Western Product Of Indiana 630 Bolt Latch Sliding 1/2 in x 10 in

A gate that won't stay shut is a gate that gets left open, and an open gate is the first thing a curious horse notices. This sliding bolt latch gives you a heavy steel bolt that slides home and holds, so the gate stays put through wind, bumps and daily traffic. It was built for livestock and horse barns, where hardware takes far more use than the latch on a backyard gate.

The bolt does double duty. Its steel length doubles as the handle or pull, so you open the gate with the same piece you used to close it. It can be mounted to latch on the left or right, so you can fit it to the side your gate already closes on instead of rebuilding the gate around the hardware.

Highlights

• Heavy-duty steel bolt, 1/2 in x 10 in
• Bolt doubles as a handle or pull
• Latches on the left or right
• Mounting screws included
• Installation guide comes with it
• Built for horse and livestock barns

Why choose a sliding bolt latch

A sliding bolt is the simplest latch that holds. It has no spring to wear out and no hook to slip off, and you can work it with gloves on. A bolt you can see and feel seat into its keeper is one you know is latched, and that matters on a barn door you walk through twenty times a day.

On a working gate, the latch takes the most punishment. The hardware gets pulled and pushed every time someone goes through, and a flimsy catch lets the gate sag and swing. Heavy steel with real mounting screws holds up better to that kind of daily use, which is why this is the right pick for a working gate rather than a light cabinet hook.

It suits a horse stall door, a run-in shed, a paddock gate or a pasture gate that opens at every feeding. If you're replacing a worn latch, the mounting screws come with it, so you can finish the job in one trip to the barn.

At a glance

How to use it

Plan the mount before you drill. Decide which side the gate closes against the post, hold the latch in place, and check that the bolt slides fully into its keeper without rubbing.

1. Pick the side. Mount the latch where the bolt lines up with the post and the gate closes square.
2. Mark the holes. Hold the latch level, mark the screw holes, and slide the bolt through its full travel before you drive anything.
3. Fasten and test. Install with the screws that come with it, then open and close the gate several times. The bolt should slide smoothly and seat firmly.
4. Use the bolt as the handle. Pull the steel bolt to open the gate, so the load stays on the hardware and not on the wire or the post.

Good to know

• Check the screws every season. A gate that swings hard puts strain on any latch, so snug up the screws when they loosen.
• Hang the gate square before you fit the latch. A gate that closes true lines the bolt up every time and saves wear on the hardware.
• Keep a spare on the shelf. The latch is one of the first parts to wear on a busy gate, and a matching one saves a trip into town when a barn door starts to sag.

Pick up a second one for the next gate that starts to stick.