Do I have an original charter arms gun?

[megatronrules]

I have a charter arms 5 shot sub nose serial number range 450xx,its marked "charter arms corp. bridgeport,conn." on the right side of the barrel. And its marked "undercover .38" on the left side of the barrel,the barrel also has an exposed ejector rod. The gun also had a very nice blue finish and tight solid lock up. I don't think this is one the charco guns becuase it dosen't say charco anywhere on it,so is this a 1st generation or an early CA gun? I oly paid $150 for it and it seems like a very nice gun to have around(i have an addiction to snubbys) Any help with this would be great thanks.

 

[JohnBT]

Charter Arms Co. was founded in Bridgeport in 1964. With the exposed ejector rod it sounds like an original Undercover.

And that's about all I know about that.

John

 

[magsnubby]

Sounds like an original Charter Arms gun.

 

[megatronrules]

So I take it this is one of the early ones,the good ones everyone mentions? So does this gun date back to the mid 60's then?

 

[DonP]

I asked the factory

Here's the reply I got when I asked about "date of manufacture" and whether they had grips available to replace the little tiny wood grips that come with the originals, hope it helps.

It turns out all the CA grips, Bulldog, etc. (except their new little .22's) are interchageable. I found a brand new Pachmayr Compac for $10 in the "discount stuff" pile at a local gun store.

Dear Sir,

We do not have the records for the old models but i could tell you that if you
see on the barrel and if it says Stratford Ct it was made 1970-1980
Bridgport Ct 1960-1970, Ansonia Ct 1990.

Yes we do have Rubber grips and wood grips available for your gun the grip
frame is the same so it would fit your gun.

 

[Jim March]

That's a GOOD gun. Feed it Remington 158+P for social work for best results, or light diets of the Speer 135+P. Most of your practice should be standard-pressure.

The ejector rod may want to come unscrewed once in a while. Blue locktite (NOT RED!) is your friend.

 

[VA27]

Good find! The exposed ejector rod makes it an early one.

I've owned quite a few of the "early" Charter Arms guns. I've never had a minutes trouble with any of them. $150 is a good price and I like 'em better than the "imported" guns and they are lighter than the Smith steel guns. I still have an early OffDuty and two 3" Pathfinders. If it goes "bang" every time you pull the trigger, it's a keeper.

 

[megatronrules]

Thanks guys for $150 I thought that was a really good deal and the gun is in very nice,almost new shape. Jim are you saying its ok to shoot small amounts of +p ammo in this gun or to carry it with +p for ccw purposes?

 

[Jim March]

Yup. But take it easy. And check for loosening screws after each shooting session, +P or not.

Winchester and Remington 38+P 158 lead hollowpoints will be among the mellower +P loads you can shoot. I've done maybe 100 rounds of same total over the years, 20 rounds of Gold Dot 135+P to sight them in, maybe 600 rounds of standard pressure in the...lesse, six years I've had it. Zero problems except a couple of loosening screws. The gun is tight and right.

 

[megatronrules]

Jim do the screws on these guns loosen as a matter a general rule,if so should I do to them if anything besides retightning them?

 

[SgtGunner]

I got my dad's Bulldog .44spl when he passed away. It was early to mid 60's model. At least thats when he bought it. Such a great little gun. Even though it has a nefarious past (Son of Sam) I doubt I will ever shoot this gun because it was dad's and is still unfired. I think they (early) Charters are one of the most under-rated guns out there.

Enjoy yours.

 

[Jim March]

Use blue locktite on any screw that loosens on any gun. NOT RED.

 

[megatronrules]

Thanks jim where do i get blue locktite incase this happens? Also is it a comon thing on these guns? Would you say its an issue uf the gun will be used for concealed carry?

 

[Jim March]

Any hardware store will have it, or some generic equivelent. If it's a "screw sealer goop" of some sort in a really tiny bottle/tube and it's BLUE, it should be fine. Among all vendors of this sort of thing, blue is the standard color-code for "can be unscrewed loose no problem, it's a tightener versus outright glue" while red is code for "a super-strong glue, you'll probably end up drilling and/or torching it loose".

Do. Not. Use. Red. On. A. Gun.



Screws on guns loosen. Period. On a Ruger SA it's usually the grip frame screws, on a Charter it'll be the ejector rod first and foremost, and in my case the hammer pivot screw. No big deal.

 

[JERRY]

charter arms just doesnt make them that good anymore....not on a regular basis anyway.....the bridgeport & stratford guns were the best of the breed. everything else since then has had durabilty and reliabilty Q.C. issues for the most part.

the fact that that gun has been around and pressumably shot for so long and is still in shooting condition tells you quite a bit about the old charter arms......

 

[Texas48]

Do. Not. Use. Red. On. A. Gun.

Unless. You. Are. Staking. A. New. Front. Sight. On. A. 1911.

It. Sure. Works. Great. For. Making. Sure. Those. Don't. Shoot. Loose.

 

[VA27]

Word.