What is .41 short colt?

The .41 Short Colt is an obsolete centerfire revolver cartridge introduced by Colt in 1877 for their single-action "Deringer" pistol, also known as the Colt Model 3. It was intended as a self-defense cartridge.

It is a black powder cartridge that fired a .41 caliber lead bullet, typically weighing around 130 grains. The original loading typically produced a muzzle velocity of around 425 feet per second.

Due to its low power, the .41 Short Colt was not particularly effective as a defensive cartridge, even by the standards of the late 19th century. It was quickly superseded by more powerful cartridges. The cartridge is not considered safe to fire in any other pistol outside of the original derringer pistol.

The .41 Short Colt is now considered obsolete and is not readily available. It is of interest primarily to collectors of antique firearms and cartridges.