41 slide won't retract

[winchesterbob]

Well, it was bound to happen. After buying dozens of firearms on the internet an unscrupulous seller and I finally connected.
Bought a 41, SN 119XXX with a cocking indicator slide which does not appear original to the gun. Gun was cocked when received and slide will not retract. Safety does not function either.
Hopefully, it can be fixed by the proper fitting of the slide to the frame. Is this something my gunsmith can do? He is a top-notch rifle builder and general 'smith. Or should I seek out someone who specializes in S&Ws? If so, who is recommended?
Appreciate any input.

 

[g8rb8]

I am sure you've done the following but:
Be careful. There could be a round in the chamber. Oops!
Have you tried to retract the slide with the magazine both in and out?
Have you made sure the slide release is not hanging up?
How do you know the safety is non-functional?
Have you liberally applied lubricant to the moving parts, waited, and tried the above?
Have you contacted the seller?
If you confirm the slide is non-functional and is not original to the gun please give more information about the purchase so we can hopefully avoid a similar fate.

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

First - no such thing as a "cocking indicator slide" - ci is in frame. Second - SN would be A119XXX. with mag removed, about the only thing holding the slide would be the extractor or spring guide. Assume CI is extended indicating pistol still cocked? Check to see the safety is not in safe position. If IN safe position, slide is locked by safety. Push rod down bbl to see if any obstruction is in bbl (loaded??). If not cocked, slide can require some considerable force to actuate. If no obstruction, pull down trigger guard to release bbl (Normall NOT DONE with slide closed). See if bbl can be loosened and if slide will move. If no luck, pull grips see if anything appears out of place - check slide lock/ejector.

Keep us informed of results.

 

[Aussie Collector]

I think you should have the answer in the previous posts. Check the safety lever hook is not engaged in the slide.
I have a couple of model 41's and the safety is a finicky thing most work others are so stiff you swear they don't work.

I also think receiving a 41 (being rimfire) cocked is a good thing as it means the previous owner didn't fire it on an empty chamber.

I purchased another Model 46 recently that, like yours turned up with the slide locked. Unlike yours, mine was described as non-functional and missing parts, and priced as such.
Anyway the issue was the trigger bar spring was missing and the trigger bar was jammed, I fitted a spring and all was good. Later I tried to replicate the jam by removing the spring to find where it was jamming and could not. My guess it was jammed behind the hammer stopping it from being cocked thus stopping the slide from coming back. Unlikely in your situation as you say yours is cocked.

The only other explanation I could come up with mine is the spring was broken and jammed the trigger bar up. Removing the grips and the spring bits fell out (and I didn't see them), if the trigger bar is stuck up in the fire slot on the slide the slide cannot be retracted. Inserting the spring the wrong way has the same effect as it jams the bar up jamming the slide. This is worth checking on yours.

To check the bar remove the grips, on the right side the trigger bar is just under the slide check it's sitting on a spring and moves up and down freely. Check the spring is in correctly, the top of the spring should be just lower than the slide, the short edge of the spring points up to the slide.