Charter Arms Serial Number Database

Alright gun gurus, need your wisdom. A lady down the street from me knew I was a gun guy and called to see if I'd take a look at two pistols she found while cleaning out her late mothers house. Both are Charter Arms snubbies. One is a nickle plated .38 special Undercover and the other is a .32 blued Undercoverette. No box or documentation with either, but from what I can find serial numbers indicate both were made in mid to late 60's in Charters original factory in Bridgeport Ct. The nickle .38 is in excellent condition with only one small spot where the plating has been roughed up. The .32 is perfect. Does not look like a round has ever been through it. Sooo...anybody have any idea what they I should tell her they are worth?

Do they have the barrel liner?

Hey Amigo, thanks for the reply. Not sure what you mean by barrel liner. Both have unshrouded ejector rods, which from what I read, is an indicator of early models.

The very first Charters were very cheap and used a steel liner in the barrel.The 90's Charters were some better but not enough to not go bust again.Not sure how the newest ones are.For a test does a magnet stick to the end of the barrel better than it does the side of it

I would say if they are new, the Undercoverette may bring $300, the .38 a little less. Charter Arms is a US gun maker and gets way more respect from me than say Taurus, but Charter specializes in simple, utility grade defense revolvers.
Charter Arms guns command very little collector value, and most people buy them just as utility grade home defense or CC guns. In other words, there are very few people out there looking for mint condition early Charter Arms revolvers.

Ausmerican.

I'd be willing to make her an offer..... Lol.....

Jim,
A little history about Charter Arms;
The company first started in Doug McClennahan's home on Mill Road in Southport,CT just a short distance away from Ruger.
The first Charters were made on Asylum St,Bpt,CT in the late fall of '64.
The first Charters did not have bbl liners nor did the have shrouds over the ejector rods.
The nickel CAs did not start showing up until about '67 if my memory is correct and the 3' bbls CAs started production at that time.
The .32 Undercoverette was,I believe their second production and the name was shortly changed to Undercover with the theory that some men might be self conscience of the 'ette' on the bbl of their defensive firearms.
Barrel liners and shrouds came in production later. Their first holsters offered for their revolvers were made by Paris Theodore of Seventrees Ltd in NYC, many of his designs were influenced by Chic Gaylord.
Yes,the Charter Arms Company did experience many ups and downs but they still operate on a small scale with customer service their primary goal.
A case in point was in Jan of '65 was in 'Nam less than one month and Doug McClennahan sent me one of the first production Undercovers (cost was $42.05).
In '98,the transfer bar broke after many thousands of rounds. I took it to their plant in Shelton,CT and in less than 1/2 hours,it was repaired,test fired and back in my hand....no charge.
Jim,
Let me put it this way,if you can keep those little revolvers,do so. Money wise,they are not big for collectors but they do have history.
Top Dog

I bought a C/A Undercover way back. I haven't fired it in a long time. At one time when I worked at a gunshop we had a range. I can't begin to tell you how many rounds I put through that little gun. Never a malfunction of any kind. I got it mainly for a truck gun. That was before Florida enacted the Right to carry in 1987. I didn't want to leave a 'J' frame Smith (that were like gold back then) in the truck and have it get stolen. I still have that Charter Arms right in my nightstand. For a inexpensive gun I've been satisfied and served it's purpose. It's far from a collectors item and they don't bring much.

A side note about Doug McClennahan. When he worked for Ruger,he was the lead engineer for the design and production of the 10/22 which came out in '64,just at the time when he started up his little company.
When he left Ruger,it was with support from Bill Ruger with the best wishes for success in his new project.
Top Dog

I have a Charter Off Duty 38spl, love it! They aren't a Smith or a Ruger buy any means as far as looks. But these guns shoot and do it well. Mine is a hammer-less aluminum framed pocket gun that goes everywhere with me. I carry it in my shorts and have been known to pull it and dispatch a snake or two mowing the yard. I would buy a Bulldog 44spl they have and if Ruger doesn't put out a 5 shot double action 44 the size of the Charter I'll buy a Charter. If you want to get rid of those you might not get much but if you keep em and use them you'll be happy enough and they will serve you well for years to come. IMO

I had a Charter Arms 44 bulldog from mid 70s to mid 80s. Since it was the only 44 special then in production, when The Son of Sam David Berkowitz was on his rampage in the latte 1970s local police asked owners of 44 bulldogs to come in to have the ballistics checked. I did somehow David Berkowitz never did. It show the rediculousness of some gun control efforts. Would the real shooter have come in no. I tried old Elmer Lieth level loads in my charte and no problem. The things we do when young. I did though wear heavy clothing and a welders aprom mask and gloves. No harm though recoil made a 12 ounce 357 seem tame. Ps for younger reader see the movie summer of sam for info about the time.

I also have a Charter Off-Duty and one of the first Bulldogs. +Ps in the Off-Duty will definitely get your attention.
I have not loaded the Bulldog hot.
One of the keys to comfort/recoil control is the grips. I use the standard factory service grips with Tyler T-grip adapters. They do make a difference and you still keep the firearm profile low.
Top Dog

Weldermyass,
Thank you,I read your response and had to go to my vault and pick out my Charter Off-Duty. It now rides in place of my North American Arms 22 mag PUG.
It weighs just a tad more but disappears in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster in my left front jeans pocket.
The grips are the standard factory small wooden grips with a Tyler T-grip adapter and I have orange glow paint on the front sight.
Your reply jogged my memory that I had that good gadget. I will have it out at the range on Wednesday to run it through it's paces.
Top Dog

Top Dog.., I use a DeSantis Gunhide pocket holster it has a sticky outside and will stay put tucked inside the waistband as well. One word, I shoot 38spl's and carry +P'S. Blue Glaser safety slugs to be exact. Happy shooting Pal.

Sorry for not getting back sooner, but have had massive computer problems. Thanks for all the info on the Charter Arms pistols. I finally got the opportunity to shoot the .38 spl. It's a nice little shooter. Had planned on keeping the .32 as mint as possible, but wife took a shine to it and now calls it her gun!

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