Let's solve a mystery S&W Model 41

Bert W. · May 15, 2017

More of an inquiry than a mystery. I am new around here and thought I would break the ice. A friend of mine bought this pistol at a gun show many years ago. He brought it to the Saturday .22 match and wanted me to do some investigating about the history of the gun. He was thinking maybe this was a Bob Loveless conversion, but it looks nothing like the others I have seen and does not have Loveless stamped anywhere on the gun. Like Loveless', it has been converted to an exposed hammer model. What I am seeking is to see if any of you may recognize the work as being from a specific gunsmith or company. Or, if you think some unknown smith did the work. Here are some descriptors and pictures. The gun has a great high polish finish, serial number A629XXX. The slide has 14 geometric decorative inlets machined into the surface. The barrel has the same shape (parallelogram) cut outs creating a vent rib. Near the muzzle, on both sides, are bulls eye targets with two different six shot groups. The grips have a basket weave pattern, not sure if they are aftermarket or carved by the same smith. To me, the work on the back of the slide (hammer conversion) does not match the rest of the gun. Maybe the conversion was done after the decorative stuff. Toss it around an let me know your thoughts.

bannockburn · May 16, 2017

Bert W.

Sorry can't help you with the ID. but would like to know as well who the gunsmith was. They do very nice work, especially all of the various embellishments on the slide. Like the basket weave pattern on the grips too!

SwampWolf · May 16, 2017

No help here either but I'd too sure like to hear from someone who knows something about this interesting pistol. An utterly subjective thing but I'm no fan of the "basket-weave" pattern, either for utility or aesthetics.

Rembrandt · May 16, 2017

No idea who built it. Could be a student project for a gun-smithing class. It incorporates many skill levels that might be required to test a students ability for course completion. Grips/Wood carving, mechanical reconfiguration for the hammer, machining skills and front sight base enhancements. The parallelogram pattern looks like wire EDM work.

Dog Soldier · May 16, 2017

That is an incredible work of art. The S&W Mdl. 41 is a very accurate firearm used in competition. They have a very fast internal lock system. It is interesting why the external hammer was added? This would slow the lock time?

Bert W. · May 16, 2017

Thanks for the input fellas. It's a neat pistol. DS, I'm sure you are right about lock time. The eel looking groove at the back of the slide just doesn't match the rest of the design. The student angle may be a good one.

Capt. Ct. · May 16, 2017

That is some piece. I know nothing that can help you. I just wanted to comment on what a nice piece that is.

gcw16 · May 17, 2017

You might post this on the Smith & Wesson Forum. There are some knowledgeable people on there.

Ohen Cepel · May 17, 2017

Logo looks like Clark Custom guns, plus they have been around a long time and he did a lot of 41 work over the years.
I think I would contact them with the pics or research more to see if you find another like it from them.

https://clarkcustomguns.com/

bannockburn · May 17, 2017

There's a company called EWK Arms that does barrel venting work on the S&W Model 41 but had nothing like the other cut-outs or an external hammer. I also couldn't find a logo like the one on the Mystery Gun. I looked at numerous images of Clark customized guns and all seem to be marked with "Clark", usually somewhere on the slide. It does look somewhat similar to the Loveless modified Model 41 "Field Gun" but again there are quite a few noticeable differences between the guns.

Let's solve a mystery S&W Model 41

Bert W.

Member

bannockburn

Member

SwampWolf

Member

Rembrandt

Member

Dog Soldier

member

Bert W.

Member

Capt. Ct.

Member

gcw16

Member

Ohen Cepel

Member

bannockburn

Member

Similar threads