Early Model Charter Arms Undercover 38sp

[itsallgood]

Hey everyone. I received an early model Charter arms undercover from my father recently. He tells me he bought it in the mid 1960s. I have been looking up info on it and could care less about value as it is one of the earliest firearms I shot as a kid (maybe even the first). I found the following on another post but it does not seem to fit as mine is a serial number 14xxx and has neither Bridgeport or Stratford underneath the word "Undercover" on the barrel. Anyone have any ideas on how to determine actual date? Thanks for any help or directions on focusing my search.


1st Generation, funded and organized in 1964, started by Doug McClennahan and Dave Egger - earliest production (1965) up to around s/n 3000 have no barrel address and serial number is found on lower right front of frame. After that, pieces will have a Bridgeport Conn address, serial numbers on right rear of frame and run from around 3500 to around 315,000, made circa 1970. From that number up to around s/n 1,900,000, the pieces will have a Stratford Conn barrel address. These appear to be the "good" guns. From what I've seen, the best function (smoothest action) and best fit and finish pieces began to be produced around the Stratford address switch. Last of the 1st Generation pieces appear to have been made sometime in 1991.

[jyo]

I have both good and bad memories of my Charter Arms Undercover .38---the good: during the East L.A. riots of the early 70s, my CA revolver got me out of a tight spot when gang types tried to burn my business down---I convinced them to go elsewhere---the bad: the cheaply made gun spit lead out of the side with every shot---made it hard to shoot. Still felt good in the hand when I really needed it!

[itsallgood]

Took it to the range the other day. Accurate, especially single action. Alittle gritty in the second stage of the trigger in single action. No lead spatter. I looked at the forcing cone and gap and there does not seem to be any. I can not even see light through the cylinder gap. I contacted charter arms and they got back to me quikley. She said it was built in 1965, I thing in Bridgeport Conn. I replaced the rubber grips I had installed years ago, with the original tiny wood grips. I like it very much. Will be a range gun, hand me down to the kids at some point as I have a S&W 340 PD which is lighter and .357 Magnum.