M28 Highway Patrolman N Frame. Bought it used and have shot maybe 2 cylinders through it. Even when I bought it it was hard but I figured it just needed a good cleaning. Shortly after this I couldn't open it at all. Catch moves but the cylinder doesn't.

Any ideas?

The extractor rod may have backed out.If it's model marked -1 or later it's a left hand thread.

Screw in the ejector rod.

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Pisgah

Or fouling buildup under the extractor star? I know folks are tied of me saying this, but too many people fancy themselves gunsmiths and perform mods (generous term) to their revolvers. When they sell them, they rarely tell anyone what they have done to the guns.
Again, take it to a 'smith and have it diagnosed properly. No shame to this.

One other possibility. Some nimrod mixed up the sideplate screws. Loosen the front sideplate screw by 1 turn and see if it gets easier. If it does try inserting the sideplate screw from behind the trigger in the front spot. If you can tighten it all the way up without binding the yoke then leave it there and put the other screw in the spot behind the trigger.
Chip King

I had same problem with Highway Patrolman in the '60's. Shooting .357 mag. and the fireing pin bushing had backed up allowing primer to back out and bind cylinder. Apparently recess for the bushing was too deep. Sent in to S&W to replace bushing, problem solved.

Many thanks to all that answered. It was indeed the ejector rod. Used the tip of an eye glasses screw driver to get the rod to release and it was quite loose. I'm surprised neither I or the seller never noticed it.

It's a very nice piece but I think I am going to sell it to get something newer, I am more of a shooter than collector and I would feel bad hammering the heck out of this.

Thanks again guys...

I am not sure there is a better shooter than the 28. Hammering is what the 28 was made for.

Well, yes and no...It has been said that despite the trigger locks and MIM parts, the newer guns are more precise and better made than the guns of old, even if they do lack the character of days gone by.

My 625-6 has spoiled me for moon clips and the idea of a 8 shot mooned 627 makes me all tingly....I still have 3 other recessed and pinned (2 N's and an L) that I will not sell simply for sentimental reasons.

I really want to try to shoot ALOT more revolver this year as my DA revolver shooting skills are poor in comparison to my DA autoloader ones...

I would dispute with anyone that the newer guns are more precise and better made than the guns of old . Having much direct experience with S&W revolvers, old and new, the newer guns generally exhibit much less quality than the older guns do. Besides my pretty extensive personal experience as a long-time FFL holder, here's another example: I have a good friend who owns the oldest, and one of the largest, gun shops in the area and he was railing against the quality of the newer S&W revolvers just the other day (when I was purchasing a 1948 M&P snubbie), saying he spends far too much time sending new guns back for warranty work for his customers, and even routinely sends guns back that are defective out of the box as they arrive in the store.

A 28 is the perfect shooter. Don't feel bad using a shooter grade revolver when that is what is was born to do...

they told ya! that's why i checked the "like" button.

i've seen this happen many times at the police range back when we were all issued revolvers.

loose EXTRACTOR rod, that is!

i thought extractor was the correct term and not ejector?