Snubby love: New-to-me Charter Arms Off-Duty

[Nathanael_Greene]

Out surfing a pawnshop yesterday, and came across this little gem: a Stratford-era Charter Arms Off Duty.

She needed a good cleaning, and you can see there's some dings in the wood, but mechanically she checked out, she's rust-free, and looks like she'll be a good companion.

I don't really need another snub-nosed revolver, but what the heck.

 

[Dframe]

Everybody needs another snubby!
I have..............well lets just say more than one! I even have a charter though mine is a "Southpaw". Nice acquisition!

 

[DNS]

Looks like a fun one!

IIRC that puts in the 1974-1991 era. You know what exact year yet?

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Nope, not a clue about its birthday. Serial number is 912XXX; can anyone narrow it down for me?

 

[DNS]

IIRC they only ran until 1,090,000 in the Stratford era so your right near the end. I'm guessing '89 to '90 or real darn close.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Thanks, DNS. Very helpful.

I'd love to take this baby to the range, but my supply of .38 special is dwindling, with no replacements in sight...

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Nice little gun! I've got Charter Arms #976XXX on my side right now and #107XXX in the safe.

 

[md2lgyk]

Nice find! I had a 1968-vintage Undercover that I got new. Loved that little thing. Sorry I ever got rid of it.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Thanks...I kind of wish I hadn't waited so long to check out Charter Arms products. (Got some bad advice a long time ago.)

 

[rswartsell]

The advice wasn't necessarily bad, maybe not completely informed. Charter went through some bad times when bought out by the wrong owners and quality suffered. Buy the right vintage and you are golden, buy one of the "bad years" and you are on your own.

I think you did good. Search the web/forums for details about rise, fall and resurrection of the brand.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

no "Charco" and no "Charter 2000" guns

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

The bad-mouthing I'd heard about Charter dates back to the mid-80's, when they really weren't so bad, I see. (And the guy who told me that stuff proved to be a complete ignoramus where firearms are concerned.)

I do remember seeing some Charco/Charter 2k products at gun shows, and being mightily unimpressed.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

My brother carried a Charter Undercover while in the Air Force during Vietnam and elsewhere. After many years, it was a bit the worse for wear. I managed to get it away from him for a short time while he was moving and got it cleaned up, tuned up, and Parkerized for him. He doesn't carry it anymore, but he's very proud of it. It will be my nephew's eventually along with the shadowbox holding my brother's wings and ribbons.

ECS

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

One more question.

Would $240 be too much to pay for this little shooter?

 

[lowercase]

One more question.

Would $240 be too much to pay for this little shooter?

It's a normal price for that gun if sold in a shop. Maybe a little on the high side.

I'd try to get them to come down a bit. I picked up a couple older Undercover models last year (before all of the buying panic) for 200 bucks apiece.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Oh, good, because $240 was the original asking price, and I got them down a decent amount.

 

[rswartsell]

Given today's environment and that you got one of the good production years, you would have done well by my experience at original asking price. Much less than that? Shoot it like you stole it! Because you did.

You can't get anything decent on a reliable basis for that price anymore and if you got a "good" Charter you got decent and maybe a touch more.

Congrats! Shoot safe.

 

[Kaeto]

I also swear by Charter. In my case though it's an Undercover Southpaw.

 

[MedWheeler]

^^ As do I. I have one I bought the day I was sworn in as a LEO, in 1987. Has always performed well, looks handsome (Undercover model, blued, with the anodized-aluminum barrel/ejector shroud), and rode with me as a BU/OD gun my first few years on the job.

Later in life, I learned from my dad, whom I did not know growing up, that he had also done a few years in LE, and also had an Undercover .38 revolver. He still had it when we re-established contact. His dates from 21 years before mine, which makes it the same vintage as am I. It came home with me upon his death in 2010.

 

[Bopleo]

Snubby love. Sounds like a problem you have?

Anyway, these guns are good to go.

If you are interested barami makes the hip grip for them that works great.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Snubby love. Sounds like a problem you have?

Not really. We're just good friends. Rumors to the contrary are mere gossip.

 

[Haywood]

I know a Lady that has one labeled Charter 2000. She got it used and is deadly accurate with it. She never had a problem with it and feeds it +P Ammo.

 

[horsemen61]

Hey Cocked I'd love to see some pictures of them please

 

[larryh1108]

I have an Undercover with a serial number in the 500k range. Great little gun. The over-sized grips make it a pleasure to shoot atthe range.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Hey Cocked I'd love to see some pictures of them please

ok