Many, many years ago, a gunsmith showed me how to make a tool from a screwdriver. I still have it, and it is still easy to use.

One more who uses a screwdriver; no problems for over 40 years.

If you need anything more than a flat bladed screw driver and a shop rag you probably shouldn't be taking the side plate off of your gun.

^^^This (but I wasn't going to admit it!! ) ^^^

I did it with a flat screwdriver, but it was not at all enjoyable and in fact downright frustrating.
Your uncalled-for superior attitude is duly noted, however.

Showing a "superior attitude" was not the intent of my tone. I too had to learn how to remove a rebound spring and it took a few tries just like it does for just about everyone else. My point is that there are very few special tools needed for working on a revolver and looking for just the right special tool for this task is just over thinking it. I have also tried many of these gimmicks and found them all lacking. There are more than one of them sitting at the bottom of my tool chest taking up space. My comment about removing the side plate is aimed at those who do not want to make the commitment to properly learn how to work on these guns, thinking that they can replace experience and knowledge with some kind of "special tool". Those people really shouldn't be taking their guns apart. Sorry if I offended anyone. That was certainly not my intent.

I started working on guns as an Army division small arms repairman at the age of 17 (I'm 76 now). I spent 30 years as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic. Professionals in any mechanical field use "special tools" when they are available. The professional does the job all day long and doesn't have the time or inclination to not use a special tool if it is available, either making it or buying it. Amateurs do what they will!

Stu

One helpful tip I have found for installing the rebound spring is to find something solid to brace the gun against. If there is a solid wall on the right side of your workbench, you can brace the muzzle against it. This way, you are pressing the spring against a solid object instead of fighting the spring pressure in both directions.

I have considered shaping a wooden block so that I could clamp it to my workbench and then brace the front of the frame against it to support the spring pressure. This method would provide support sort of like a third hand. But so far I have not found this to be necessary.

As far as tools, I use a large flat tip screwdriver. The screwdriver should be large enough that only one corner goes into the opening of the spring. The screwdriver should not be too sharp, since my finger goes over the other corner. I got this method from one of Jerry Michulek's videos, and it works well. Note that I have seem him use other tools and methods in other videos, so there are certainly other ways to do it.

I have tried at least tool designed for this job, but I found that the large flat screwdriver method worked better for me.

My apology for overreacting. I've dealt with so many morons in online forums that it's easy to take decent folks' comments out of their intended context.
I agree that there are lots of gimmicks out there, and most likely if I would do this specific task more often it would become a lot more easy. It sure had me aggravated the other night, though.

I just now watched Jerry Miculek do it on YouTube and his method appears to work incredibly well. Next time that's what I'll try.

There are two different methods. One "plugs" into the spring the other does not. I found that trying a flat head screwdriver,for example, difficult because the tip would slip off the spring and the spring would take off into parts unknown. Others, with better dexterity, find it quite easy to do.

I prefer using a Phillips head screwdriver because it plugs into the spring. You need one that will not slide into the spring but will go into the hole in the rebound slide. I keep a flat head screwdriver handy because the spring will not completely go over the pin. while keeping downward pressure on the slide, I just coax the top of the spring end coil over the pin.

Jerry Miculek's ball point pen trick also plugs into the spring.