Aussie Collector
Member
The model 41-1 .22 short was introduced in 1960, manufacture for a market in competition shooting where the .22 short was the cartridge of use. Smith & Wesson could see the need for a pistol in .22 short to compete with the sales of Margolin, Walther Olympia and Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy.
The competition was called "Rapid Fire" as mentioned in the History of Smith & Wesson by Roy Jinks. Rapid Fire was developed in the 1800s and was one of the competitions at the first Olympics in 1896. Controlled by "Union Internationale de Tir" (UIT), at the time of the 41-1 introduction and now know as "International Shooting Sport Federation" (ISSF).
More information can be found here.
ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation - issf-sports.org
The competition consisted of a competitor firing a total of 60 rounds. Broken into 12 series, each series consisted of five shots, at 5 targets (1 shot per target), from 25 metres, one handed. Each five shot series is broken into, 2 series at 8 second (time limit) then 2 series at 6 seconds then 2 series at 4 seconds, repeated again to give 60 shots. The competitor is given 1 minute to load and prepare before the starting commands and the targets face. At the time the targets face the gun must be pointed 45 degrees or lower, rased once the targets turn and the competitor fires one shot at each target 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (most competitors being right handed run right to left), in the series allotted time. Finals and Shoot offs are conducted using the 4 second series.
The target is called a Rapid fire target and has a 10 ring of 100mm diameter. Pictured below.
Rules for rapid fire can be found here.
ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation - issf-sports.org
Please note that the rules have had a few major changes, the most recent and relevant change (to the 41-1) is the cartridge change from .22 short to .22LR in 2005, and the removal of allowing a muzzle brake.
The pistol for rapid fire had to pass a few check to be permitted to be used in official competitions. The one relevant to the 41-1 is the box check. This check is where the pistol is placed into a box and checked for dimensions. If the pistol fits in the box and a straight edge can be run over the top the pistol passes this check. The box measurements being 300mm x 150mm by 50mm high.
This brings us to a little known issue of the 41-1.
It did not fit in the box with the muzzle brake fitted! The pistol lays in the box however the barrel will not drop below the box edge completely. Pictured below. It did with the muzzle remove, however, that then put the competitor at a disadvantage as when swinging from target 5 to target 1, the last thing a competitor wants is vertical recoil. Now the rules also allowed a 10% tolerance for the pistol box in one direction only, this then meant that the 41-1 would fit if the box was extended. However confusion exists with some competitors and clubs with this 10% rule not being used and in Australia anyway some shooters still say this is the reason for failure. Some even still claim it didn't fit the box, which is partly correct. Many guns in Australia are found with the muzzle brake shortened. Pictured below. It is speculation on my part that it was to make the gun fit the box, however it could have been to reduce the muzzle brake push down.
Sometime after the introduction of the 41-1 Smith & Wesson shortened the muzzle brake from 1 9/16 to 1 5/16. Its speculation again that the reason was to have the 41-1 fit the box without the 10% tolerance being used, although it make perfect sense. It is fact that it means that the 41-1 with the shorter muzzle brake will now fit the box. Pictured below.
If anyone knows the date (or serial number) of the muzzle brake change I would love to know, or even better the actual reason for the change in length.
There is other reasons the 41-1 didn't sell well, and that's to do with the other pistols being used for rapid fire at the time. When compared to Margolin, Walther Olympia and Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy the 41 barrel is higher in the hand and the sights higher as well. This is seen as a disadvantage. Firstly it meant that competitors had to get use to a completely different sighting position with the hand needing to be lower. Remember that they need to shoot 5 shots 1 at each of 5 targets in 4 seconds. Secondly the vertical recoil is increased with the higher barrel above the hand. The next difference is the stock angle, the 41-1 being at 105 degrees when compared to the guns the shooters were using like the Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy of 120 degrees (the gun William McMillan (US) won the 1960 olympics with) or Margolin of 115 degrees. Walther experienced success for a few years with the Olympia at 105 degrees later introducing the OSP at 120 degrees.
Now a proficient rapid fire competitor can almost shoot the match with eyes closed because its that fast the last thing a top competitive shooter wants is to have to get use to a completely different pistol.
If this is all true then the damage was done, rapid fire competitors had tried discussed and discounted the pistol as suitable because of the length of the firearm and the other reasons listed. Changing the muzzle length would not have helped as the competitor's confidence was already gone and the pistol would have had a negative reputation because of the earlier error.
I have written this article which I think it will stir up a few emotional comments as it's my thoughts and comments on the failure of the 41-1 to become a successful S&W firearm. It's all about learning more about the history of the 41-1.
Cheers.
The competition was called "Rapid Fire" as mentioned in the History of Smith & Wesson by Roy Jinks. Rapid Fire was developed in the 1800s and was one of the competitions at the first Olympics in 1896. Controlled by "Union Internationale de Tir" (UIT), at the time of the 41-1 introduction and now know as "International Shooting Sport Federation" (ISSF).
More information can be found here.
ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation - issf-sports.org
The competition consisted of a competitor firing a total of 60 rounds. Broken into 12 series, each series consisted of five shots, at 5 targets (1 shot per target), from 25 metres, one handed. Each five shot series is broken into, 2 series at 8 second (time limit) then 2 series at 6 seconds then 2 series at 4 seconds, repeated again to give 60 shots. The competitor is given 1 minute to load and prepare before the starting commands and the targets face. At the time the targets face the gun must be pointed 45 degrees or lower, rased once the targets turn and the competitor fires one shot at each target 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (most competitors being right handed run right to left), in the series allotted time. Finals and Shoot offs are conducted using the 4 second series.
The target is called a Rapid fire target and has a 10 ring of 100mm diameter. Pictured below.
Rules for rapid fire can be found here.
ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation - issf-sports.org
Please note that the rules have had a few major changes, the most recent and relevant change (to the 41-1) is the cartridge change from .22 short to .22LR in 2005, and the removal of allowing a muzzle brake.
The pistol for rapid fire had to pass a few check to be permitted to be used in official competitions. The one relevant to the 41-1 is the box check. This check is where the pistol is placed into a box and checked for dimensions. If the pistol fits in the box and a straight edge can be run over the top the pistol passes this check. The box measurements being 300mm x 150mm by 50mm high.
This brings us to a little known issue of the 41-1.
It did not fit in the box with the muzzle brake fitted! The pistol lays in the box however the barrel will not drop below the box edge completely. Pictured below. It did with the muzzle remove, however, that then put the competitor at a disadvantage as when swinging from target 5 to target 1, the last thing a competitor wants is vertical recoil. Now the rules also allowed a 10% tolerance for the pistol box in one direction only, this then meant that the 41-1 would fit if the box was extended. However confusion exists with some competitors and clubs with this 10% rule not being used and in Australia anyway some shooters still say this is the reason for failure. Some even still claim it didn't fit the box, which is partly correct. Many guns in Australia are found with the muzzle brake shortened. Pictured below. It is speculation on my part that it was to make the gun fit the box, however it could have been to reduce the muzzle brake push down.
Sometime after the introduction of the 41-1 Smith & Wesson shortened the muzzle brake from 1 9/16 to 1 5/16. Its speculation again that the reason was to have the 41-1 fit the box without the 10% tolerance being used, although it make perfect sense. It is fact that it means that the 41-1 with the shorter muzzle brake will now fit the box. Pictured below.
If anyone knows the date (or serial number) of the muzzle brake change I would love to know, or even better the actual reason for the change in length.
There is other reasons the 41-1 didn't sell well, and that's to do with the other pistols being used for rapid fire at the time. When compared to Margolin, Walther Olympia and Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy the 41 barrel is higher in the hand and the sights higher as well. This is seen as a disadvantage. Firstly it meant that competitors had to get use to a completely different sighting position with the hand needing to be lower. Remember that they need to shoot 5 shots 1 at each of 5 targets in 4 seconds. Secondly the vertical recoil is increased with the higher barrel above the hand. The next difference is the stock angle, the 41-1 being at 105 degrees when compared to the guns the shooters were using like the Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy of 120 degrees (the gun William McMillan (US) won the 1960 olympics with) or Margolin of 115 degrees. Walther experienced success for a few years with the Olympia at 105 degrees later introducing the OSP at 120 degrees.
Now a proficient rapid fire competitor can almost shoot the match with eyes closed because its that fast the last thing a top competitive shooter wants is to have to get use to a completely different pistol.
If this is all true then the damage was done, rapid fire competitors had tried discussed and discounted the pistol as suitable because of the length of the firearm and the other reasons listed. Changing the muzzle length would not have helped as the competitor's confidence was already gone and the pistol would have had a negative reputation because of the earlier error.
I have written this article which I think it will stir up a few emotional comments as it's my thoughts and comments on the failure of the 41-1 to become a successful S&W firearm. It's all about learning more about the history of the 41-1.
Cheers.
