Model 41 Olympic Weight Set.

[Diplomat1981]

I recently purchased this main part to the Olympic weight set. It is the hard to find aluminum version. I need help on what the other parts should look like due to fakes being made. Also where I could find them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Aussie Collector]

Great purchase.
For other weights where you got this one from is a start, check every few days. You could also place a wanted in the classifieds here. I would think you may even get offered some from this post alone.
Cheers.

 

[824tsv]

Olympic Weights

I was following that one on eBay. You did pretty well on it. The Aluminum uppers are certainly harder to come by. These don't seem to come up for sale very frequently and I've only seen them sold alone without the lower weights. You may have a problem finding just the lower two steel weights.

S&W catalogued these weights independently meaning you could just purchase the upper if thats all you wanted.
Part# 6604
Counterweight upper section (aluminum) 3 oz
Part# 6605
Counterweight upper section (steel) 7 1/4 oz
Part# 6606
Counterweight middle section 4 1/4 oz
Part# 6607
Counterweight lower section 4 oz
Part# 6608
Counterweight nut
Part# 6609
Counterweight screw

And S&W catalogued the complete sets:
Part# 6610
Counterweight assembly with steel upper section Part#6605
Part# 6612
Counterweight assembly with aluminum upper section Part#6604

The lower weights over the course of production essentially look the same with a dull blue finish. The difference is how they attached together. The early sets used two sets of screws to attach together and can be identified by looking at the bottom of the lower weight and seeing a total of 4 holes with two of them containing the 2 screw heads.





Later production weight sets are attached with one set of screws to attach together and can be identified by looking at the bottom of the lower weight and seeing 2 holes with only one containing the screw head. I'm not sure exactly at what year of production S&W made the change but I believe it was in the early 60's.



Members smithfan4152, TOM BECKWITH, and civil1977 are in my opinion the forum experts on Model 41's so they may have a source where you can acquire a set of original lowers. Since I've never seen a "fake" set I'm not aware of the differences in appearance. Olympic Weights period are very seldom seen in my parts.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

A few comments:
824tsv - good illustration of differences - thank you.
Date on change-over - probably early to mid-60s sounds about right
There were/are aftermarket sets out there:
Several similar, but not actual copies
One mfg. that was a copy but no index marks - higher polish/finish
One mfg. copy with index marks and high polish/finish
All copies I am aware of, are the 2 hole variation
The 4 hole variation are fairly rare.
A few sets were made with all parts aluminum

The S&W 52 weight sets have similar variations but to my knowledge, only actual S&W mfg. has the SMITH & WESSON stamp.

 

[824tsv]

I should also add that my pic's show 2 styles of the upper counterweight index marks. I'm not sure of when the change occurred, I have read in the early 70's but again maybe Tom can confirm that but the index markings are different in both the upper section where the weight slides onto the barrel and the lower section where the lower weights attach. As far as the aluminum upper goes, I have only one set and it is identical to the O.P's. with the same style index markings.

 

[Diplomat1981]

Thanks guys. I would really like to find a set of matching lowers. I have asked the gentleman that sold me these but he hasn't got back to me yet. So if anyone knows of any for sale please let me know or shoot me a pm. Also I would like to find the box for the upper piece. Any suggestions?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[824tsv]

Counterweight Boxes

The box is going to be challenging. I'm aware of 4 styles of boxes. There are 3 that are essentially the same with a large S&W logo on the top lid, and the script of "Smith & Wesson 22 AUTOMATIC COUNTERWEIGHTS" on both sides of the lid. The difference being in the shade of blue the boxes are produced in and the corner tabs to keep the boxes together. The early boxes have 3 hole eyelets and the later have 2 hole eyelets. The last version is a modified handcuff box that S&W glued a piece of heavy brown paper over the inside lid and out over one outside lid edge with the corresponding S&W part# written in black marker. All sets came with an Allen Wrench that was not marked.

Early Counterweight Box- dark blue in colour with 3 eyelet tabs.



Counterweight Box- dark blue in colour with 2 eyelet tabs.



Early Counterweight Box- lighter blue in colour with 3 eyelet tabs in plain or silver colour.



Last version of Counterweight Box is a S&W Handcuff box that has been modified with heavy brown paper glued to the inside lid and part# written in marker on the outside lid edge. This box shows part# 6610 which is for a Counterweight assembly with steel upper section.





I have seen complete steel sets for sale occasionally on Gunbroker with the box, but I've never personally seen a box for sale alone.

 

[smithfan4152]

Weights

I think you could just purchase a set of the steel weights complete, then you would have the complete set.
It's not easy picking up the lone weights, and having the finish match between the 2 lower weights.
Back then people may have purchased the steel weights first, and then decided they needed that aluminum upper to get the right balance as to there style of shooting.
I am sure some also ordered the aluminum upper and the steel lowers.
But you dont see them together very often.
I have never shot with the olympic weights. Quite a few of these require fitting to the pistol, you cant just slip them on.

 

[824tsv]

Model 41 Olympic Counterweight Assembly with aluminum upper

One last point to make. I purchased this Model 41 many years ago from the original owner. It had the pictured set of counterweights attached to the barrel with the aluminum upper and the box for the weights included. The box is pic#2 in my post above. I have no reason to question the authenticity of the weights and box. The point I want to make is concerning the middle steel 4 1/4oz weight. The finish is much less polished and quite dull compared to the bottom steel weight which is slightly more polished but still a dull blue. I have a set of steel weights that are the same with a duller middle steel weight shown in pic#3 above and another set of steel weights where the finish is somewhat the same over the entire set shown in pic#5 above. It seems that there are differences over the years in the amount of polishing applied to the individual parts of the sets.



I see smithfan4152 beat me to it. The steel weight set pictured at the bottom of my post above came from his extensive collection.

 

[oldRoger]

I have a set which I purchased new with my M-41 in March of 1967 from H H Harris who was S&Ws largest distributor at that time. They had four sets in stock, two part Alum, and two all steel. Cost at the time $15.00.

From a user’s prospective, I am not sure why anyone would want an all-Aluminum set. It was quite common to leave one or both weights off if you wanted to reduce weight.
I my case I found that I could not hold the pistol even slightly steady with the weights attached. So I was better off trying to control the muzzle flip and my weights traveled around in an oily wool sock in my pistol box until I put them back in storage..

The details might help in the dating.
I have the Alum upper, weights use single Allan Screw attachments,
Nice blued Allan Key,
Very good polishing and anodizing on the Alum upper,
The bottom weight polish is not perfect but the blue is good,
The center weight is closer to black than blue.
The two steel wts overall may be slightly better than 824tsv shows in his photo but are similar.

My box is a little worse for wear; it was not stored with my pistol boxes. It is a hand cuff box, two eyelet corners, printed on one end only, no part numbers, the type and formatting is a bit different than shown.

I regret that my Nikon Batteries both are flat, and may not recharge so no photos.

 

[smithfan4152]

weights

You would be surprised at the different finishes that are on the factory olympic weights. Both Tom and I have sets that are very dull, flat finish.
I was not sure if the model 46 barrel could have the weights mounted to it or not, but this would have made a decent match.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

The 46 7" bbl could use the 3 piece weight set or the smaller underbarrel weight held on by a screw.

 

[Barrie]

I have the single weight on my M46 which is held on by one small screw.

 

[Barrie]

My M46 has the single weight on it which is held on by just one small screw. It feels better to have it on there.

 

[Homie]

In the August '61 RIFLEMAN James M. Triggs did one of his famous assembly and parts breakdowns on the 41-46 pistol. His detail of the counterweights shows the single screw versions of the lower and middle sections. This would indicate somewhat earlier availability than previously mentioned, as the article is noted as one from the previously published (1960) "NRA Illustrated Firearms Assembly Handbook".

 

[civil1977]

Here's my set with both steel and aluminum uppers. I shoot with the full steel set occasionally as I like a muzzle heavy feel.

I agree the best approach is to pick up a steel set to go with your aluminum upper. I found my aluminum upper in a random parts lot online which I "won" for real cheap. Nothing else of value in the lot but the upper was a gem the seller didn't identify.

If you are going to use them be aware that they may scratch your barrel. I bought a barrel which already had marks from weights and mounted my set on it.

As Tom mentioned the Model 41 weights were not marked S&W but the Model 52 weights were: