S&W Model 41 Safety Removal

[maee]

Is it possible to remove or somehow modify the safety switch on the Smith and Wesson Model 41? There is a couple of problems that I experience because of this safety lever:

1. The lever is so big and so close to my hand, that my hand has a tendency to activate the safety during competition!

2. When using anatomical match grips, such as Morini grips, they don't play well with the safety. I would have to remove some material so I can disengage the safety. In addition, with the safety down, it jets quite far into the base of my thumb, being quite uncomfortable.

FYI, my Model 41 was made in 2005 and has the tapped barrel for a scope mount.

 

[S&WMan]

You could buy another safety take it to the grinding wheel and remove the necessay metal off the lever. Then at any point you could swap the stock safety lever back in.

 

[Bugs100]

I have the exact same 2005 Model 41. I have factory grips on mine and have never noticed the safety when I use it.

It sounds like it's the grips your using, more than the location or the size of the safety.

But if if you like those grips and want to keep using them I would suggest that you take it to a good gun smith like Dave Santurri and ask him what options you have.

There's a reason I say this, I had a problem with mine and can tell you they are a real hard gun for the average guy to work on.

 

[vellnueve]

Yep, I wouldn't even consider trying to do my own work on my Model 41...

 

[Greg Derr]

The Model 41 safety is held in place by a single flat head screw. You can remove the safety and work on the piece with hand tools and replace. You can also torque down the screw a tad to firm up the movement so it stays in place. DO NOT REMOVE it all together. If your shooting NRA BE matches you must have all safety features functioning.

I would tend to work on the grips too since they are a bit of the problem too.

GREG

 

[maee]

You could buy another safety take it to the grinding wheel and remove the necessay metal off the lever. Then at any point you could swap the stock safety lever back in.

Yeah, I think that's a good option, but yikes! $33 for a safety lever!

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=15469&title=MANUAL%20SAFETY,%20NEW%20STYLE&s=35020#35020

The Morini grips I am using are not designed for the S&W Model 41, but rather some European variant called the H.B. 41. They aren't really made to accommodate the big safety lever. So either I modify these expensive Swiss match grips, or I grind down a $33 safety lever I can easily replace later. I think I'll grind down the safety, polish it and try to refinish it somehow.

That said, I was using a large size Morini grip, which is too small for my hand, so I sent it back to order an extra-large. This might help alleviate the problem also.