I'm looking at a flat latch J-Frame on GunBroker that shows wear through the bluing on the forward end of the latch thumb piece. Anyone know what could cause this? I've pulled the photo showing it from their site and attached below.
thanks,
Stu

Attached Images

latch wear.jpg (74.2 KB, 104 views)

It almost looks from the picture that there is something peeling off, below that scratching.... wonder if someone put some type of coating over the gun to hide a worn finish?? My j frames do not do that, but I keep them clean, and don't carry them/load them on a regular basis either....

I see what you mean about the edges of the bluing that seem to be peeling. Interesting. I didn't see that until I blew the photo up a couple of times. Thanks,
Stu

I've seen wear like that caused by the bottom of the latch rubbing the frame. Appears some of the scratches are pretty deep, though.

__________________
Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Don't the flat latches "stand off" of the frame like the later latches?
thanks,
Stu

Most Ive seen have a little clearance there, (again supporting the coating theory), but the most disturbing thing to me is that there is that much wear by the latch, and a turn ring (on a j frame, they typically get shot less than larger guns), but very little wear on the side plate..... I would bid this one as a bargain user, but would be very surprised if it turned out completely un molested..... .02

Of course, the latch could have been a factory flaw that no one cared about, on a carry gun that someone took great care of (but didn't fix the latch), and practiced with..... I think that to be unlikely.....

I don't think the finish wear under/forward of the thumbpiece is too big a deal, it was probably caused by a loose or ill-fitting thumbpiece. I don't see a problem with the turn ring. My j-frames all have a turn ring-- it doesn't take much shooting or just dry-firing to produce one. And why would "very little wear on the sideplate" be a concern? Autococker, I'm guessing you went on GB & found the gun, since the posted photo doesn't even show the side plate.

The cause is from lack of excess clearance between the latch and frame. Not uncommon on Smiths although the more traditional style latch usually has a bit more clearance.