My only problem with flat-head fasteners, especially those with a wider head than normal, is that any torque applied to the head of the bolt (as tension on the chainplate would seem to do) gets more leverage than on a normal pan or hex head bolt causing the likelihood of breakage to go up. One of the nice thing about hex or pan head bolts is the head is not in line with the load, all it is doing is not allowing the end of the bolt to go through the plate.
The other thing about flat head bolts is that, because of the inclined plane in line with the load, the force exerted by the plate actually pushes out on the head of the bolt. It seems to me that with a flatter inclined plane the mechanical advantage would be even more.
Granted they do look VERY nice all polished up and aligned, and in the instance of a bow plate, where you have sail all around and bolts in at a number of angles, I'm sure the would work quite well.
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