S&W 547

[Gunny209]

What’s the going rate for a model 547 9mm 4”? Looking at a couple in my local. I’ve wanted one for several years.

 

[505Gibbs]

I strongly suggest you look at Gun Broker as a start. Location means a lot as to a 'good' price! IMO

 

[Stangman14]

I see them actually sell for 1200-1300

 

[ColbyBruce]

I saw one today in metro Atlanta for $2,199.00 if I read the tag right.

 

[Gunny209]

I saw one today in metro Atlanta for $2,199.00 if I read the tag right.

But not selling right?

 

[Stangman14]

I saw one today in metro Atlanta for $2,199.00 if I read the tag right.

Wow!! Im in Alabama and at local shows they are much cheaper!

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have not been in that particular gun shop in several years but it appeared not much of anything has been selling.

 

[bamabiker]

Hey Stangman14, what part of Alabama are you in? I never see one for sale around here, Jefferson and surrounding Counties.

 

[Pizza Bob]

There are fewer of the 4" (which is a square butt) than the 3" (which is a round butt). Be that as it may, the three inch guns tend to bring more money. Location and condition factor in big-time. If you can grab it for the aforementioned $1200 - $1300, you would be doing good.

While S&W has brought a lot of desirable guns back as "Classics" and otherwise, it is highly doubtful that they will ever reproduce the 547. IIRC, it was Smith's most expensive gun to manufacture, so what's out there is it.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Venom6]

Fascinating design. How well did that novel extraction/ejection system actually work? I've heard they were discontinued due to poor sales, but also that they didn't work all that well.

 

[treysl78]

Just remember, anyone can ask stupid prices. Probably won't sell that high. Agree that you could probably find some nice ones for 12-1300. The 3 inch will fetch more $ than a 4".

 

[colt_saa]

Fascinating design. How well did that novel extraction/ejection system actually work? I've heard they were discontinued due to poor sales, but also that they didn't work all that well.

The extraction system worked quite well.

I very much liked the look, feel and balance of the 3" round butt version. I have been shooting mine for just about a quarter of a century now

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Part of the reason of for poor sales was the high price. The beryllium clips added to the cost of the firearm. People were also hesitant of the design and worried that the clips might not be available and of course we're concerned over the high price. Today it is almost impossible to find replacement bureau clips for the cylinder

 

[Gazz]

LGS just sold one on gunbroker and it fetched somewhere north of $1600 with taxes and shipping.

 

[Venom6]

The extraction system worked quite well.

I very much liked the look, feel and balance of the 3" round butt version. I have been shooting mine for just about a quarter of a century now

​

Part of the reason of for poor sales was the high price. The beryllium clips added to the cost of the firearm. People were also hesitant of the design and worried that the clips might not be available and of course we're concerned over the high price. Today it is almost impossible to find replacement bureau clips for the cylinder

OK, so now I'm a bit puzzled; you refer to "clips," which suggests "moon clips" to me, like many current offerings accomodate (I've got a 325 and a 625 which require the clips for simultaneous extraction; the rimmed 627 can use them but doesn't require them). I thought the compelling feature of the 547 was that it could extract the empties without clips despite being rimless through the novel beryllium "spokes" that lay parallel and against the extractor rod, and which automatically engaged the extractor groove in the cases when the extractor rod was pushed. Kinda like opening an umbrella. Yes/no?

 

[Rock185]

Venom6, I had two of the 3" 547s. That expensive extraction system actually worked quite well on both my examples. No sticky extraction, even with the higher pressure +P, NATO, etc. ammo. There is no room for moon clips withy the 547. These are small ribs/arms, don't recall the proper name, that expand outwards as the extractor rod is pushed. These engage the cartridge rim and extract the case..

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I wouldn't discount the 4" with the bull barrel. I like mine. It shot 9 mils better than my 5" 986.
The stock trigger on the 547 is HARD. on both single action and double.
I did some internal work on mine to get it to shoot double action well.

A few years ago, I found mine at a LGS for $800. There were two consecutive numbered ones- both 4". After I got mine, the other sold quickly, so I do think they are popular.

 

[Sevens]

I was not paying attention at the time they were made so I am NOT making this claim, I am merely asking or suggesting that it might be possible?

I would suggest that it may not be accurate to claim S&W stopped making the 547 because it did not sell well.

Rather… S&W never had any intention of making this gun as a regular catalogue item. Instead, this advanced, somewhat complicated and expensive extraction design came to life because a large foreign contract asked for it and entered in to a paid contract to build it.

The guns that we swap around now are leftovers from that exercise.

It is true that when these were offered… demand was exceptionally low. They were clearanced out with other guns that were not popular sellers (like the Model 16-4 that everyone loves now but nobody did then.)

But I was never under the impression that S&W made these with the idea of offering them to the American gun-buying public.

 

[44wheelman]

"The stock trigger on the 547 is HARD." yup.

There is also a pin that holds the cartridge in the cylinder also driven by the hammer just below the firing pin. Since the 9mm is a tapered cartridge, the case would back out during firing. The pin keeps the case off the breech face so the cylinder can rotate after firing.

 

[Rock185]

Yes, the mainsprings in the 547s were extra strong. This, to ensure reliable ignition of some 9mm ammunition with really hard primers. The Winchester and IMI 9mm NATO ammunition I've used have the hardest small pistol primers I have ever encountered. I don't recall using the IMI in my 547s, but did use the Winchester NATO. Never had a single misfire...

 

[Tom S.]

The 547 was a unique but troublesome design:



The inserts were easily bent, making extraction hit or miss. As indicated by the drawing, which by the way doesn't show all the parts including springs or extractor rod, the assembly was complex and novices who pulled it apart for cleaning were in for a learning lesson of why two hands weren't always enough.