S&W model 547 stainless

rmj23 · Sep 13, 2011

I went to a gun auction and was able to pick up a very nice stainless square butt model 547 9MM revolver. There wasnt a whole lot of interest and i was able to get it for $600.00. I thought that was a nice price for this low manufactured revolver.

Does anyone know the best way to find out when it was made and how many were produced.

nicky4968 · Sep 13, 2011

I'm not overly familiar with the revolver.
However, it is my sad duty to tell you it is not stainless. (The prefix "5" indicates a blued steel frame. The prefix "6" is stainless, re: 66, 686, etc.)
I understand it is a heck of a revolver, though, and, if you, "bought it too early," you will be able to get your money back after a few years. They don't make them anymore and, even refinished, it is hard to find one in good shape.

Goony · Sep 13, 2011

So far as I know, no 547's were manufactured in stainless steel. Are you certain this is not a nickeled or other plated finish? How about a photo?

The Model 547 was manufactured from 1980 to 1985. If yours has a three letter + four numerical digit serial number, it dates to no earlier than 1982. Overall production was, by S&W standards, fairly limited, with a little over 10K total made.

rmj23 · Sep 13, 2011

VM · Sep 13, 2011

rmj23 - cool looking gun but as others have stated, 547's only came in blue from the Factory......... IMO, it's an aftermarket finish.

rmj23 · Sep 13, 2011

williamlayton · Sep 13, 2011

That is Hard Chrome---and a heck of a finish. If you wanted a shooter and carry piece that is as agood a finish as you can get.
Blessings

s&wchad · Sep 13, 2011

I suspect it has an aftermarket hard chrome finish, the 547 was not offered in stainless.

Maximumbob54 · Sep 13, 2011

This is why they are saying hard chrome:

Metalife

It has been popular for years aftermarket but pretty rare to see it come from any factory with it. Too bad really since I think it looks pretty classy and it's far more durable than any nickel.

rmj23 · Sep 13, 2011

I just got off the phone with S&W and they said it was blue from the factory and that they did not do the hard chrome finish. Oh well it still is a very nice hard to find 9mm revolver. I quess i will have to buy a blued one to go with it. Thanks for all the input.

WC145 · Sep 13, 2011

At $600 it was a good buy, no collector value thanks to the refinish but it'll make a great shooter/carry gun. Hard chrome is pretty much impervious to wear and weather so if your intent is to actually use that gun you're in good shape!

505Gibbs · Sep 13, 2011

rmj23 said:
I went to a gun auction and was able to pick up a very nice stainless square butt model 547 9MM revolver. There wasnt a whole lot of interest and i was able to get it for $600.00. I thought that was a nice price for this low manufactured revolver.

Does anyone know the best way to find out when it was made and how many were produced.

A little over 10k were produced and the 4" is lower production than the 3" version. They were made from roughly 1980-85.

MgoBlue · Sep 13, 2011

Great gun and fun to shoot! The fact that your new gun is refinished I wouldn't fret about. The price you got it for was more than fair and now you can go out and not worry about damaging the blued finish. Be sure you hunt down some spare extractor springs, as those are the components most in need of replacement from wear.

M2MikeGolf · Sep 13, 2011

Great buy, even with the non-factory finish. We need to get Tekarra in here for some more expert commentary; he just picked up a chromed one too. Even chromed, it's a good deal. Don't know if you realize it, but you don't need moon clips. Would be interested to here how it functions with the chrome finish. I'm thinking it will be fine, but curious to hear a range report. The 547s are a great revovler, and there are many of us that would like to see it brought back. 9mm just makes sense as a bridge gapper between .38 Spl and .357; a perfect cartridge for the K frame to my way of thinking. See if you can find some HKS speedloaders, they're still out there. I put this comparison on another thread, but you may be interested to see it (see attachment), and you'll see what I mean; especially when you look at size to power ratio's and carryability of ammuniton.

tekarra · Sep 13, 2011

rmj33,

I have the brother to your 547! Picked mine up at a gunshow a couple of years back. The previous owner went one step further and rounded the grip. The collector value is gone, but it sure is a fine shooting revolver.

This is what it looks like from the factory.

M2MikeGolf,
Thank you for the kind words. I am far from an expert but I do enjoy dabbling with my 547s.

Shooting4life · Sep 13, 2011

I think you did ok. I would own it in a heart beat.

waffenmac · Sep 15, 2011

Awesome pistol ,I have always loved the 9mm revolvers,but the price has gotten pretty rediculous.Enjoy your find as its a beauty.

MgoBlue · Sep 15, 2011

The price will only continue to rise on the 547s. They are really a collector piece.

By the way, here is the extractor part that you will ultimately need to replace:
Extractor Segment, NI

tekarra · Sep 15, 2011

Good heads up MgoBlue.
Here is what they look like installed.

H Richard · Sep 16, 2011

The industrial hard chrome is a nearly indestructible finish. Here's a picture of my 19-4 (which had finish problems) that I had a Metaloy finish put on. This same finish I had put on a 1911 frame over 25 years ago and have used it in competition ever since. It still looks like new.

S&W model 547 stainless

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