S&W's are designed to be run almost completely dry. Just one or two drops of oil dropped in down around a cocked hammer once a year or so is all it takes to keep them running correctly under normal conditions. It's really hard to get old timers who grew up learning to oil the snot out of everything to understand and accept this. My neighbor and his best friend are both that way.

Rap the side of the grip frame as stated in a previous post, and do is sharply with a leather mallet or wooden or plastic screw driver handle. A plate that has never been off can be hard to get loose the first time, but if hit sharply on the SIDE of the grip frame, it will come loose.

Make sure you pay attention to everything inside and where it is located. The hammer block can be a bear to get situated sometimes for re-assembly if you are new to it.

One more thing- this is important too, when you take a side plate off, especially on pre-lock guns, make sure you keep light finger pressure (from the hand you hold the gun with) against the side plate to avoid buggering up the edge of the plate or frame as it pops loose. Be careful when re-installing it for the same reasons. It is extremely easy to leave tiny burrs along the edge of either one, and that can ruin the look of an otherwise minty gun.