Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Model 28 Smith and Wesson hard to open.

I have a couple of model 28s. A 4 and a 6", the 4" opens and closes like a charm. But the 6 " lately has been difficult to open. I push the latch as hard as I can, but then I have to push on the cylinder to get it open. I have put oil on the latch, and it seems to open nicely for a time or two. If I let it closed for any amount of time, the problem returns. This is one of my favorites and a great shooter. I do not take things apart, but my pal is good at it. What do you think the problem is? Thanks.

Ejector rod has likely backed out.
Remove the cylinder and put a few empty cases in the chambers to support the extractor star. Clamp the end of the ejector rod in a leather padded vise and snug it up by turning the cylinder. Take care to not put any side pressure on the rod as you grip the cylinder and remember that it’s left handed threads. If it loosens back up you may want to remove it and put a small dot of BLUE thread locker on the threads.


Could also be that the center pin has a burr peened onto it making it stick inside the ejector rod. If you can push on the center pin when the cylinder is open and it will stick it may have a burr. If so pull the cylinder out and once again using empty cases for support and a padded vise unscrew the ejector rod and pull the center pin out. The front end will have a small burr mushroomed onto the end. Carefully bevel the end to remove the burr without shortening the pin. This situation would be rare on a 357, more common on heavier recoiling calibers.

Many thanks!!!!

From the op’s description it sounds more like old sludge varnishing up the mechanism. If it were the rod backing out, oil on the latch wouldn’t temporarily solve it just to have it return.
If so a detailed clean & lube of the guts is in order.

Thanks also.

I love Model 28's. Most gush all over the 29's but the 28's just get it done with no muss or fuss.

They're the 'Rodney Dangerfield' of big frame S&W's. -Al