3" RB 547, Now with a Picture

[Retired W4]

I will be looking at one next weekend. I own a 4" so I know what I would pay. Oddly, more 3" guns were produced than 4" but the 3" versions seem to carry a premium. My question for the 547 experts is, Where any 3" 547s early enough for the pinned barrel? My 4" has the pinned barrel and patent date and was shipped July 23, 1982. Kind of a slow mover, huh?

Unfortunately I have to wait until Saturday to examine the gun in person.

My question stands. Also, any known value for the current market would be appreciated.

 

[murphydog]

There were 3” pinned barrel 547s, made in smaller numbers than the unpinned as with the 4” barrels. Prices on these have climbed steadily…figure $1100-1200 for a nice example without the box and contents.

 

[CH4]

I’d buy em all day long at $1200. Although I am sure there are some good deals out there, I’ve never seen a 3” priced under $1500… at least since I’ve been looking.

 

[Retired W4]

I too would be a buyer at $1200. All I know about this one is gun only in very high condition. I will post it if all goes well.

 

[murphydog]

Yet another example of the "don't sell when new, discontinue, then collectors make the prices soar" S & W marketing strategy.

 

[Retired W4]

There are a few like that. The 32 S&WL K frames come to mind and the 22 Magnum Jet, and the 547 of course.

 

[Truckman]

I have two 547's in 4"...My pinned one shipped 2/1983 and my non-pinned one shipped 4/14/1983...Every time I see a 3" it's valued far out of my reach......Ben

 

[Retired W4]

Hopefully the seller will be easy on me. We shall see.

 

[Engine49guy]

Makes sense to me that the 3" round butt brings a premium as the 3" rb Smiths normally bring a premium over their 4" square butt counterparts even if more 3" were produced.
Read somewhere that SW paired some 457's with a spare 357 Magnum cylinder and sold them although I've never seen one.
On a side note I had fantasized of making a 9mm 4" target .357 using a Model 53 jet frame with the rimfire hole modified to be the holding pin then paired with a 547 cylinder and a 19 barrel.

 

[Retired W4]

Makes sense to me that the 3" round butt brings a premium as the 3" rb Smiths normally bring a premium over their 4" square butt counterparts even if more 3" were produced.
Read somewhere that SW paired some 457's with a spare 357 Magnum cylinder and sold them although I've never seen one.
On a side note I had fantasized of making a 9mm 4" target .357 using a Model 53 jet frame with the rimfire hole modified to be the holding pin then paired with a 547 cylinder and a 19 barrel.

Wow, you got my head spinning on that one. That will definitely a one of a kind if you pull that off.

 

[PaulDoc]

For what it's worth, I payed 1700.00 for mine in MA. Hope that helps.

 

[Retired W4]

For what it's worth, I payed 1700.00 for mine in MA. Hope that helps.

That one is just spectacular. I'm hoping to get in under what you payed. Condition is everything and maybe the one I will look at is as nice as yours.

 

[CH4]

There are a few like that. The 32 S&WL K frames come to mind and the 22 Magnum Jet, and the 547 of course.

Yep, dealers basically gave them away after they sat languishing on their shelves. Same with the early 610s no dash, 696s, etc. Now they are highly coveted and the prices they command reflect that.

 

[target tech]

Another one was the 2” adjustable sight model 60. I remember one sitting in a little gun/fishing shop in our town literally for a couple years ago in the mid 80’s. Not a bad idea in .22, but in 38???. Used model 60’s were cheaper and slipped in a pocket of tackle box easier.

 

[Retired W4]

Like this Ashland Shooter's Supply. 660 of them

 

[comfortsource]

I bit the bullet, so-to-speak, and acquired a RB 3" Pinned 547 a "little early" as they say a couple years back. However, it did come with some speed loaders that offset that investment.

Shipped Sept./1982..... almost a birthday gun for me, so pretty cool also.

Enjoy the hunt, we're rooting for ya.

J

 

[Retired W4]

I bit the bullet, so-to-speak, and acquired a RB 3" Pinned 547 a "little early" as they say a couple years back. However, it did come with some speed loaders that offset that investment.

Shipped Sept./1982..... almost a birthday gun for me, so pretty cool also.

Enjoy the hunt, we're rooting for ya.

J

Thanks. I'm headed up to Cartersville, GA in just a few minutes to see it. Of course I will have a full report this evening.

Also, my FFL guy, Greg of River Bend Trading Post has two for transfer in Cartersville. An Ashland Shooter's Supply m-60 target and a John Jovino 3" SB M-60. Both are said to be in very high condition.

I used to set up at the show there but it is just too far to go these days. It's a beautiful venue and a whole different crowd than here in Atlanta. Should be fun.

 

[Retired W4]

Well, I picked it up yesterday. It is an early pinned barrel gun with the patent date on the barrel and original K RB target stocks. I'm in the process of cleaning it up so pics will come once I get it back together.

 

[VASCAR2]

I bit the bullet, so-to-speak, and acquired a RB 3" Pinned 547 a "little early" as they say a couple years back. However, it did come with some speed loaders that offset that investment.

Shipped Sept./1982..... almost a birthday gun for me, so pretty cool also.

Enjoy the hunt, we're rooting for ya.

J

What brand of speed loaders do you have for your S&W 547. After the S&W 547 was introduced I seem to remember buying two Safariland speed loaders in anticipation of buying a S&W 547. It wasn’t till several years later I actually saw the 547 in person. By that time the prices had gone out of sight. To this day I haven’t been able to find those speed loaders. I’m sure I have them if I bought them but that was in the early 80’s.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Had a chance at a 3"RB, but must've been something I did not like about the condition and no box. Thinking back, ....