory in 1971, and has all the earlier features. I have found it a bit finicky as to the .22 ammo it will digest. The slide is heavy and demands ammo at a certain power level to ensure that it will function properly. Some target ammo is under-powered for the gun, and only experimentation will determine the best ammo for reliability and accuracy. Once this ammunition is determined, the Model 41 is reliable, accurate and very satisfying to shoot.

If you want one of these beauties, the new retail cost will be well over a thousand dollars, and the desirable earlier models will bring even more on the collector market. If you want a truly deluxe target pistol, none may suit you better than the classic Smith & Wesson Model 41.

(c) 2013 JLM

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I had one in the 1970's and I could kick myself for ever selling it ,BUT today I bought one on an online auction and I am in hog heaven. Got it for a good price too.

Nice essay. Thanks. Yes, I want one.

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Why, I aughta.....

"At the turn of the 21st Century, S&W began drilling and tapping the slide for scope mounting." I think you mean D&T the bbl extention - not slide.

Might note that CCI std vel is the standard for the 41/46.
Might note that the 41-1 was made in 7 3/8", 5" and 5.5" bbls

May want to expand about false muzzle and internal and external bbl weights.

Good information - appreciate effort.

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TOMBECK

Quite correct. I'll modify the text, and mention the add-on weights, which I completely forgot about.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I bought mine around 1959, SN 9981. It had the two screw-in weights below the bore, and the aluminum muzzle brake, but it didn't come with a muzzle cap for when you took the brake off. I wonder if it was an aftermarket item, like the detachable under-the-barrel weights.

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Mine came with both the brake and the cap, and one internal weight. These were not aftermarket (non-S&W), but were S&W options until the late 1970s. I think if the brake was ordered, the cap came with it for when the brake was not in use. I know in actual studies, accuracy is usually better without the brake, although it does help somewhat in recovery for rapid fire. The brakes are also a mess to to clean when soot and lead debris build up in them. So much so, that High Standard furnished a metal internal scraper with its brakes on the competing "space guns" in the late '50s and the '60s.

Thanks for showing a picture of the weights. They were quite a package. It looks like you also have a lead scraper for your brake that was made by some other outfit.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Great article good job and thanks for posting it.
The model 46 production numbers of the 7” was 2500, there was also 1000 5” and 500 5 ½” made.
Useless information or just being pedantic, I have noticed errors in some books on the early production numbers of the first few years due to the first 41 starting at 1401. Some allow for this others don’t when counting back from serial numbers. Something to keep in mind.
Cheers.

Thanks for the additional info. Do you have a source on those Model 46 production numbers, which you say make a grand total of 4,000?

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Nice article. Those production numbers are listed in the SCSW 3rd Edition.

Tom,
Are the 5" and 5 1/2" 41-1 bbls. both heavy? Never having seen either, how many of those can there be?
TIA

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Good shooting.

The 5" and the 5 1/2" are the same cofig. as the standard LR models. They are marked and chambered 22 short, but otherwise are the same.

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TOMBECK

Thanks, I'm making the correction to reflect a total of 4,000.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

The production numbers for the 46 are in both "standard catalog" and "history of S&W".

Well I seem to remember things quite differently . " Rolls Royce of .22 target pistols " please . The High Standard Hamden made slant & military grip models , not too mention numerous Euro pistols were hands down much better target guns . " Nothing quite like it on the Bullseye circuit " that's true . When asked were there any alibis we used to yell out " Yes two . Smith & Wesson " . Triggers , sights , bore dimensions & extractors left ( & still do ) much to be desired from a serious target pistol . If S&W had spent the effort designing the 41 with the care they did the model 52 , it'd be a hell of a pistol . I like my Smiths , but I don't drink anyone's Kool Aid .

Paladin & BoatBum you guys have really rattled my cage with this post.

I was issued the Model 41 in 1970 for my AF gun box. At first they issued me the Ruger MK 11 with a bull barrel (MK11 I think). At that time the Ruger held records at Camp Perry and I still think it has some. I couldn't shoot it worth a flip, it just didn't feel right in my hand. A L/C on our team had a space gun and he let me try it, it was better but the AF wasn't putting any in our gun boxes maybe down at San Antonio they were. I wasn't insane about it ( looked like a two stroke motorcycle exhaust system) turns out it was and still is a classic pistol.

Then the 41 came into my life " Love At First Grip "

It was finicky about ammo. As a E-4 Dan couldn't / didn't buy ammo. So I shot the same Remington green box .22 you see today the stuff that feels like it's coated with wax. That's what we shot in matches too. The brake did collect a bunch of lead and the powder and the other stuff would gunk up the brake pretty good after 500 rds.

I did make Expert before the AF or at least SAC took the gun boxes back I was on three bases and they did that. I reckon the AF or maybe SAC decided they didn't need to spend money on shooters. In all honesty I don't know what they do now.

To me anyway with the couple little faults it did have ...... the Model 41 was a sweetheart. Once in a while on practice day ( when they gave us ammo) 100 yards all 50 in a box on a silhouette.

Dan

Boat/Dan - a great debate subject. I've never been good with a pistol - marksman. Have a friend who earned Master in 2700 and switch from HS Victor to 5.5" S&W 41 picked up several points. He shot the 45 in both CF and 45 leg. Am sure you can find stories going in both directions. Both are great pistols and although I collect 41/46/41-1s, I shot either the Victor (Hamden only) or a Kart conversion on the 1911 frame. Most of my history is in the "Iron site" days. Might have done better with a Doctor or UltraDot????

The old Clark bbld HSs were great also - but lets be honest - any of them with good ammo and correctly set up, in the right hands are 900 multi X pistols. Basically, it is the shooter that drops points, not the pistol.

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TOMBECK

Tom amen to 900 multiple X with any of those pistols.

Today I have a $360 dollar Browning Buckmark that will easily out shoot me. Kinda frustrating really for a box stock pistol.

Dan

I know that the Model 41 was being produced in Houlton, Maine but were any made in Saco, Maine?

Great read. Since this has been resurrected, my late 90's gun (UAV prefix) is laser engraved. Just FYI.

Like this?

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I've just acquired this model 41. It is essentially new in box shows no signs of ever been fired. I will be requesting a letter for this one as I am a bit mystified over its configuration. It seems to be based on the Rapid Fire ISSF 41-1 in .22 short, even the owners manual indicates. Yes the slide is aluminum, the muzzle brake is here, as well as the weights and all other accessories and paperwork. HOWEVER it is in .22LR as marked on the barrel. I have verified with a snap cap both magazine and chamber. Not sure if this is somewhat a unicorn, special order, or just a run of the mill 41 in a different configuration. The box end label is a little confusing on barrel length as well. I am looking forward to the research. Knowledgeable comments are most welcome as I start the deep dive.

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Couldn't agree more. I bought my M41 in the early 70s and used it in Bullseye competition for years. I was lucky - mine cycled fine and was plenty accurate with just about any ammo. They're fine guns for sure, but the oft-repeated claim about them being the "best target pistol ever produced" is just silly. Some years ago I upgraded to a Walther GSP Expert and learned how good a real world-class target pistol can be.

30+ years ago these were plentiful and great target guns. Now I hardly see them.

The first post shows that only 9,875 model 41's were made by the end of 1958. Mine is serial number 12,900, Roy Jink's files show it shipped in Sept. of 1958. Some are dissing the accuracy, at 70 1/2 yrs. of age, I can hit eight inch plates at 75+ feet 5 out of every 6 shots, with long skinny arms that shake, but adore those factory large grips, either hand.

Nice purchase. There were quite a few 41s around your serial number that left the factory as 41-1s. I have a few myself. When a 41-1 was ordered and none were in stock S&W would assemble one from a standard model 41, replacing the barrel, slide, slide stop/extractor, spring, magazine, and the parts list. Sometimes a "-1" was stamped next to the "41" on the frame. I have some with the stamp and some without...
The box makes perfect sense to me. The barrel is 7 3/8" long. The description on the label is unusual, the package came with an extra barrel being 5", 4 extra mags, and a set of counter weights with aluminium upper.
As with all things Smith & Wesson nothing is certain, your gun could have been shipped as a 41 with conversion kit for .22 short....which I think is unlikely considering you have the .22 short parts list.
The barrel being in .22lr is the odd thing that stands out to me. Changed by previous owner, oversight by S&W at assembly, ordered like that... hopefully a letter will tell more.

Can you tell us, the magazine's is there four spares, and are they all for .22 or some for .22 short?

Paladin85020, S&W Mdl 41 22lr; other great article.
As always thank you!

I have one, and really enjoy shooting it, it was made
in 1979, 5-1/2”bbl, got it for $375.

My only complaint is, my S&W Mdl 622 22lr 6”bbl
with adjustable rear sight is just as accurate.
I won’t insult with what I got that for.

Never selling it, well maybe……never mind.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Another great article John. In your opinion, how does the 41 stack up against the likes of Feinwerkbau, Hammerli, Pardini, Benelli, and Walther. I've read ( can't remember where ) that the 41 even bests, on occasion, those fine dedicated pistols on the international Bullseye circuit. IMO, when the competiton is at that level, it's the shooter not the gun. My '78 model will put 5 shots in one dime size hole at 50' from a rest.

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John

There are people who think it is worthwhile to reline even a Model 41 barrel.

Thank you for the reply. Yes 4 spares and all .22 LR. Letter request goes out tomorrow.

Are you sure the slide is aluminium. Looking at the pictures is hard to tell although it does look blue where the aluminium slides are closer to black. Can you see which stop is on the gun. Slide stop/ extractor. There are three main types. .22 short which has a small step. early model 41 has a longer step, and later stop has an extra long step.
The fact you have the four mags, I'm now leaning to your model 41 being given the 22 short parts list in error.

I really don't know - never fired or even handled any of the above pistols you mentioned. I suspect that as always, the majority of the accuracy results in the real world are more in the hand of the shooter than in the mechanism of the gun.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

John, Great read about the 41. I don't own one but, It's on my short list. I have Ruger's that I shoot bullseye at our small little local gun club at. I've seen 41's win a bunch of them bullseye shoots.

Absolutely! The gun is very light. I have another NIB 41 with a 5" barrel that is very heavy compared to this one. It is indeed aluminum. I also just heard from Roy for ship date, 1965!
Some photos of the slide stop and safety and barrel marking.

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My name's not John but having owned many .22s including 41s, a 46, Hammerli, Walther GSP,... I can say the 41 has a higher bore axis than some of the fancier guns which hurts it in getting back on target. It's also simply not as reliable as several of the others. It's not actually more intrinsically accurate than say a nice Ruger Mk. but it just *feels* a lot more refined and with a better trigger that translates into higher practical accuracy (for me at least). Similarly while the accuracy of my Walther and Hammerli is perhaps a little better than the 41, they all can shoot better than I can hold them. The difference is the Walther and Hammerli feed and fire every time and no 41 I've ever owned is as reliable. Having yet another failure to extract can just rattle you and impact your shooting of it's a slow-fire event or it can simply disqualify you in timed competition.

I've pushed, pulled, prodded, cajoled, and pleaded with my 41s to work "just for this one stage" and despite all that, lots of different ammunition, and some new parts they just seem to have a knack of letting me down. For informal shooting where the occasional failure to extract or eject isn't a big deal I love them above all other .22s.

Now cue the obligatory several folks who never had one fail, the several (but fewer) who never had one run right, and the vast majority who find them sort-of reliable.