quote:

Originally posted by H Richard:
S/N 27862 was shipped Dec. 1925. The S/N range ended at 54474, in 1940, so your 525XX would probably be late 30's, 1938 or 1939. Since it doesn't have the flat latch it would still be a PreWar.

Curious, when did S&W start with the flat latches? Mine shipped July '51 without a flat latch. (s/n 58534)

You know not what you ask! Latches are a very interesting aspect of the post WW II, I, Improved I and J frame guns. There was some transitioning of latches for other frame sizes as well but only the frames mentioned above 'suffered' the flat latch experiment. The 3rd edition Stand. Cat. of S&W by Supica and Nahas covers the changes in general but not exactly. My observation is as follows, again referencing only the small frames indicated above:
On early post WWII, I frame .22/32s,.32s and .38/32s you will find the beautifully sculptured pre-war latches, along with medium ejector rod heads (not mushroom), and even flat silver grip medallions. And you find them out of sequence with serial number advancement and gun delivery dates!!

On later post war guns, '49 and early '50s, you'll find a slightly sculpted but more blocky style, with no undercutting of the top and bottom flared edges (very few of these). And then the most common up to 52-53 is the standard blocky type used on all size frames from '66 thru the 90's.
The three styles above tend to coincide with other changes like ramped front sight with barrel rib and leaf mainspring change to coil spring that preceed the change to the Improved I frame.

Flat latches began in 1950 on the then brand new Chief's Spl in .38 Special. First on the 1/8" longer 'baby J' frame 5 screw, with rounder I-frame-type trigger guard and short butt, continuing thru the change to the 4 screw standard J frame with egg shape trigger guard & long round and longer square grip frame on the Chief in 1953 with three consecutive distinctive styles of flat latches 'til 1966.

Flat lathes for .22, guns coincided with the change to the 4 screw improved I frame (egg shape T. Guard, longer grip frame and even longer new style square butt) starting in 1953 with the Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun(4") and Target(6"). The .32 and .38 S&W guns got the flat latch around the same time but while still I frames, and were soon converted to the improved I frames as well, (progressing thru the 3 flat styles) thru the 4 screw to 3 screw change, and the model number commencement in '57. In 1961 all three were built on the 1/8" longer J frame like the Chief's Spl in .38 Special and given -1 model numbers. But the flat latches followed these four guns thru 1966 when the experiment finally ended. The '50s transition models make for a boat load of collectable small frame guns!