3rd Gen - Can't field strip. Slide stuck

[TriggerHappy1]

I may have bought a lemon of a 3rd Gen from a private party. I can't remove the slide assembly for a field strip without tapping the back of the slide with a (non-marring) rubber mallet to drive it off the frame. I remove the takedown lever but can move the slide only about 1/8" forward on the frame before the slide binds on something. It reassembles fine; no binding that I can detect. At first I though the barrel and guide rod may have somehow been misaligned within the slide, and catching on the frame. But when I finally am able to remove the slide with said rubber mallet, the barrel assembly seems positioned OK. Any ideas what could be the issue? What parts might be binding that I can polish without harming the action? I'd rather not go to the time and expense of sending it to SW for repair if it can be avoided. BTW, I have not fired the gun. Thanks.

 

[Jeppo]

Magazine out of the gun before disassembly?

 

[TriggerHappy1]

Magazine out of the gun before disassembly?

That's a yes.

 

[Aegis]

Do the slide and frame rails look ok? Could the sping assembly not be for your model?

 

[TriggerHappy1]

Do the slide and frame rails look ok? Could the sping assembly not be for your model?

I'll check on Thursday.

 

[GerSan69]

I suggest a quick process of elimination: first, try it without the spring. If it still binds, try without the barrel and spring. if it binds on the slide only, then the rails might be suspect. Be sure to look carefully at the undersides as well as the top, and examine the rails in the slide, too. Good luck, that's not really a problem that many folks bring up.

 

[Heymatt]

What model? Are you using any lubricant on the rails during assembly?

 

[ACEd]

As I understand it you can move slide back to remove pin - presumably you can move slide back all the way to cock and it comes back forward OK?

So once you remove pin, the slide only moves 1/8 in or so forward from the pin removal position? It does not even come back to the normal position?

Sounds really odd that it assembles OK but not disassembles - does not sound like rails to me - but check and lube lightly.

If you dont find anything obvious I would call SW and more than likely they will send you a shipping label and fix it for free - Had a problem with a 5904 not able to reassemble a couple of years back and they fixed no charge - cant remember what part they replaced but they also replaced recalled grips - works fine now - took about 6 weeks to get it back was only downside, but I was well satisfied.

 

[Ten2six]

After you remove the slide stop, return the slide to normal resting position and decock the gun. This should allow you to continue pulling the slide forward and remove it.