Model 41 Field barrel

[72AV8R]

One more time!
I came across a Model 41 5" Field barrel on an auction site that can not be mentioned and inadvertently posted a link to said site to illustrate my question. The barrel appears to have been made from a 7 3/8" model as you can see part of the grove for weights.
It has a red ramp front sight. The question remains, did S&W make 5" barrels with this type of sight?

I apologize for violating forum rules with the original post, but would still like to know if 5" field barrels came from the factory this way.

 

[bdGreen]

This is mine.

As you can see there are 'slits' leading in from the front that were utilized on the longer barrel for the weights.

This is a righteous barrel and the one you question most probably is also.

Yes, the red ramp on this barrel was standard.

bdGreen

 

[72AV8R]

Thank you. The one in question looks exactly like yours. Must be original.

 

[k22fan]

I have not looked at this issue in a while but I want to comment anyway. A member sent me an old article from the S&W Collectors' Assn. that went into the details of Field Barrels. Along with every thing else in my computer I lost it to a virus. I'm hopping a generous member might provide it again.

In a nut shell, depending on whether they had a box of reject 7 3/8" barrels on hand S&W both cut down long barrels and made Field Barrels from scratch. Some that were not made from long barrels were fitted with revolver rear sights and red ramp fronts. Other Field Barrels only got the revolver like red ramp but red ramps are less common than patridge sights.

I own two, both cut down from a long barrels. S&W made one and a local smith cut the other to 5 1/2". Both have patridge sights. The local smith made quite a few. He made them a 1/2" longer so they could not be sold as originals but they actually look a lot better with the longer flutted nose. He certainly could have made them indistinguishable from factory cut down barrels and it is likely that other smiths have.

Just to help dispel any doubt that the factory made Field Barrels with red ramps I'll add that a local man has one and he still has its original two piece serial numbered box.

 

[72AV8R]

More excellent information. Thank you very much.

 

[mag318]

The Field/Sport barrel is my hands down favorite barrel on a Model 41. It changes the whole balance and feel of the pistol and in my experience is just as accurate. S&W sold 41s with this barrel alone when requested by distributors. Gil Hebard use to sell a lot of 41 set up with just the Field/Sport barrel.

 

[bdGreen]

The Field/Sport barrel is my hands down favorite barrel on a Model 41. It changes the whole balance and feel of the pistol and in my experience is just as accurate. S&W sold 41s with this barrel alone when requested by distributors. Gil Hebard use to sell a lot of 41 set up with just the Field/Sport barrel.

I noticed that your barrel does not have the telltale 'slits' on the front. I suspect it was made that way from the beginning and not a clipped barrel. Also, you have the ramp and not the Patridge front sight, but, you don't have the red insert. Interesting combo.

bdGreen

 

[monsai52]

Here's mine, another early 41 with an un-cut 5" barrel and ramp front sight w/o red insert.

Best regards,

 

[rolandj]

Bought my 41 used and it included a 5" barrel with a Red ramp front sight.

 

[smithfan4152]

Field Barrels

S&W never threw anything away, so there were times when the 5 inch barrel was made from a 7 3/8 barrel, so the early 5 inch had the slits from the olympic weights, they dropped the weight slits in later model barrels, and these 5 inch barrels had no slits for the weights, also no plug in the front for the muzzle brake screw.

 

[Krogen]

Another tell-tale regarding cut or uncut: If the barrel has an integral, forged front sight base, it started life as a 5" field barrel. Most likely those barrels are also missing the cuts originally intended for weights on longer "donor" barrels.

I've also read that barrels with a "half-donut" muzzle crown started life as a 5" field barrel. I don't know of a better descriptor; they look like a donut sliced unconventionally or a typical sliced bagel. Perhaps someone can confirm that. It would be interesting to know if anyone has a half-donut muzzle without weight cuts or an integral front sight base.

For the record, my field barrel has a slightly recessed flat crown, non-integral front sight base and vestigial muzzle-weight cuts. It's rear sight is typical of 7 3/8" barrels. It does not have a lazy ampersand. I expect it's simply a cut-down 7 3/8" barrel.

 

[chief38]

I know that back in the "good ole days" if you knew someone with some juice up at the Factory they would make minor mod's on products they had in the Factory. I have had a few of them done prior to the gun ever being shipped (such as red ramp inserts installed on guns that never came with them originally).

Weather or not red inserts were a listed option I do not know, but it certainly is possible the Factory did install them upon request. After all - I don't ever remember the "Field/Sporter" barrels ever being cataloged and as far as I know they were just getting rid of 7" long barrels that weren't selling - until they actually caught on.

 

[Bastogne71]

It would be interesting to know if anyone has a half-donut muzzle without weight cuts or an integral front sight base.

Here's a picture of my five inch without the weight cuts, separate front sight, and the "doughnut" muzzle. I believe that the first 5" barrels were purpose made starting in the spring of 1959. The next edition was mine from late 59 or 1960 or so. It is a cutdown 7 3/8" with the internal weight finished with a convex or domed exposed end, the lazy ampersand, and a shorter than typical front sight base. It came on a M41 #188xx and the correct period box marked 5 inch barrel but no serial on the box. I'm pending a letter from Roy Jinks to confirm it was shipped with a 5" barrel.

 

[Krogen]

That's an interesting one! The plug indicates it was a longer barrel. Maybe it was cut before they machined the weight cuts. I can't tell for sure in the photo, but that looks like an integral front sight. Not sure if you were saying it was or wan't. If it is an integral sight, that complicates the theory that an integral front sight means a barrel was always a 5" one.

 

[Troystat]

Seems like there are more than a few variations of the field barrel, mine is like the first photographs from bdgreen except it has a patridge front sight, same recess in the barrel and the slits on the side for the counterweight. These barrels sure make the gun feel different than guns with the long barrels.

 

[DanCarter]

The first run of 5" field barrel guns (1959) were the second variation of Model 41 ever released and had:

o lazy &
o integral front Patridge sight
o convex (protruding) muzzle
o no drilling for internal weights (hence, no plugging)
o no remnant groves for external weights
o serial numbers at least as low as 18,1xx
o same rear sights as the early 7 3/8 barreled guns
o same high polish as the early 7 3/8 barreled guns.

(The integral front sight is/would-be the most difficult thing to re-create post factory.)

Dan

 

[Bastogne71]

DanCarter,

Excellent first post! Welcome to the forum. I will add to your list that the top rib on the earlier barrels is a fine checkered pattern the length of the barrel up the ramp to the front sight blade.

Mine, pictured in post 13, is the second variation: a cut down 7 3/8" with a separate front sight attached and the rounded convex fill plug.

Kroger

You have not idea of the minor differences of the field barrel. The field barrel was introduced in May 1959 and was made, on & off for 20 years or more. Off the top of my head, I can name over a dozen minor variations that can be used to guess the time period the barrel was made. For example the protruding muzzle vs the countersunk, lazy ampersand vs the upright, which of four (maybe five) front sight blades help date the field barrels.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Bastogne71 - good comments. You might note that there is up to 1/4" variation in barrel length thru the various runs.

 

[mag318]

These Field barrels are really interesting and I'm always learning something new about them. I originally thought they were all cut down, so it's interesting that some started life as 5" Field barrels. I'm just happy to own one and of all the 41s I've shot this one with the Field/Sport barrel is my absolute favorite. YouTube

When I made this short video I thought all the Field barrels were cut down.

 

[Peter Dawson]

S&W 5"

My first handgun was a Model 41 5"which I bought used in Australia in 1969. Serial number is 75XXX. Having come to Australia in that era, I think it unlikely that it was modified after it left the factory.
It has a separate Patridge front sight. The front of the slide is plugged and machined together with the muzzle. Thee are no vestigial barrel weight cuts.