Smith & Wesson's Model 41: collectibles, edibles, and a lesson in history

American Handgunner, Nov-Dec, 2002 by Sam Fadala

Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks wrote a book titled History of Smith & Wesson, and in it he tells the story of young Joe Wesson's keen interest in semiautomatic handguns. "[Joe's] father had given him a free hand in the development of new firearms," Jenks astutely tells us. But, like all great tales of yore, there's a catch, a disappointment, a crashing of expectations. For even after gathering examples of every semiautomatic pistol manufactured in the late 19th century, young Joe Wesson remained unimpressed.

In 1909, spring came, as spring does, and there took place a meeting between Joe Wesson and a firearm designer from Liege, Belgium, named Charles P. Clement. Mr. Clement offered something that appeased little Joe's soul. For soon after that meeting, Clement's .25 caliber semi-auto pistol design rights were negotiated straight into S&W's hands.

In possession of the heart of Clement's little pistol, which featured a barrel locked into the frame by trigger guard and cross bolt, Joe Wesson set about improving the design. He added a thumb-bar safety to prevent firing until the gun was fully engaged by the shooter's hand, and then, in 1910, recognized left-handed shooters with a finger-activated safety in the grip's front strap. A recoil spring "disconnector" was another improvement, enabling the slide easy rearward travel--whereas previously only strong hands could operate it.

Next move was a new .35 caliber cartridge. Tooling up began in 1912, and production soon after in early 1913. The new .35 caliber S&W semiautomatic pistol was catalogued at $16.50, with its safety device strongly advertised as a major feature.

But curses! Woeful World War I stepped in to cease production of the semi-auto pistol in question. Arms for battle were needed, not arms for plinking. And by the time the pistol found its way back on-line in 1919, sales had dropped off the radar screen...though such things didn't exist in 1919. (Except for maybe on spaceships, whose existence to this day is still doubted by naysayers and the uninitiated. Editor). Shooting members of the public, just as addicted to convenience then as they are today, were interested in the semi-autos with larger frames and cartridges readily found at the local crossroads' general store -- not an offbeat .35 caliber S&W. Sales remained feeble. The model was dropped in 1922 after 8,350 units were manufactured. The silence was deafening.

Checkered Past

Today an S&W .35 caliber semi-auto pistol in excellent condition fetches $500, though one especially gullible collector recently laid out over $3,000 for the redesigned streamlined model chambered for the .32 ACP cartridge. By the late 1940s, S&W had its Model 39 single-action semi-auto on the market, along with the Model .44 double-action, the first of its kind produced in the United States. Continuously improved 9 mm pistols rolled from the factory as well. But no one asked the high-grade target auto-loader in .22 Long Rifle to dance, until entered stage left sweet Mr. Model 41.

In July of 1947, the X-41 and X-42, two experimental models, were completed. Always interested in refinements, the company did not offer a true factory model until mid-September 1957, serial number 1,401 of the company's Automatics.

Target shooting was the name of the 41's game. It came with a 7 3/8" barrel and muzzle brake. Regardless that the general shooting public was ignored in favor of target buffs, the company could (not produce sufficient 41s to meet the demand. They sold like them proverbial hotcakes. Only 679 units rolled out of the door 1957, but by the close of 1958 the factory had built and assembled 9,875 Model 41 pistols. Even this high number, however, was still too low to match orders.

A lighter 5" separate barrel was offered in 1958 for field use. Smart move! After all, the snap-down trigger guard removal of the barrel made swapping one for another simple and fast. A customer could order the pistol with 5" barrel in place, or buy the barrel separately. A 41-1 came along in 1960 chambered in .22 Short for International Rapid Fire competition, but only a thousand were made with the light aluminum slides necessary for function with the low-power Short.

Through Points In Time

In August 1963, the Model 41 earned its excellent 5" barrel, still available today along with a 7" barrel. Stoeger's Shooter's Bible of 1964 shows the Smith & Wesson Model 41 with 7 3/8" barrel grooved for Olympic centerweights. Also listed is a Model 41 with 5" barrel, plus another with a heavy 5" barrel, all three sub-models going for $100 retail. Along with these Model 41 options, S&W had a Model 46, one with a 7", another with a 5" barrel. The Model 46, a slightly dressed down Model 41, came along in 1959 for the U.S. Air Force. But, just like the Yugo, its lower retail price failed to impress the buying public.

There are so many fine .22 semi-automatic pistols of both past and present manufacture that singling out the best of the litter becomes a matter of personal opinion. However, the .41 has a cult-like following who believe it remains as good a .22 rimfire sidearm semi-auto repeater as money can buy. I was introduced to the Model 41 by a fan as we sat in his den pawing through his gun collection. He wore a funny hat, a cape, and an amulet, and after speaking in tongues, said: