Model 547 in hand now..

WCraven · #1 03-13-2013, 01:58 PM

I have the gun in hand now as you guys was killing me

.. the box is a 100% match with the serial number of the gun and all paper work is there under the gun and the cleaning rod is still sealed as i don't think the gun was shot very much at all, another interesting thing i noticed about the gun is that i havn't heard yet was that the very top rail of the gun is like a black matte finsh in the whole site area..

5Wire · #2 03-13-2013, 04:59 PM

These are old charts with the tracks but you'll get the idea:

Probably a steal on the 4-inch Square Butt

Smith & Wesson 547 4” SB Revolver in 9 mm. Bluebook of Gun Values (33nd Edition) indicates between $575 in 95% condition and $950 in 100% condition for this gun. I have 55 recorded prices for this model gun from $450 to $1299 over a period of 9 Yrs 2 Mos ending September 29, 2012. The average price as of that date was $728. No refurbs, no refinishes, regular sights. All represented as 95% or better. No distinction for import location or engineering revision, if any, no special editions, no distinctions for box, papers, tools. Current or last MSRP is $317.

And not a bad deal on the 3-inch Round Butt:

Smith & Wesson 547 3” RB Revolver in 9 mm. Bluebook of Gun Values (33nd Edition) indicates between $575 in 95% condition and $775 in 100% condition for this gun. I have 66 recorded prices for this model gun from $500 to $1382 over a period of 9 Yrs 1 Mos ending September 16, 2012. The average price as of that date was $798. No refurbs, no refinishes, regular sights. All represented as 95% or better. No distinction for import location or engineering revision, if any, no special editions, no distinctions for box, papers, tools. Current or last MSRP is $317.

KLYDE · #3 03-13-2013, 05:28 PM

BOB,
Considering the current buying frenzy those recorded sales are more than likely somewhat conservative. As you stated, the asking price is probably a very fair deal. Thanks for your charts. I always enjoy them. Mike

tekarra · #4 03-13-2013, 06:06 PM

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

SW_shooter · #5 03-13-2013, 06:19 PM

I'd say $900 is good. Have seen them for $995 to $1100 and w/o box or papers.

Here's mine

WCraven · #6 03-13-2013, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the input and i could be hard grading the gun as the turn ring marks is what i was downgrading it for as the rest of the gun looked fine but it was used and fired. if i can't broker a deal for myself then i will help someone else if interested but i will let you guys know.

5Wire · #7 03-13-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

Thanks for the input and i could be hard grading the gun as the turn ring marks is what i was downgrading it for as the rest of the gun looked fine but it was used and fired. if i can't broker a deal for myself then i will help someone else if interested but i will let you guys know.

Unless it's a nasty gouge, don't worry a lot about the turn ring. It's been around for at least 28 years, the 547 was discontinued in 1985. Turn rings happen... you might even be able to get a replacement cylinder from S&W.

WCraven · #8 03-14-2013, 12:35 AM

the gun is a 4-inch Square Butt

M2MikeGolf · #9 03-14-2013, 05:11 AM

I would jump on it, see if you can negotiate it down a little, but personally, I'd probably pay that. The prices on 547s aren't likely to come down much, especially these days. Although everyone seems to want the 3", there were more made (6000-ish), 4" is 4000-ish. S&W seems to have no plans in ever making it again, and if they do, it'll most likely be a moon clip version.

I've got two 4" SBs. If I was able to get a third or even a fourth, I would, especially a 3", since I don't have one. Let us know what you decide and please post pics if you get it! Here's my European 547 (I have one living in Texas, too):

sodacan · #10 03-14-2013, 08:57 AM

You can throw the graphs and blue books out the window on this one. If you look at what they're asking and selling for on gunbroker.com, $900 looks to be a really good price. $1200+ is the going rate. There seems to be a buying frenzy on this particular model.

WCraven · #11 03-14-2013, 11:07 AM

I just talked with them on the phone and they still have it.. i can't afford it right now but i'm doing the next best thing as i going to lay-it away.. will try a shoot pictures of it for you guys..

WCraven · #12 03-14-2013, 01:38 PM

I got it layed away.. saw the box which had the cleaning rod still in package but i didn't see the speed loaders.

WCraven · #13 03-14-2013, 07:16 PM

shawn mccarver · #14 03-14-2013, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

I have located a model 547 with a sn of ABR8640 and the gun is about 93% with the box .. what is it worth as he is asking $900 for it.

Thanks

I have always wondered what the difference is between 93% and 94%.

WCraven · #15 03-14-2013, 07:40 PM

Well ,I didn't want to over do it

824tsv · #16 03-14-2013, 07:41 PM

It looks pretty nice as is, but once cleaned up it will be really nice, probably 93 1/2%-94 1/2%

tekarra · #17 03-14-2013, 08:15 PM

What speed loaders are you talking about? The only ones I have seen are HKS and I have not seen any in a long time.

Tupperware · #18 03-14-2013, 08:22 PM

I think you got an awesome deal. If by "speedloaders" you meant moon clips, this model does not use them. It has a unique ejector system that works quite well on the 9mm rim.
I don't have any data to back it up, but I have heard that the 547 cost more to produce than any other S&W production gun. I know there are folks on this forum that can enlighten us on that subject.
Mine is extremely accurate and just a blast to shoot. Recoil is a bit more than you'd expect but still manageable.
You'll find that speedloaders like those shown above won't work the way you're used to with rimmed cartridges. The 9mm rounds will bind slightly on the way into the cylinder due to interference with the extractor "fingers". Pulling the ejector rod forward will reset the springs and allow all six rounds to drop right in.

WCraven · #19 03-14-2013, 10:32 PM

For some reason i was thinking it came with a speedloader in the box but i guess it doesn't, i didn't go threw the box just the guy selling it to me as he found the cleaning brush still in the package under the wax paper. i didn't see if the owners manual was there or not as he place the gun in the box for lay-away storage.

WCraven · #20 03-15-2013, 01:18 PM

I noticed the one up on gunbroker is different (kind of) it's a pinned barrel gun but the box for it is total different setup from mine. with the total number of what 38XX 4" SB's made with no telling how many was in the first shipment sent on the order, does different setup's cut the number down even more as 1500 pinned guns and the rest unpinned really matter at this point or years to come yet?

sodacan · #21 03-15-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawn mccarver

I have always wondered what the difference is between 93% and 94%.

one percent or .93% higher.

jaymoore · #22 03-15-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekarra

What speed loaders are you talking about? The only ones I have seen are HKS and I have not seen any in a long time.

There were Safariland loaders as well. Way "more better", unless you don't like 'em!

tekarra · #23 03-15-2013, 06:36 PM

You'll find that speedloaders like those shown above won't work the way you're used to with rimmed cartridges. The 9mm rounds will bind slightly on the way into the cylinder due to interference with the extractor "fingers". Pulling the ejector rod forward will reset the springs and allow all six rounds to drop right in.[/QUOTE]

I have not found this to be the case in several 547s.

KLYDE · #24 03-15-2013, 06:40 PM

WC,
Very nice gun you got there. Consider yourself lucky that it wasn't sold by the time you got back to the gun store. That wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes on the shelf around my area.

beemerphile · #25 03-15-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

I noticed the one up on gunbroker is different (kind of) it's a pinned barrel gun but the box for it is total different setup from mine. with the total number of what 38XX 4" SB's made with no telling how many was in the first shipment sent on the order, does different setup's cut the number down even more as 1500 pinned guns and the rest unpinned really matter at this point or years to come yet?

There are two on GB right now. One of them is mine. It has the two piece box and pinned barrel. The 547 was made from 1980-1985 and the two piece box was started, I think, in 1983. I am not sure when they dropped the pinned barrel or how many of each were produced.

WCraven · #26 03-15-2013, 08:03 PM

beemerphile.. it does make it even more interesting if there was different combo's for the gun like yours, two piece box and pinned barrel, then there could be pinned or unpinned barrel with two-piece or one piece box or like mine unpinned barrel and one peice box.. but we do know that 2 combo's exist now.

beemerphile · #27 03-15-2013, 08:57 PM

S&W seems to be pretty frugal. They don't obsolete anything that is usable. I wouldn't doubt that if they found a two piece box in 1995 while cleaning a back room, that they would stick a gun in it and sell it. Then we would all fight over it.

WCraven · #28 03-15-2013, 11:13 PM

I just thought it interesting to have changed the product with-in such a small number of guns .

Tupperware · #29 03-16-2013, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekarra

You'll find that speedloaders like those shown above won't work the way you're used to with rimmed cartridges. The 9mm rounds will bind slightly on the way into the cylinder due to interference with the extractor "fingers". Pulling the ejector rod forward will reset the springs and allow all six rounds to drop right in.

I have not found this to be the case in several 547s.[/QUOTE]

I've only been able to handle and shoot a few 547's besides my own. All (four) of them exhibited the same tendency to snag cartridges unless I pulled the ejector rod forward. Guess I'll have a look and see if there is anything I can do about it. Short of cleaning and lubing everything REALLY WELL, there is little I am willing to mess with. Others have claimed to have issues with extraction and I really wouldn't want to do anything to compromise function. Extraction has always been 100%.

5Wire · #30 03-16-2013, 07:10 PM

I had no problem with the HKS speedloaders, I did have to be straight on, though. No extraction problems with either of the 547s I owned, one of each flavor.

Tupperware · #31 03-16-2013, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5Wire

I had no problem with the HKS speedloaders, I did have to be straight on, though. No extraction problems with either of the 547s I owned, one of each flavor.

It's not actually just a "speedloader" problem for me. It also interferes with loading rounds one at a time by hand. Every time I load I have to either tug the ejector rod forward first or press (gently) each round into the chamber. Not really a big deal for me as I do not compete with, or carry, my 547. It's just for pleasure.

whodat · #32 03-17-2013, 12:51 AM

You can also use Tuff QuickStrips. They work fine for me. Easy to load 2 shell at a time. Quick enough for me

.

WCraven · #33 03-17-2013, 02:16 AM

beemerphile.. your gun looks to be doing really well on GB and may set a new record.

Tupperware · #34 03-17-2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

beemerphile.. your gun looks to be doing really well on GB and may set a new record.

Holy ****! A different seller ended at $1,551.
Add shipping and transfer fees and somebody has a pile-o-money invested in their new gun.

beemerphile · #35 03-17-2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

beemerphile.. your gun looks to be doing really well on GB and may set a new record.

I have to admit that the guns I have put up are going for generally way more than I expected. But hey, I start them at a penny with no reserve, so. We will see how my 3" 547 does. I'm not shooting for the moon, I am just putting them out there.

WCraven · #36 03-18-2013, 08:16 AM

Do you have a link to the one that sold for $1551. Bee I thought yours would break $1400 easy.. someone listed a 4" SB with a Bin for $1000 but no one them up on it, missing the box and paper work so I guess that's worth $300 alone.

beemerphile · #37 03-18-2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

Do you have a link to the one that sold for $1551. Bee I thought yours would break $1400 easy.. someone listed a 4" SB with a Bin for $1000 but no one them up on it, missing the box and paper work so I guess that's worth $300 alone.

The impact of boxes has truly amazed me. My collection was arrayed in a set of lockable metal storage drawers (Stanley Vidmar cabinets) and the boxes were stuffed away somewhere and generally a pain to deal with. As a result, when acquiring the collection I did not pay much heed to boxes. But I have seen a box and dox add many hundreds to an auction closing price. I had three NOS revolvers that had the outer shipper in addition to "the box" and I thought there was going to be a money fight over them.

I thought we were collecting guns. Whoda thunkit?

WCraven · #38 03-18-2013, 09:10 AM

Yep.. the BIN for $1000 popped up after yours ended and i thought it would go fast but it only got the opening bid of $750.. now i look at it and it's at $1003.00 so someone missed out and now it will show how much the box really means.

Tupperware · #39 03-18-2013, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

Do you have a link to the one that sold for $1551. Bee I thought yours would break $1400 easy.. someone listed a 4" SB with a Bin for $1000 but no one them up on it, missing the box and paper work so I guess that's worth $300 alone.

smith & wesson 547 9mm.revolver very rare : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

WCraven · #40 03-18-2013, 09:51 AM

Thanks for that link.. after looking at all of them i can say that all the combo's existed (pinned barrel /2 piece box) (pinned barrel / 1 piece box) (unpinned barrel /2 piece box) (unpinned barrel/1 piece box) which i'm sure no die-hard collector wants to hear lol..

Then what can be learned about the re-imports..

Smith & Wesson 547 9mm 4" Re-Import : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

beemerphile · #41 03-18-2013, 09:54 AM

It sold for $1,551 with a couple of cell phone pics. Mine was well illustrated had the 2-piece box and had a couple of rare speed-loaders and sold for $200 less. The auctions are a live dynamic and it just depends on what is going on in the heads of the bidders at the time of the bidding.

beemerphile · #42 03-18-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

Yep.. the BIN for $1000 popped up after yours ended and i thought it would go fast but it only got the opening bid of $750.. now i look at it and it's at $1003.00 so someone missed out and now it will show how much the box really means.

Something fishy here. This auction is using my pictures and a snip of the verbatim (plus some extraneous stuff) from a recently ended auction, however, this is not the guy I sold it to and not even in the same state. In fact, I haven't shipped it yet.

WCraven · #43 03-18-2013, 10:09 AM

He must not have a camera as his other auction has no pictures.

Tupperware · #44 03-18-2013, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

He must not have a camera as his other auction has no pictures.

Seller posted the following today: "Pictures are for illustration only. Actual gun is in equal or better condition than one shown."
Buyers must be desperate, they're bidding blind. If I wasn't blinded by lust for my 547, I'd cash in.

WCraven · #45 03-18-2013, 11:57 PM

If I wasn't blinded by lust for my 547, I'd cash in.

Yep, I argee but i'm just starting a collection and thought the 547 would be a good one to build it around as the price settles in and holds i hope.

beemerphile · #46 03-19-2013, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupperware

Seller posted the following today: "Pictures are for illustration only. Actual gun is in equal or better condition than one shown."
Buyers must be desperate, they're bidding blind. If I wasn't blinded by lust for my 547, I'd cash in.

He added that after I had a "conversation" with him. Those bids were already in before I confronted him about his use of my pictures to "illustrate" his gun. I'd say the bidders have good grounds for bid retraction now that they have been informed that what they are bidding on is not what they see. Of course, he says his is better.

His auction should be stopped by GB and all bids cancelled. Anyone bidding $1K on a 547 knows what one is and does not need an "illustration". They need to know if the 30 year old item has been treated properly or tossed down the street. Even in "as new" condition, the quality of factory finishes is variable.

Realzebub45 · #47 03-19-2013, 07:41 AM

I have noticed that sellers can post the exact same picture to "Illustrate" multiple versions of the same model they are selling, without specifying use of this illustrative technique.

You might have to do an Advanced Search for that model to see that other examples from same dealer have already sold having used the exact same pic as that in the live auction.

I would think that would be grounds to cancel your bid if you so desired.

WCraven · #48 03-19-2013, 12:45 PM

Does anyone know what the HKS speedloader go for ?

ghawke · #49 03-19-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCraven

Does anyone know what the HKS speedloader go for ?

Prices vary from seller to seller. Best price I see is $9.00 each, more often 12.95 (at gun shows). You will have to be real lucky to find any for a Model 547. They have not been made for a while. I scored 3 of them at a show a few months ago, the packages looked like they had been hung/unhung on the display a bazillion times. I have not seen any others, but I still look.
Greg

5Wire · #50 03-19-2013, 01:39 PM

Good luck finding any. I've seen them on Ebay auctions going for upwards of $40.