Hi, looking for some date information on a serial number for my 3" M547. Serial ABN69XX. Seen a number system like this an another post for 547 3" but did not see the answer. Seems somewhere the serial numbers on the 3" changed from the 4" system ( I have the M547 4" serial 20D16xX).
Any info?

Thanks

The three letter/four digit system went into effect for some models in 1980, but others (fixed sight K frames) didn't switch over until 1983. Your 3" 547 is from the early-mid part of that year.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks Murphydog. Next, can you tell me why, especially on the 3" 547's, that I see 2 types of grips. One is similar to the manga grips on the 4", but most of the others I've seen have the thinner grips.

Next, can anyone tell me why, especially on the 3" 547's, that I see 2 types of grips? While all the 4" that I've viewed have the magna grips, the 3" that I've seen mostly have the the large type grips, while others appear with the J frame smaller grips.

I suspect it was a case of "whatever was in the finished stock bin at assembly". You are correct in seeing more 3" guns with a combination of Magna and RB Target stocks and nearly all 4" with Magna stocks, at least in my observations.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The 3" 547's came standard with round butt checkered target stocks, which are sometimes referred to as bananas because of their shape. These RB K frame targets are worth a considerable premium over RB magnas. 4" 547's had square butt frames and came standard with magna stocks.

People swap out grips for various reasons; sometimes for preference and sometimes for profit. If you're looking at a 3" 547 sporting magnas, someone changed the grips.

Factory round butt target stocks


These are interesting revolvers with features you won't find on other S&W's. They have a "limit pin" (looks like a 2nd firing pin and insures that the cartridges are fully seated) and a unique extraction system that doesn't require moon clips.

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"I also cook."

Here's a Hickok45 vid if you haven't seen it yet.

"Early production will have a pinned barrel. 9MM CTG PAT 4127955 marked on barrels right side. Believed that most standard production began in the 6D serial prefix range, although earlier guns in the 2D to 5D s/n range have been reported but not verified. Production was about 10,270 units, with approximately 6486 in round butt configuration. Produced circa 1980-1985."
Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2016-11-14). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson) (Kindle Locations 9987-9990). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.

Great revolvers. I had one of each,

3-inch round butt ABN6594 (with Hogue Bantams for the range, original grips set aside until I sold the gun):



4-inch square butt ABK9167 (less common):



S&W said any commercially manufactured 9mm ammunition was OK, including Plus P but excluding Plus P Plus.

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Bob