The cartridge was intended for police work, security and personal defense, using a 200 grain bullet at 900 feet per second.
In 1932, Colt researched a proposed ".41 Special" cartridge, but that shared only a name with the modern wildcat, having different measurements and even different bore diameter (.385).
[3] Keith and Bill Jordan later proposed the .41 Magnum cartridge, which was formally adopted by Remington Arms in 1964.
Thus counter to common practice, a "magnum" offering was standardized before a weaker "special" variant was ever introduced.
[2] Ammunition is not commercially produced, but boutique runs of brass for handloading, with proper .41 Special headstamps, have been issued.