According to the included factory letters (1993 and 2015 vintage), this pistol was shipped out from the factory on February 25th, 1958, for distributor W.H. Harris of Chicago, Illinois, making this a very early production Model 41. Additionally, the letters confirm the pistol was factory engraved to Class A standards, a feature that nearly tripled the price of the handgun. The engraving is of a tight American scroll and punch-dot style with occasional floral and geometric accents, and covers over 75% of the surface of the pistol, with the standard markings left untouched. Fitted with a ramp blade Patridge front sight and a fully adjustable square notch rear sight, with an alloy muzzle brake, scarce cocking indicator (only found on the early 41s), serrated trigger, checkered hardwood grips with ambidextrous thumb rests and a full blue 10-round S&W magazine. The initials "RJS" are present on the left side of the frame, indicating Russell J. Smith as the factory engraver on this project. Included with the pistol is a hand numbered factory box (with "Eng" note on the underside), manual, warranty card, barrel brush, the aforementioned factory letters, glossy photographs of similar early factory engraved Model 41s, and a copy of the 12th Edition (1958) of "Gun Digest". The Digest features an illustration of a similarly engraved "tool room" Model 41, and the contents include a review of the 41; the review was released so early in the production of the Model 41 that the writer had to get a tool room 41 on loan from the company for testing and favorably compared the pistol to the high-end Walther-Hammerli pistols of the day.

Near new with original box, 99% plus original blue finish showing some light handling marks. The grips are excellent, with a few light dings and crisp checkering. The box shows wear appropriate to age concentrated on the edges and corners and some mild staining. Mechanically excellent. These early master engraved Model 41s were produced in very limited numbers and are rare to find on the market. If one were looking for a top-flight specimen of the genesis of Smith & Wesson's famed Model 41 pistol, they would find it right here.