Loveless S&W 41 answers

[4T5GUY]

Some of you may know I got a Loveless S&W 41 Field Gun a few months ago on an auction sight. It was not marked, (Loveless,) and was not "documented". No one bid on it, and I paid a small fraction what it was worth.

Since then I have been trying to gather as much info on them that is possible. I have contacted everyone that was around when Bob was making them. I now have a tremendous amount of real facts. But there is still a great bit of mystery. I think Bob would like this, if he cared about it at all.

First off, I can safely say that there were only @30 made. Total. Jim Merrett, (Loveless-Merritt,) said only 13 were made when he was involved, and Steve Johnson, (Loveless-Johnson,) said "very few". Bob did not make any between the two co-workers/partners.

Second, very few were marked Loveless. Jim Merritt said just his and Bob's, and "a couple more".

Something I found funny, was sometimes Bob would promise one to someone, only to give it to someone else. (This happened to Steve Johnson.) Or actually give a person one, then latter ask for it back and give it again, to someone else. Funny if it didn't happen to you.

I don't know what to do with all of the information I have, but at least I have it.

Jim

[Retired LTC, USAR]

I have learned something today. Thanks for the post and history of a modification I knew nothing about.

You stated you paid a fraction of what it was worth. What is its worth as a "Loveless" gun?

[4T5GUY]

I guess, like anything, they are worth what someone is willing to pay for one. If two or more people want one on auction, of course they are worth more.

I got the history on this one only to prove what it is, not for monetary gain. I contacted Jim Suppica to get it in the National Firearms Museum, and they would be happy to have it. I thought more people could see it there than in my fun, (gun,) room. All of Bob's friends and partners told me NO, don't. Bob would not want that it seems.

Jim Merritt said he was offered $6,000.00 for his, and he said no.

Jim

[Ed Fowler]

Thanks for sharing!! Bob's had a range in his shop, but had to shoot from the bathroom through the finish room into the grinding room. He and Amend Swenson were friends so I was told and shot on the same outdoor range.

[4T5GUY]

That is very true. Jim Merritt shut that down when he was hit with a piece of "fly away". He said he was VERY mad at Bob. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the first time he was angry at Bob, or the last.

Bob would actually shoot in there when Jim was working/grinding.

Jim

[4T5GUY]

Just one more thing I should mention. Marcus is working on a Loveless "design" S&W 41.

He said he went through four, (maybe five,) top ends to get where he is. Jim Merritt was a great advice source for him, but doing it isn't like seeing it, so it was still a challenge.

Marcus has the grips and grip insert left to do, but I think he's doing great.

Hopefully if his knife business doesn't work out, he will leave Spain and come back and pursue these conversions. I know Tom Beckwith will get the first one available.

Jim

[dacoontz]

Only thing that would make this any better would be to find one with the classic Loveless pretty nude trademark on the frame. However, I believe that was much earlier than the vintage of these 41's.

[Ed Fowler]

Bob also worked on 1911's, I don't remember all I should about them, seems like it was a little fitting and a couple of tension screws. I would have loved to listen to Loveless and Swension talk about their ideas. Bob's thoughts were written up in one of the Gun Annual books, read like he had it all figured out.

Roy Huntington, Editor and publisher of Handgunner magazine interviewed Loveless about handguns and was going to write it up, hope he does one day.