Barrel for S&W Model 41 (corrected, from 52)

I just got back from a weekend trip to my brother's home.  I didn't have enough ammo loaded for my Model-52, so I took along my old S&W Model 41 with the original long barrel.  My brother also has a Model 41, with two barrels, short and long, each with an optical sight mounted.  He and I each have both an Ultradot 6 Matchdot II, and the smaller Ultra Dot L/T.  Mine are still sitting in boxes.  His are mounted on his two barrels.

I was trying to find out two things - how the two Ultradot sights compared, and how well they might improve my limited vision when using steel sights, which will be the case until October when I get my cataracts corrected.


My impressions were that the Ultradot 6 Matchdot II was wonderful - it added to the weight of the gun, helping keep it stable, and I really enjoyed the sight picture - just put the dot where I wanted, and carefully apply trigger pressure.  I didn't like the L/T nearly as much.  It did cover more "area", making it easy to get the gun lined up with the sight, but the "picture" didn't look nearly as perfect as using the longer sight.  Changing from one to the other was so simple - remove and replace the barrel.

I also found the optical sight made a HUGE difference in my ability to see properly.  Target was sharp, dot was sharp, and it was relatively easy to put the dot where I wanted, and keep it there (something I couldn't do a few years ago with my High Standard and an old Tasco sight - I was the problem, not the gear!!)


This got me to wondering about maybe getting a second barrel for my own Model 41, but I was surprised to find out they seem to be difficult to buy right now from most sources.  I did find them listed here:
http://www.bullseyegear.com/bullseyepistol/home.php?cat=16 
....but they're currently not available.  

I also found this:
http://clarkcustomguns.com/parts-category/s-w-41/ 

I also tried to find one for sale used, from someone who no longer uses it, but didn't have much luck at that.  (Maybe someone here will see this, and offer to sell me one?)


I have two questions.  First, am I being foolish in not wanting to drill holes into the original barrel?  The gun is completely original, and drilling holes into part of it seems like a bad idea to me....?

Second question - is there a better source for me to purchase one of these?  Maybe I just don't know the right places to look?  Can I buy just the barrel direct from S&W ?

I found a beautiful 7" barrel at a local gunshow. I see them on gun broker. S&W wouldn't sell me one. They were saving them for actually guns being produced but that was last year.

for my old 72'  model 41 I simply bought a Clark and UD.. Nephew shoots it now as I moved to a Nelson.  no way was I going to drill my 7 3/8" barrel

Bully barrels are also now back available

http://www.ray-vin.com/


Clarks are made from Shilen blanks and the Bullys are from Douglas Stainless blanks

I guess that I shoot them more then collect them. I drilled my 72'  7 3/8 barrel and never looked back. Since were actually talking about model 41's instead of model 52. I probably will never drill my 52 no dash. There are lots of pre-drilled barrels out there for sale. Most of them have nice lowers attached.

I have an ancient B Square. No gunsmithing mount for a 41 that I can let go.  I have no idea if it works well or not.   Just when I was gonna use it a member here sold me a Clark with an integral mount.

If you do decide to drill the 41 then you can buy an expensive mount for it. Or, you can install a $8.00 Weaver mount. The mount for the K frame Smiths fits the contour perfectly. The ancient B Square that Wobbley offered is a great no drill option for you also.

Wobbley, I just left you a message with my email and phone number.   

I guess the only way to find out how well it works, is to try it.  Sounds like a good way to test out my Ultradot Matchdot II  (which I originally ordered since have the Leupold mount to try it on my M-52, but I re-considered because apparently installing this on a M-52 can mar the finish, and my M-52 looks like it came from the factory - no marks, no nothing!  

I enjoy using iron sights, but for a while now it has been a pain, as the front sight is never perfectly in focus, no matter what glasses I use.  It's "sharp enough", sometimes.   :-/


I never heard of "B-Square" barrels until now.  Will try to find out more about it.....

I didn't know anything about the Clark barrel until a few hours ago.  Looks very professional!

This??

If so, I think I'd rather find a different barrel that will work with my sight.
Thanks though!

Update...

I just had a discussion with Clay at Clarkcustomguns.

He thinks there is an excellent chance that their barrels will drop into my 41 with no  extra work needed - and if not, he'll send me a label to get my gun to/from.

http://clarkcustomguns.com/parts-category/s-w-41/

There are three choices, one that is 5 1/2", and two that are 6 1/2".  Of the latter, one has an "extension", but that model doesn't allow the sight to be mounted all the way to the back.  

The 5 1/2" model should be available very soon.  The 6 1/2" models should be a few more months.

I gave Clay my ordering information to hold one for me.

(Will still keep trying to find a used 6.5" STC.)

I know of a couple of fellows who bought the Clark barrels (this was several years ago). Neither one had any luck with theirs. One had to look very closely to see the rifling. IIRC, Clark got the barrel blanks from S&W. Things might have changed for the better over the years. As far as Bully barrels; I know a guy who has one and has been very happy with it.

I have an extra 52 barrel. Pm me.

Nevermind, just realized your actually looking for a 41 barrel. Sorry.

Jwhelan939 wrote:Nevermind, just realized your actually looking for a 41 barrel. Sorry.

Considering the thread header...I was confused at first too. 

Oops, I must have been more confused than any of you - not sure how or why I put that in the header?   I doubt there is any way for me to fix it - if so, someone please let me know?

About the barrel - I got a phone call a few hours ago from Clarkcustomguns - they found one of the 6.5" STC barrels in stock, and wanted to know if I wanted it now - it's on the way.

Sorry about the mixup - my fingers sometimes go on "autopilot" and I don't notice until things are all confusabobbled....   "I" didn't type "52"...   my fingers did that on their own.    .....oops!



Edit:  Wow, the forum actually allowed me to correct the title.  Very nice.

A small update.

I ordered the 6.5" STC barrel from Clark.  It arrived late last week.  If went into the gun, but the trigger guard wouldn't close.  Clay, at Clarks, suggested I use a file to remove material from the "V" at the back of the gun, but after very little of this, and using Dykem to see where the problem was, I decided to send the gun and both barrels back to Clark.  It will be delivered tomorrow.

The barrel did go onto the gun, but the "feel" of how the barrel hit the frame didn't seem as solid as with the standard barrel.  I can post a photo of where the interference was, but I'm not convinced the barrel was 100% down to the frame.  It looked like it was, but it just didn't "feel it".  

I'll find out next week what the problem was.  I'm also asking them to look over the gun; I've been using it since the 1980's, and maybe it's time to get the trigger checked out and maybe improved.  Since the gun is there anyway, this would be a good time to do it.