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My S&W 41 won't fire because the hammer will not drop. In the past I sent it back to S&W for the same problem. The problem appears to be that the trigger bar spring is not pushing the trigger bar up far enough to allow the hammer to drop. If I manually push it up the hammer will fall. A few months ago when this happened again I was able to bend the trigger bar spring to get it to raise the trigger bar sufficiently to fire. I just got 2 new trigger bar springs from Smith to try and even a new spring does not have sufficient tension to raise the trigger bar sufficiently even if I bend them. Help!

The trigger bar raising up is part of the Model 41's magazine disconnector system. With a magazine fully installed the trigger bar will engage the sear tab and allow the pistol to fire. Typically what happens here is someone tried to reduce trigger creep by stoning the sear engagement surfaces, and that changes the geometry and positioning between the firing components. The trigger bar cannot lift upwards due to excessive friction on the sear tab and this keeps the hammer from connecting with the trigger.

Trigger disengaged (no mag inserted)


Trigger engaged (magazine inserted)


There is an inverted bump on the right side of the magazine, almost like the ones on a Ruger Mark III mag, that bump engages and raises the mag disconnector lever in the M-41. This magazine disconnector lever has a stout spring on it that the trigger bar return spring cannot override.

The trigger bar return spring has two functions: raise the trigger bar upwards, and also move it rearward far enough to clear the tab on the right side of the sear. This is not a high tension spring and if it is not capable of lifting the trigger tab then the engagement surfaces need inspection. Also ensure the slide is fully closing as the trigger will not fire out of battery due to the disconnector groove cut in the slide.

Hope this helps.

R,
Bullseye