The .41 Long Colt cartridge, also known as .41 LC, was introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1877 for use in their double-action Colt Thunderer revolver. It is an obsolete centerfire revolver cartridge that originally fired a .401-inch diameter bullet weighing approximately 200 grains.
The cartridge came in two versions: the original externally lubricated heeled bullet configuration and a later iteration featuring an internally lubricated hollow-base bullet. The performance of the .41 Long Colt was adequate for the era, with a muzzle velocity around 700-800 feet per second, producing relatively mild recoil.
It was intended for self-defense and law enforcement use, but due to advancements in ammunition technology and the introduction of more effective calibers, the .41 Long Colt became less popular and eventually phased out by the mid-20th century. Today, it is mostly of interest to collectors and enthusiasts of vintage firearms.