Question about a Prohib revolver UPDATE!

S

Still alive

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
79   0   0
Location
Rainy mosquito infested part of BC
Hey guys,
I have a chance to pick up an old 3" K frame 547 9mm revolver with the heavy barrel. A little research tells me it was requested by the Israelis to arm a Palestinian Constabulary Force back in the 70-80s. It is unique in that the gun does not need moon clips but uses speedloaders due to a different extractor system. The Israelis bailed on part of the contract and the gun came available to civvies.

Since it's a prohib, I know the market will be small but is the gun worth picking up? I'm not a revolver guy and I shoot 9mm in pistols so the gun would be, more or less, a safe queen.

Anyone out there have any input into this? Looking at you, Master-G and gdawg!

Any collector value to this thing? Gun is dirty but nothing a good scrubbing can't fix.

PS Guy wants $700 for it including some speedloaders.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I have 12(6). Agree it sounds steep. That's why I'm asking for opinions here. No pics for now. Gun is still with owner. I have seen it and it's used but not abused ( except dirty!) Still deciding depending on what I read here.
Wondering about the collectibility of something like that. Not that it really means much since it's a 12(6)!

That's why the quandary!!
 
The problem is that the people that can buy and trade these firearms are passing away meaning supply is far surpassing demand.
Over time that pistol will end up being destroyed.... not sold.....

I know that when my dad offloaded his prohib collection we were pretty much giving everything away because buyers had lots to choose from.


**Edit
As of today you still might be able to find someone willing to spend good money on a prohib, I just mean that every day that passes it gets a little bit harder
 
Good, desirable 12-6s aren't cheap.
It is my understanding the France bought some of these for police issue.
It would be a fun shooter at the range, but I don't know about the price.
 
tiriaq said:
Good, desirable 12-6s aren't cheap.
It is my understanding the France bought some of these for police issue.
It would be a fun shooter at the range, but I don't know about the price.
Click to expand...

True, they are not cheap, but they're also not selling.

There's a couple on the EE now that have been there for months that haven't sold due to price. Sadly, the guns themselves are worth the price, only the 12(6) clause is killing them.
 
A 3" HB S&W 547 might be a desirable "prohibited class" firearm. Might. Even 12(6) class owners must balance the value vs practicality vs other factors such as employability in competitions.
Your 3" HB 547 takes it out of the 2", 2.5" snub class, but pits it against 4" Service class revolvers & autos. Would it fare better?
While this is a relatively low production numbers revolver, and might create the impression of desirability, one must look at the asking price of $700.00 and decide if it's worth it. Personally I would rather put the $700.00 towards a 3913 LS / 3914 LS.
It appears the market for "certain" 12(6) handguns retain their value & command higher prices, but most are just $200-250.00 handguns that sellers think are worth more.
Bottom line from my point-of-view is that a nice 547 is probably worth $350.00-$400.00 as a nice plinker.....
 
Not much help from me I'm afraid. I'm a sucker for a unique piece. That is definitely cool with an interesting development history. State side it would fetch a hefty sum and pretty sure this would command a premium here too. Smith revolvers in auto calibers are popular to begin with, this model is definitely rare, and this has the added advantage (to some anyway) of not needing clips. A 2.5" 66 or 19 fetch 500. If the 547 cleans up well, $600, maybe more, is not out of the question in my book. Might be a nice complement to the model 13.

I'd also note that there has been a wtb for this exact revolver for a while.
 
Last edited:
gdawg said:
Not much help from me I'm afraid. I'm a sucker for a unique piece. That is definitely cool with an interesting development history. State side it would fetch a hefty sum and pretty sure this would command a premium here too. Smith revolvers in auto calibers are popular to begin with, this model is definitely rare, and this has the added advantage (to some anyway) of not needing clips. A 2.5" 66 or 19 fetch 500. If the 547 cleans up well, $600, maybe more, is not out of the question in my book. Might be a nice complement to the model 13.

I'd also note that there has been a wtb for this exact revolver for a while.
Click to expand...
Thanks gdawg!
Always good advice from you and you hit the nail on the head...my M13!
My interest is because of my 3" M13. I'm thinking the pair would look cool together. Like I said though, it'll likely be a safe queen if I do get it.
I was thinking $600 max also.

If anyone has actually tried one, would like to hear about it. I have heard the 9mm isn't a soft round in this revolver. Sorta between a .38+P and a .357 in recoil.
 
Sorry—I'm late to the game here. I tend to think that $700 for a 547 would not be an unreasonable price—especially a 3" one (I'd pay it!). I owned a 3" HB Model 10 a few years ago and they are a very appealing revolver. I've seen very few 547s for sale on the EE so I think they're quite rare. The extractor has little spring loaded "fingers" that grab the 9mm rim's case that negates the need for moonclips, as you note.

I'd not heard of the Israeli connection before—for sure all 547s were not part of the contract but maybe these ones were a special run? Are there unique markings?
 
From what I have observed, prohibs are selling for low prices, even when in fine condition, due to the limited market.

On one reputable website, Colt and S&W prohib .38 Special revolvers in very nice looking condition are selling for around $285.00 to $350.00 average.

Berreta 1934 .32 autos in nice shape for $195.00

This particular revolver is more collectable perhaps, but I can't see it selling for more than $450.00.

It isn't particularly sought after, to my knowledge, and still has to contend with the limited prohib market.

What it might sell for in the U.S. is meaningless for Canada.
 
tiriaq said:
Good, desirable 12-6s aren't cheap.
It is my understanding the France bought some of these for police issue.
It would be a fun shooter at the range, but I don't know about the price.
Click to expand...

Agreed! The 12.X market is a SMALL niche market (and shrinking every year) and as such the guns are nearing surrender / destruction time bit by bit. Anyone who buys a prohib has to realize that the guns will have significantly less resale value as time goes on with even less qualified buyers interested in the market. There will come a time when all of us with prohib status will try and dump them to avoid destruction and there will be no one around that can legally purchase them. They will ultimately become completely worthless in their OEM state. Sadly this will include the highly desireable 12.X guns too.
 
It is getting harder to find good 12.6s. There seems to be a stratification of the values--the common generic ones like 4" Model 10s or Euro .32s are falling in price while rare desirable ones, I think, are rising (for now at least). I think a lot of 12.6 owners (at least the ones here :) ) are starting to hang onto their better pieces.
 
Something to consider as time goes on.

When a prohib gun can't be sold because there is no longer a market, there is no legal impediment that I am aware of to stop you from stripping that gun for all of it's parts, and simply surrendering the frame for destruction.

You could probably sell the parts for more than the gun is worth at that point.
 
Master-G said:
Sorry—I'm late to the game here. I tend to think that $700 for a 547 would not be an unreasonable price—especially a 3" one (I'd pay it!). I owned a 3" HB Model 10 a few years ago and they are a very appealing revolver. I've seen very few 547s for sale on the EE so I think they're quite rare. The extractor has little spring loaded "fingers" that grab the 9mm rim's case that negates the need for moonclips, as you note.

I'd not heard of the Israeli connection before—for sure all 547s were not part of the contract but maybe these ones were a special run? Are there unique markings?
Click to expand...

No unique markings that I can tell. Didn't look too closely as I didn't know the history then.
I think I'll make him an offer and see what he says. I'll post pics if I end up getting it.
You don't see many quality 9mm revolvers these days so even if it's just a shooter, it'll be fine.
Neat to compare the 3" 9mm to my 3" .357. But I'm getting ahead of myself! Still gotta buy the thing!
 
I hunted around the house tonight and found my old "Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns" (© 1986 DBI Books) and scanned this article about the 547.

Q78V4nQ.jpg


2OhM30E.jpg


aOy6ff8.jpg


dzeSdHF.jpg


5jZTo2N.jpg


ibwuqVi.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom