Contemplating a model 547 9mm revolver

n4rod105 · Apr 2, 2014

Hi all,

I've been a S&W owner since 1959 when my father passed down his 32 S&W long hand ejector, nickel plated revolver. I've added several revolvers to my collection over the decades, but just now joining the forum to find out about an uncommon model I'm looking at.

I have been looking on the Internet at a few S&W model 547 9mm revolvers for sale. I looked that model up the the Supica & Nahas catalog and it is listed as being produced from 1980 to 1985. It's listed as having 6,000+ 3-inch heavy barrel round butt, and 4,000+ 4-inch heavy barrel square butt guns made during those years. Don't want to buy off the Internet from anyone with a "no returns" policy so I don't get stuck with something that doesn't work. The catalog lists a different extractor system that has spring loaded fingers that go under the 9mm cartridge rim, instead of using moon clips like my model 25-2. Also, it's listed as having an additional cartridge retainer pin located in the frame above the firing pin to hold the shell casing in place during firing. The firing pin is frame mounted and not on the hammer.

Does anyone have any info about this particular model? Do the special spring loaded fingers on the extractor work properly or is the gun subject to failure to extract due to the small size of the cartridge rim? Are there any type of moon clips available that would work with this revolver?

Any info would help me consider if I want to purchase one of these models.

Thanks,

Rod

P&R Fan · Apr 2, 2014

Welcome to the Forum.
I've only handled one M547 and that was several years ago. I thought it was pretty cool. The fingers looked kinda delicate to me, but they worked.
Not sure if you could use it with moon clips. Don't think you would want to.
Jim

tekarra · Apr 2, 2014

I have owned a number 547s over the years and have never had a problem with any of them. The extractors may look delicate but are quite strong.

The retaining pin strikes the case head at the same time the firing pin strikes the primer. The retaining pin prevents the case from backing out of the cylinder upon firing, remember the 9x19 cartridge is tapered, not straight. Some disagree with this, but it was told to me by a S&W rep. And yes the firing pin is in the frame, not on the hammer.

In previous posts I have attached photos of the two pins, the extractors and heads of fired cases. Will try to post them again but having problems with Windows 8.1

To me, the 547 have the smoothest actions of any K frames that I have fired. Two of my 547s came from Israel as surplus.

If you do a search you will find a lot of information and photos of the 547.

colt_saa · Apr 2, 2014

They are cool revolvers

I have had one for many years now.

No moon clips are used for this revolver.

The extractor system works just fine. The only problem with it was the complexity to machine and assemble. A standard extractor and a moon clip is far eaiser to produce.

colt_saa · Apr 2, 2014

tekarra said:
Trying a few photos here.

Note the retaining pin above the firing pin and the case head mark on the recoil shield.

The extractors are the dark pieces in the ejector rod.

Extractors holding two cases.

note the retainer pin indentations at the top of the case heads.

fixed it for you

tekarra · Apr 2, 2014

Thanks colt saa.

Jim Watson · Apr 2, 2014

The only one I ever shot had a rather tough double action pull.
The need to drive the case positioning pin as well as the firing pin and to whack the occasional submachinegun primer hard enough calls for a lot of mainspring. A gunsmith told the owner that adjusting to minimum headspace and endshake, plus sticking to US brands of ammo would allow a softer mainspring and lighter trigger pull. I don't think he ever bothered, the novelty wore off too soon.

mag318 · Apr 2, 2014

These were very expensive revolvers for Smith & Wesson to manufacture to fulfill a European, I believe French contract. The beryllium extractor may look fragile but they are not. 547s are very collectable and will only go up in value, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. I picked up this one in a pawn shop for $275 years ago, the seller thought the hammer spur was broken.

tekarra · Apr 3, 2014

I am certain that I have seen a couple of 547s in holsters of police whilst I was transiting through Charles de Gaulle airport. Never stopped to ask though.

Bullet Bob · Apr 3, 2014

I had a 4" that was stolen, I could shoot it better in double-action than any gun I've owned before or since. I bought a 3" one to replace it, but it wasn't the same, for me.

IIRC the extractor fingers were made out of beryllium copper - tough and rust proof. Supposedly almost unbreakable, no idea why someone would hard chrome or nickle plate them.

I really miss mine; before I left the area I lived in when mine was stolen I answered every ad for one, hoping for the best. It made the detective working on my case (8 other handguns stolen also) a little nervous though

BCDWYO · Apr 3, 2014

My 4" 547 has the smoothest DA trigger of any revolver I own and is among the most accurate. Really fun gun to shoot

M3Stuart · Apr 3, 2014

Welcome to the forum!

The 9mm is a much higher pressure round than .38 special. In a K frame revolver you're going to feel that.

S&W makes just introduced 2 new 9mm revolvers, you might check those out. Also, I'm not recommending it, but Taurus makes a current production 9mm revolver. You might be able to locate one you can test fire.

jaymoore · Apr 4, 2014

I discovered that the upper pin reseats the cartridge by a secondary hammer blow, initiated by the firing pin being pushed back by the primer.

How did fact come to light you might wonder? Not intentionally! I glued on a trigger stop that makes single action fire rather difficult. So when the hammer comes back, it catches on the single action sear! (Corrected that little drama by giving the trigger a little more overtravel.)

tekarra's (courtesy of colt saa) photos above show most of the details quite well. Note the primer indentations which show the annular ring surrounding the firing pin indent. That flat area is there to propel the hammer back again.

That 3" barreled 547 has been a top performer for me for years. Even shot a Steel Challenge match with it. Was great as long as I did my part!

ben1 · Apr 4, 2014

I had one I picked up for $400.00 a few years ago. It was a 3" and the toughest DA pull of all my Smith's. I did have a couple of issues with the extractors and ended up trading for a 686 2 1/2" and never looked back. Wouldn't trade my 686 for 2 547's. But not everyone has the same taste. Interesting concept but just not my cup of tea. Good luck.

DFrame · Apr 5, 2014

I'd like to find one, but All that I've seen were overpriced. Their owners felt they were FAR more valuable than I did.

05CarbonDRZ · Apr 5, 2014

I have a 3" with factory RB Target Stocks and I love it.It is one of the few more modern Smith's that I will never part with.Both the SA and DA are smooth and crisp,I have never had a single problem with the extractor.

Yurko · Jun 12, 2015

Would LOVE to find one "reasonably" priced.
will probably never find one

Berdeilhe · May 22, 2016

M 547 an outstanding revolver

I have used a M 547 (3" round stock) for more than 13 years as my service gun (privately owned) in the French Special Forces. Although I have shot only 1 cartridge in action, I shot hundreds of rounds in training. The M 547 is a fast, accurate and reliable revolver.
The 9 mm caliber was a good solution if we needed to supply from conventional troops in case of ammo shortage during military operations.
The 9 mm cartridge is powerful enough to neutralize an ennemy. I tested it, alas !
The main advantage of a revolver for special operations is that it shoots standard ammo as well as low power bullets. The last is handsome when it is critical to avoid collateral effects; for example inside some bulidings or in aircraft on flight.
As a sport weapon, M 547 is very accurate and its ejection system is very reliable.
In my Unit, at the end of training sessions, a couple of ours used to finish the remaining 9 mm cartridges in an "olympic speed challenge", that is to say when the five targets appeared, we had 7 seconds to shoot five shots, one on each target. In double action, of course. This exercise was most popular in the 1990s but the common weapon used for this contest in Fance was the 22 short DES V.O Pistol designed only for this purpose. Although we were roughly at the same level as shooters, my results were often closed to the top level if we compare with those of my collegues equipped with other revolvers (We had some Manurhin's in 9 mm). I tried the same exercise with my S & W K22 and the results were not that good.
I had had none functioning incident in more than 13 years of use.
As far double action shooting is concerned, I find it easier with the M 547 than with my S &W K22 "Target" with standard 22 LR ammo.

I apologize for my poor English but I am French even if I am a veteran of Desert Shield / Storm and received at the end of the operation the Joint Service Achievement Medal from the hand of Gen. H. Norman Schwartzkopf himself in his HQ In Ryadh.
I joined this interesting forum mainly to answer the question by n4rod105 at the top of the thread.

R. G. Amos · May 22, 2016

Let me make sure I understand this. The cartridge headspaces on its mouth in the chamber (the case mouth rests against an edge associated with a reduced cylinder ID) and the retaining pin is required a result of the small taper of the 9mm case, which is subject to set back under pressure.

Sorry, I got mixed up in my terminology.

ralph7 · May 22, 2016

Kernel Crittenden said:
The M547 uses a special one-of-a-kind extractor that allows for head spacing on the rim.

Patent US1181417

So the extractor system was originally done for the .45 acp cartridge?

Contemplating a model 547 9mm revolver

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