Model 547 in 9mm - Tell me what you know about them??

[sheppard]

I purchased a used 547 4" pinned barrel back in the 1990s. Shoot it occasionally. My understanding is that it was designed for the French police.

 

[delcrossv]

An item's value is always in the eye of the potential collector. I can't imagine my ever owning a 547 but opinions are like backsides. 25 years ago I also wouldn't have imagined owning a model 940. Through circumstances I now have 2.
They are cute, somewhat fun, and semi-iconic, but I would never pay today's prices for one.
That being said, I would never belittle the man or woman who does pay today's prices.

$2k? That's a little rich for me too.

LOL. my EDC is a 940.

 

[Crh1943]

Hello all,

First and foremost, hope everyone is doing well and is healthy.

I have a 547 3". It is dated for 1983 I believe. I picked it up from a forum member here a little over a year ago this month.

I shoot very accurately with it. Smooth trigger, albeit a little stout. Single Action is amazing of course.

Never had any issues with extraction or forcing cone. I do shoot it several times a year.

The banana grip does not fit my average sized hands too well, so I like the Pachmayr grips that cover the backstrap.

Get one if you can and don't look back.

 

[Injunbro]

When they 1st came out I wanted one so bad I could taste it, 3" bbl. (my favorite), 9mm, a decent round but cheap, no moon clips... what's not to like? I couldn't find one anywhere... & I was a dealer. A few years ago I saw a couple @ gun shows for over $1,500! I'd like to have one & could make any parts if needed but way too pricey for a carry gun.

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

Here is a decent video showing the M547

My three inch round butt has a pinned barrel.


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnGv3yRnnEY[/ame]

 

[THREEDFLYER]

I am still debating on this one.......Can get it for $1,900 plus shipping.......but to be perfectly honest as cool as it is I am really not feeling the love on owning a S&W in a metric chambering.

Seems to be in the price range of what I see selling these days with box.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've had this 9mm revolver for many years - never had any problem with it, and don't anticipate any extraction mishaps with it in the future, either!

John

 

[Walter Rego]

I remember seeing them when they first came out. I thought they were an interesting engineering solution to using a 9x19mm round in a revolver but couldn't think of a good reason to buy one. About 10 years ago an LGS had one of the 3" versions, appearing NIB and they were asking $700 for it. I thought that was ridiculous.

Now I wish I had bought it and stashed it away as an investment. But I still don't see a lot of practical reasons for its existence. Now a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 with a spare 9x19mm cylinder is a different story if you have a good supply of 9mm ammo, especially if it is of some configuration that your favorite auto loader doesn't like.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

There are several S&W models that are scarce or unique that sold for modest money when first released and have skyrocketed in price.

The 547 is a prime example of this.......

 

[6518John]

Once again, if you are not careful, you learn something here everyday. Thanks ya'll!

Threads like this one are worth the price of admission alone. As I have posted here before, it has always surprised me that handguns in typical semi-automatic calibers never really seem to catch on (other than in .45 ACP). I would think many would enjoy having a revolver companion to their favorite semi-auto in 9mm, 10mm, .40 S&W and even .380. I have enjoyed shooting both revolvers and semi-autos, and I would think a companion revolver to your High-Power or 3rd generation Smith or even a Glock would go over well. But what do I know—obviously not much as reflected in the sales figures of these types of handguns.

 

[garbler]

I'd say your observations are dead on. I can only guess that S&W never pushed this gun into the market place for a couple of possible reasons. (1) the cost of manufacturing the extractor system would have pushed the price beyond returns and (2) I don't recall the 9mm as being the dominant cartridge back in the mid to early 80's. It was the NATO or foreign cartridge but here law enforement was still using revolvers. Things changed pretty quick though but investing heavily on a design specific to one cartridge only would be a risky .

Rick

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

Not to be left out of the mix, the S&W 940 9MM Centennial.
It's all stainless, about 23 oz. Very accurate too.

 

[6518John]

Not to be left out of the mix, the S&W 940 9MM Centennial.
It's all stainless, about 23 oz. Very accurate too.

I assume this 940 as well as the 547 will shoot .380 too?

It hit me after I posted above you could probably shoot .40 S&W and 10mm out of the same gun and a thread today talks about that very thing:

S&W 610 trigger job new grips

I suspect the same is true for 9mm/.380.

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

I assume this 940 as well as the 547 will shoot .380 too?

It hit me after I posted above you could probably shoot .40 S&W and 10mm out of the same gun and a thread today talks about that very thing:

S&W 610 trigger job new grips

I suspect the same is true for 9mm/.380.

Maybe, maybe not, I just shoot what it says on the side of the barrel.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I'd say your observations are dead on. I can only guess that S&W never pushed this gun into the market place for a couple of possible reasons. (1) the cost of manufacturing the extractor system would have pushed the price beyond returns and (2) I don't recall the 9mm as being the dominant cartridge back in the mid to early 80's. It was the NATO or foreign cartridge but here law enforement was still using revolvers. Things changed pretty quick though but investing heavily on a design specific to one cartridge only would be a risky .

Rick

Exactly. I think it was too early. If it had come along later, say right around 1989 or 1990, it would have had a better chance. A lot of LEAs had switched to 9mm autos, but still allowed revolvers. Equipping officers who preferred the wheel gun, with one in the same caliber might have gained it some traction. Also civilian shooters had started buying 9mm autos as well. Having a companion revolver, especially one without needing moon clips, might just have been a seller.

 

[jaymoore]

I assume this 940 as well as the 547 will shoot .380 too?

It hit me after I posted above you could probably shoot .40 S&W and 10mm out of the same gun and a thread today talks about that very thing:

S&W 610 trigger job new grips

I suspect the same is true for 9mm/.380.

.380 has a smaller base diameter than the tapered 9x19 case, so it's a very loose fit in 940 moon clips. It does work in a pinch, though. I did a thread on the subject a few years back. As for the 547, no data! It seems that it might do, but the extra slop may cause a high speed horizontal shock to the extractor finger when the .380 case expands. Given that .380 usually costs more than 9x19, why bother in the 547? It weighs enough more than a 940 to make recoil quite manageable. But if someone wants to try, please report the results.