Anyone have a flat latch like this on a mid '50s I or J frame?"

[two-bit cowboy]

I had a discussion with a friend who told me the SCSW 3rd Ed referred to a fourth flat latch on mid-'50s J-frame Chiefs Specials. I cannot find the reference in the book's 4th Ed.

In studying my recently acquired nickel Chiefs and comparing flat latches from another thread, Hondo44 made this recommendation:

You may be on to something!! I recall seeing 2nd types with larger flats on each end like your '7 ridge', but never counted the ridges.

We'll have to be on the look out from now on. Or you may want to start a new thread entitled "Anyone have a flat latch like this on a mid '50s I or J frame?"

I was so intrigued by the idea I took it a step further, made a scale by which to compare the heights of flat latches from four of my Chiefs and offer it here for further examination and discussion. The first photo tells the tale so I won't reiterate.

Does anyone else have a flat latch like the nickel one in the second position (from left)?

Cheers,

Bob

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello Bob, your in depth study of latches is thorough and quite interesting. What are the increments on your scale?
An other variation to keep an eye out for. Thanks

 

[two-bit cowboy]

What are the increments on your scale?

I set the table's column height to 0.05" in Word, but I don't have a precise-enough measuring instrument to obtain the exact dimension (roughly 1.5/32nds -- where are my Air Force Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL) pals when I need them?).

The fifth line from the bottom is exactly ¼", which as the scale shows, is the measurement I get for the tallest part of the 4th flat latch.

Here are a couple more gee-whiz shots at a different angle.

Interestingly enough, I found another nickel Chiefs (but it's a Baby sn 3XXXX) with a similar flat latch to my nickel one, except it has 10 ridges, where mine has 7. Perhaps the company was testing different numbers of ridges on its nickel Chiefs to find a solution for the original flat latch's shortcomings.

Does all this make me look like a geek?

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Hondo44]

A geek, no. A serious analyst of gun collecting detail, yes!

 

[Hondo44]

I've been searching old threads looking for that elusive odd flat latch. Unfortunately since the photobucket snafu, there's very few photos left in the old threads!