I'm way outside my comfort zone here. Recently bought a model 41 with the extended front sight, box is numbered to the gun and has one magazine. The serial number range is #94000 with no letter prefix.

My question is way the extended sight?

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George Jamison

very nice find! please post some pics as I have never seen one in person. The idea was to have the weight balance of the short barrel but the sight radius of the long barrel version. thx Dan

I thought those holes were for a top mounted barrel weight,,,

As 68 sixspeed noted, it was to allow for an increased sight radius (the distance between the front and rear sights) on the heavier (bull barreled) gun. Many competitive shooters preferred the 5 1/2 inch barrel as it did not require as steady of a follow-through as did the longer thinner barrel. However, sighting was less precise due to the shorter sight radius. The EFS model gave the shooter the benefit of the longer barreled sight radius without the follow through difficulty.

I read that S&W offered the extended sight because a). their 7 3/8" barrel wasn't allowed in international competition due to it's length, and by putting the extending sight on the 5 1/2" barrel, the sight radius was restored to the barrel, giving it the same radius as the longer barrel. Please note, I'm merely repeating what I read, and can't even remember for sure where I read it. If it's not true, someone please let me know!

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

The Model 41 7 3/8" was not banned, and there was not a problem with its length, sort of. There is an issue with the muzzle brake which was fixed and phased in from 1960. The Model 41 7 3/8" barrel could also be used with the brake off for international competitions that did not permit brakes. The 5-1/2HB was, as already said, to give the Model 41 the feel and balance of a 1911. The extendable front sight gave the gun the sighting radius of 7-7/8" or extended of 10".

The 5 1/2" model 41 was sold as a gun for the shooter "who likes the chunky, back in the hand feel of a chunky military-style pistol".- from the original EFS flyer.
I read somewhere the EFS was to give the sighting radius of the 6" K22/K38.

added - The sighting radius of the 7-3/8" barrel model 41 is 9-5/16"

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George Jamison

gjamison - note the index mark on the sight rib between the front sight and first hex screw. - to do consistent location when extended - normally even with end of bbl (lock down after moving either direction)

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TOMBECK