I had an Undercover that I bought in the mid-1970s, and as I recall the fit and finish was on par with a square-butt Chief that I also owned at the time. Quality-wise, the Charter was right up there with other American handgun makers. Fifty years ago, a $10 savings could make a big difference. In the 1965 edition of Gun Digest, S&W’s Chief Special was listed at $65, a Colt Detective Special was $69.50 and the Charter Arms Undercover was quoted as $55. The Undercover was also made available with a nickel finish and a 3-inch barrel as time went on. Initially, the Undercover was sold with a polished blue finish and smooth walnut grips that held a silver Charter Arms medallion. Finally, the machined barrel had eight-groove rifling instead of six-groove, which improved the bullet seal and resulted in higher velocities and better accuracy potential. It was also the only American revolver that didn’t have a cylinder stop in the frame to hold the cylinder in place when it was open for loading.
The cylinder locked in three different places instead of just two-at the breech face and on both sides of the frame using the ejector rod collar. The Undercover also used a hammer-block, transfer-bar safety system invented by Charter that only allowed the gun to fire when the trigger was fully to the rear. RELATED STORY: Swamp King – The Charter Arms Gator Revolver Both the trigger and the hammer spur were wider for easier user manipulation.
The action itself had fewer major moving parts than its competitors, plus it had a shorter hammer throw, making the lock time faster. It was spring-loaded and made of tough beryllium copper, making it almost unbreakable. Charter Arms, however, fitted the firing pin of the Undercover in the frame. 38 Special UndercoverĬolt and S&W centerfire revolvers at the time had their firing pins riveted in the hammer nose. By comparison, the S&W Chief’s Special weighed 19 ounces and was roughly the same size.īetter Backup Charter Arms. The grip frame/triggerguard was a one-piece unit made of aluminum alloy, which kept the weight of the gun down to 16 ounces and which permitted Charter Arms to advertise it as the lightest steel-framed revolver on the market. All internal parts were attached by screws or pins, plus all the springs were coil springs. Unlike conventional revolvers, there was no sideplate access to the action was through the bottom of the frame. It was conceived by American engineers who wanted a new and different handgun design while keeping with the traditions established in New England’s “Gun Valley.” At the time, this revolver was very different from the wheelguns produced by Colt and Smith & Wesson.įor starters, the frame was a solid piece of steel, which provided added strength. The very first Charter Arms product was a five-shot, double-action, snub-nose revolver in. While we make every effort to accurately describe and illustrate the item you are going to receive, there may be visual differences on various components that do not affect functionality.Charter Arms has been around since 1964. Also, modifications to the firearm or component may be required in order to meet specific state compliance requirements. While we make every effort to ensure that our product photos are accurate, manufacturers occasionally change the design of components such as triggers, sights, or magazines without notice. To purchase a shotgun or rifle, you must be 18 years of age or older. Federal law requires that you be 21 years of age or older to purchase a handgun, frame or receiver. If you do not specify the name and shipping address of your dealer, your order will be delayed. The centerfire revolver features a polymer grip, a stainless-steel barrel and a 1-piece, aluminum alloy upper frame.įederal law requires firearms to be shipped to FFL Dealers. 38 S&W Revolver with Integrated Crimson Trace Laser is designed with a pinned ramp front sight, an integral rear sight and an adjustable Gray Crimson Trace integrated red laser.