Choosing a Gate Latch for Out-Swing Gates and Animal Pens

Automatic Means the Gate Latches Itself

Both our gate latches are designed for out-swing gates, doors and animal pens, and both latch automatically when the gate swings shut. On a farm that matters more than any strength figure: a gate that needs a deliberate second action is a gate that eventually gets left open.

Hand and Mounting Are Not Fixed

The latch is designed for right or left hand applications, and the strike can be mounted either on the gate or on the post. That flexibility is what lets one part number cover a run of gates that were not all hung the same way.

Opening From the Far Side

The release lever carries a punched hole for a rigging cord, so the latch can be released from the opposite side of the gate. Fit the cord before the gate is hung; retrofitting it means working across a closed gate.

Steel or 304 Stainless

The 315 uses a hot-rolled steel case and strike with a steel rod bar. The 316 uses a 304 stainless steel case and strike. Choose stainless where there is washdown, slurry or coastal air, and steel elsewhere. A back finish is available on both for extra weather resistance.

Hanging the Gate So the Latch Works

The latch is designed for out-swing gates, which means the gate must close into the latch without being lifted. Hang the gate so it swings freely and settles into the strike under its own weight, and check the strike alignment before fixing it permanently. Both latches can be padlocked once closed.