BRING BACK THE 547!

[Bhfromme]

Dear Smith and Wesson,
As you know, 9mm popularity has gone off the charts and will continue to do so as more and more newbies start buying little semi-autos that they can conceal easily. And as we all know guns are like potato chips. It's almost impossible to have just one.

If someone already has a 9mm semi enticing them to buy a pretty little revolver chambered for same would be like shooting fish in a barrel (bad pun but I couldn't resist).

My preference would be a 3" and/or 4" 9mm blued steel revolver that doesn't require moon clips. I understand that you stopped making the Model 547 in large part because of the high cost to manufacture a 9 mm revolver with an extraction system that doesn't require moon clips but that was then and this is now. If it costs more to build than just charge more for it. There will be thousands of people like me that will pay a premium for a premium product.

Just imagine how your marketing people could exploit the concept of a 9mm revolver that has an extractor that doesn't require moon clips. I personally would love to see a rebuild of the Model 547 added to your Classic lineup. Thanks.

 

[gmborkovic]

I had a few in my shop when they came out. They were not a quick sale.
I still have two 4" blued guns out in the shop. Still shoot them. They eat
anything. I dont know if they have the talent in house to produce the
547.

 

[colt_saa]

The reason that they stopped making them is nobody was buying them

In order to try and use up all of the remaining 547 frames, Smith & Wesson was going to introduce the 574M chambered in 357 Magnum

For whatever reason the remaining frames were built out as 9MMs.


The Extractor was too complex and to expensive to manufacture. At the time it was hard to get a beryllium clip if you happened to break the tip off of one of them

The 547 Frame had lock work that was not common to the rest of the Smith & Wesson revolver lineup

If Smith & Wesson introduces a clipless 9MM revolver, it will not be a child of the 547 design


While I think the 547 is cool, Personally I much prefer the moon clips. With a moon clip enabled revolver cylinder chambered for 9x23 Winchester you end up with a revolver that can safely chamber and fire 9x23 Winchester, 38 Super, 38 ACP, 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Parabellum, 380 ACP and more

 

[Bhfromme]

While I think the 547 is cool, Personally I much prefer the moon clips. With a moon clip enabled revolver cylinder chambered for 9x23 Winchester you end up with a revolver that can safely chamber and fire 9x23 Winchester, 38 Super, 38 ACP, 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Parabellum, 380 ACP and more

Is there such a gun available?

 

[delcrossv]

The reason that they stopped making them is nobody was buying them

There were ordered for the French IIRC and were complicated and expensive to make.

 

[sodacan]

The old technology of moonclips and head spaced cylinders, being stronger and simpler, makes more sense than the complicated mechanism of the 547 design.

 

[Bhfromme]

Charter Arms is making hay with their clipless 9mm revolvers. I'm hoping to see S&W do the same.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Smith is eliminating some revolvers from their lineup. Not adding new models. There's a thread here somewhere about 625-8 (moon clip) and some others disappearing.

I think in the near future there just won't be very many 9mm or 45 acp revolvers being made. If you have one, best hang on to it.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I dunno, if I want to shoot a 9mm I'll just shoot a pistol. We each have our own likes and dislikes and to me a 9mm revolver is just wrong. YMMV

For the record, I'm not enamored of M25s in .45 ACP, either but, again, YMMV.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

I see the all too common myths spread in here about the 547. Too expensive, failed French police contract, too complicated, etc, etc. the only reason the 547 run was stopped was due to the “wonder nine” phenomena, the us military adoption of the 9mm, “high capacity” pistols, and of course, Hollywood. They couldn’t give away 547s after that. It was almost completely a marketing issue, not the design or cost of making the 547. Plus, it’s a cartridge designed for pistols, just like .357 and .44 are designed for revolvers. They can cross over, but they just don’t work as well with what they weren’t designed for. But with all that aside, if S&W did a new run of 547s, particularly in SS, I’d buy one in a second.
I own two 547s. I bought one in Germany while I was stationed there. It has a gruesome little “p” stamped next to 9mm because the Germans insist 9x19 be called 9mm parabellum (not “Luger”). I carried it when I hunted; the Germans I hunted with were fascinated by it. I will never sell it, to this day, it’s my favorite S&W. I have another one that’s a safe queen I’d consider selling, but I don’t think anyone will buy it at my price. Incidentally, I’ve broken down the cylinder a few times. It is neither complicated, nor delicate.

 

[Bhfromme]

Excellent post M2MikeGolf. For me it's about the cost of ammo. I can still find bricks of 9mm here for $13 and $14. Even .38 Spl is double that and lately mag rounds are $40 and up. I shoot a lot and don't reload so I'd go broke in a New York minute if I could only shoot 38s and 44s. Yes, I can plink with .22 LR but I find it more enjoyable to shoot rounds that kick back at me. And yes, I could shoot semi-autos but there's just something about revolvers that makes me smile when I'm blasting down range.

My AL9.0 is my go to revolver and I absolutely love it. But it's not a Smith. Yes, ALPHA PROJ makes a fine revolver but if you're reading this you're a Smith lover so I need say no more.

 

[NYlakesider]

I have a 547 3'' and like it. My machinist son has fired it a few times and has told me that gun would be very expensive to make.

That and how many people can work on that design, you will never see it in the S&W lineup again.

You got one hang on to it.
You can find one for less than a Kings ransom get it!

 

[M2MikeGolf]

Excellent post M2MikeGolf. For me it's about the cost of ammo. I can still find bricks of 9mm here for $13 and $14. Even .38 Spl is double that and lately mag rounds are $40 and up. I shoot a lot and don't reload so I'd go broke in a New York minute if I could only shoot 38s and 44s. Yes, I can plink with .22 LR but I find it more enjoyable to shoot rounds that kick back at me. And yes, I could shoot semi-autos but there's just something about revolvers that makes me smile when I'm blasting down range.

My AL9.0 is my go to revolver and I absolutely love it. But it's not a Smith. Yes, ALPHA PROJ makes a fine revolver but if you're reading this you're a Smith lover so I need say no more.

9mm is a good choice for a pistol round. I know that’s hotly debated, even within the military. But from a logistical standpoint, you can find 9x19 ammunition anywhere in the world. Having done about five deployments and training missions and leisure traveling around the world, I know that is a fact. 9x19 is a good balance of size and power and shoot ability. I agree completely with your view about shooting 9x19, to include revolvers. I have a LCR in 9mm also. I have a host of revolvers and pistols in various caliber/cartridge combinations, I must have a dozen or more chambered in 9mm.
I am indeed a Smith lover. My favorite 547 has a close second placer in the form of a transitional M1917. But I do have some favorite other revolvers, to include a really nice old H&R 926. It makes nearly the same diameter hole on paper my .model 13, 65, 619 and 547 does, with virtually no recoil. But finding .38 S&W ammunition is nearly impossible these days, oddly enough.
Always glad to meet another 547 afficianado.

 

[Bhfromme]

Always glad to meet another 547 afficianado.

At this stage of the game I'm only a 547 dreamer!

 

[Engine49guy]

I bought a 3" years back but it sits in the safe between a 3" model 65 Ladysmith and a 3" 19-7 K comp.
The 9mm firearm I would love to see SW build is an AR15 carbine platform in 9mm priced near the Sport 2 , while we are dreaming I ask for it to have removable mag well adapters for using old SW 59 mags, one for Colt stick mags, one for 9mm MP pistol mags etc.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hey engine dude, you dont want much do you? Are you still at the county home? Doc. Mike.

 

[Bhfromme]

Mr. Engine49guy, I'd be more than happy to take that 547 off your hands if you need to make some room in that safe!

Just PM me with your price.

 

[rogerwnuss]

used to have 9mm J frame five shooter , used moon clips.... can't remember model number. wouldn't mind another similar J, but I wouldn't want the stupid, ugly , untrustworthy lock...perhaps a new centennial? like the 642-1? call it 649-1? sans lock......moon clips are so much faster than speed loaders, and more secure, cant open in your pocket. I'd jump on one, and retire my 642.

 

[murphydog]

used to have 9mm J frame five shooter , used moon clips.... can't remember model number. wouldn't mind another similar J, but I wouldn't want the stupid, ugly , untrustworthy lock...perhaps a new centennial? like the 642-1? call it 649-1? sans lock......moon clips are so much faster than speed loaders, and more secure, cant open in your pocket. I'd jump on one, and retire my 642.

That would have been the model 940. S & W could make that one fairly easily but probably not the 547.

S & W seems not to have granted the OP's wish in the past two years . Thread closed.