I just acquired a soon to be returned M19 snub with a couple of issues.

Examining it after it arrived, I was dry firing it, comparing it to my other M19 snub and my M66 snub.

After a few minutes of gun handling, I couldn't close the cylinder.
One of the pins on either side of the cylinder arbor had come out and was trapped under the ejector star in some oily residue.

I was lucky to find it instead of losing it on the basement floor.

Then it became difficult to pen the cylinder, the latch requiring a very hard pull to open. Now it won't open - period!

What the heck is going on with this little bugger?

Backed out Extractor rod??

Pete

Is it possible that the extractor rod has come part way unscrewed?

Did you try to force it closed a bit when the pin was jammed under extractor? Might have bend extractor rod a bit.

It isn't hard to reinstall the little extractor pin so it won't come out. I use a small punch to put a little peen near the ent that goes in cylinder and then tap it back it. The peen tightens it up. Some simply clean it and thecylinder up well and use lock tight when reinstalling.

Thanks. If I can succeed in opening the gun, I'll check the ejector rod.

I didn't force it closed with the pin under the ejector star.

I could effect some sort of repair to the pin, but I'm already soured on the gun. I currently own six various S&W models and have owned others in the past. This is a first for me.

It's your gun but I wouldn't return it over these 2 minor problems.

Also consider checking for a split forcing cone. (usually at the bottom of the forcing cone)

Check the lug under the barrel too.Crud can build up in there and bind the spring.