American models in nickel are seen with nickel latches, but proving they left the factory that way is anybodies guess, although Charlie Pate in his book on the American Model, notes that the factory developed the capability to nickel plate guns about the same time as the US Army was having the Boston Plating Co. plate 200 US American revolvers. American model archives and invoices are very hard to read, however you might try a SWHF letter search to see if an invoice for your gun exists . Ed.