Old Model 10 problem

[xtimesofgrace]

My dad has this really old Model 10 Smith that was his grandfathers. Back in the 80's he sent this gun off to have it re-nickeled (not sure by who). Ever since then it has been pretty difficult to open the cylinder. I have checked to see if the ejector rod is bent and it is not and the gun is very clean. The problem i am seeing is where the crane attaches to the frame. I have removed the screw that lets you remove the crane assembly but i cannot get the crane to budge. The only thing I can guess is that when they re-nickeled the gun it made the crane assembly a bit thicker and it caused a MUCH tighter fit. The cylinder opens very smooth but it is just very difficult. anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this?

EDIT: I believe i posted in the wrong forum because this is NOT a model 10. After doing a little more research this is a 5 screw model revolver. The latest patent date written on the top of the gun is DEC 29 14. So i am assuming it was made around that time.

EDIT 2: I was able to solve the problem. The problem was the grease that was used to reassemble the gun was so old that it got very sticky and it was making it hard to take apart. It was so tough to get the crane assembly out that I had almost given up.

 

[arjay]

If you can get it apart,working with some polishing compound might do the trick,but I wouldn't want to go all the way through the plating

 

[sandspur6]

Make sure the ejector rod is screwed all the way in. The plating may have fouled the threads and made it hard it get it all the way in. Remember, the older Smiths have right hand threads on the ejector rod.

 

[sandspur6]

Disregard my previous. I misread what the problem was. +1 on polishing the crane axis if you can get the crane out.

 

[xtimesofgrace]

Disregard my previous. I misread what the problem was.

yeah it's not the ejector rod because once the ejector rod is past where it closes it is still tough. the crane is so tight on the gun that when i remove the screw to remove the crane assembly i cannot even get the crane assembly out of the gun. all i can guess is that when he got it re-nickeled the made the crane a bit thicker so there is an extremely tight fit where the crane rotates inside of the frame of the gun. like i said this is so tight that i cannot remove the crane assembly when i remove the screw.

 

[arjay]

Try spraying some solvent or penetrating oil in there and working it back and forth.I wonder if it was greased to get it back together and it's dried out over the years

 

[xtimesofgrace]

Try spraying some solvent or penetrating oil in there and working it back and forth.I wonder if it was greased to get it back together and it's dried out over the years

That was exactly the problem. After some tough pushing and some twisting i was able to get the cylinder out. The grease that was used to reassemble the gun was still on there and it was re-nickled about 20+ years ago. When i got it apart the grease was sticky and black. I used some solvent to clean it and used some new oil and it is so smooth now and easy to open. Thanks much for the suggestion

 

[Muss Muggins]

Take it apart again, wipe it down, and don't re-oil anything.