S&W autloaders pretty much breakdown the same way:
1) Insure the weapon is unloaded and the magazine is out.
2) Slide forward, hammer down, decocking lever/safety OFF (up).
3) Move the slide to the rear until the slide stop notch on the frame is over the slide stop pin then push the pin through from the right side until you can pull it out.
4) Push forward on the slide until it comes off the frame.
5) The recoil guide and spring are next. Note that the guide rod sits on a small rounded shelf on the underside of the barrel.
6) Barrel should be easy to remove next.
Reassemble in reverse order but, when you put the slide back on the frame and move it to the rear be sure you push down on the three levers just in front of the hammer one at a time so that the slide can be moved fully toward the rear.
If one of the levers is immovable, it's likley because the hammer is not fully forward. Push the slide forward clear of all three levers and press the trigger letting the hammer travel unimpeded (bad for the gun if done regularly). This should free up the lever.
Move the slide rearward until the slide stop notch is once again over the slide stop pin well, hold the slide there while you insert the slide stop fully into the frame.
Function check the pistol:
Work slide then leave slide forward.
Hammer will end up cocked and with safety off but with mag out, should not fall when trigger is pressed unless mag disconnect has been removed.
Insert EMPTY mag, press trigger, hammer should fall. Hammer should travel freely rearward and then home with each press of the trigger and can be cocked.
With the hammer down push safety/decock lever ON (down), hammer will displace rearward slightly; press trigger, hammer should not travel or fall. Hammer should not be able to be cocked to single action.
Check free ingress into and release of mag(s) from mag well.
Check slide stop function by inserting empty mag(s) and pulling slide to rear.
[This message has been edited by SKN (edited March 14, 2000).]
