If you have a choice, which do you prefer and why?

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Aaron Terry

I like the flat latch because they are old and I like old guns. I would have to say that the new ones may work faster. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I was thinking that Smith made three different kinds of thumb pieces for their handejectors: flat(real old ones), the rounded ones used until the late 90's or so, and the current, triangular ones.

Anyway, I like the current ones the best, mainly for an aesthetic reason: the knurled edge follows the line of the frame as it descends from the top strap to the top of the grip frame. That looks better to me, especially on anything smaller than an N frame. On smaller frames the top rear edge of the rounded thumb piece almost reaches the top side of the frame, and therefore looks like it's not positioned correctly.

Andy

My choice would be the ( the rounded ones used until the late 90's or so ) I like the look of these better. The newer style, not so much. Just my 2 cents! P.S. The flat latch, I have not owned one yet, looks ok I guess.

my pinned blue steel 49 with worn out factory grips and tarnished Tyler T grip is just achin' for a flat latch....

I like the new style cylinder latch. It looks and feels better to me. Just my opinion. -Ed.

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Shoot the CPU, not the monitor

I like both, as long as there isn't a little hole near it!

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Misty

Ha! Well said, Misty.

Why isn't someone making reproduction flat latches?

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I just dont care for the looks of the flat latch, so i prefer the newer style latch myself.

My question is are they interchangable? triangular to flat or rounded?

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John

John,

Your question aroused my curiosity, so I got out examples of the current thumbpiece and what I've called the rounded one. I don't have time right now to take them off and see if they will interchange, but it appears to me from eyeballing them side by side that they will. The fastener(cap threaded on the inside with a slotted head) appears to me to be the same diameter on each one, and the distance it protrudes from the side of the frame looks the same to me also. But again, that's just eyeballing it.

Andy

Thanks, Andy. The key will be if the rectangular-ish stud that the latch fits on and screws to. If you have the time, I'd like to know.

I don't particularly like the triangular as, to me, they don't look quite right. Kind of a cost saver. The rounded looks like it is a functional piece made for a combat weapon. Your thumb won't miss or slip off.

John (who grew up in Geauga Co.)

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John

I like the looks of the flat latch much better than the rounded, or certainly the new triangular ones. The flat latches just look cool. But, the the rounded/triangular are a little more functional, as are the Colt latches. The most functional revolver latches are on Rugers.

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NRA Life Member

Rounded works for me.

Before I got a good set of grips that fit my hand, I'd cut the bejebus out of my thumb shooting the .44, but those days are gone now.

Best looking and most functional IMO.