H&R R73 problem

[bernie]

I am cleaning a bunch of guns for a friend's widow. He did not always take good care of his guns, and I am trying to slowly get them cleaned and in good shape, but I have come upon another problem. I have come upon several, but this one I discovered today. He had an H&R R73 revolver. Everything seems to work as it should. The trigger pulls, hammer cocks, etc., but I cannot get the extractor rod to pull forward so that I can open the cylinder to clean it. Any ideas on how to get it open? I have it setting muzzle up letting some CLP soak in. I am truly at a loss as to what may be going on. Any help here is greatly appreciated.

 

[rcmodel]

CLP will probably work, eventually.

But real penetrating oil will work much faster.

Failing that, try a heat gun or hair dryer to heat it up enough to thin the old dried grease sticking it shut.

rc

 

[N.Schafer]

If penetrating oil doesn't work, you can try tapping it loose from the rear. If you remove the hammer you can see it protruding through the frame. Don't hit it too hard as you don't want to damage it.

 

[bernie]

I got it free today. After letting the CLP soak in for a day or two, I sat the muzzle on the carpeted floor, grabbed one of the grooves with a set of wire cutters to be able to "grip" the extractor rod, and then tapped the cutters with a rubber mallet. Worked like a charm!