Abstract: A chuck for lathes having a chuck body in which at least two clamping jaws which can be jointly actuated by a drive member are guided in radially displaceable manner, the jaws consisting in each case of a drive jaw part which is continuously in operative connection with the drive member and of a clamping jaw part which is guided for radial movement independently of the drive jaw part within the chuck body and can be connected in form-locked manner with the drive jaw part by a coupling piece arranged in the drive jaw part. The form-locked engagement of the coupling piece with the clamping jaw part can be eliminated via positive drive surfaces by a spring-loaded actuating member which is movable substantially radially and independently of other actuating members.