A charging handle apparatus for use in a circuit interrupter to mechanically charge an operating mechanism of the circuit interrupter, the charging handle apparatus comprising: a handle assembly; a gear structured to be mechanically connected with a portion of the operating mechanism; a support apparatus disposed on the handle assembly and engaged with the gear, the support apparatus comprising a base portion and an engagement portion, characterized in that the engagement portion - comprises a number of engagement structures (76A, 76B) that can be engaged with the gear in either of a first orientation of the gear and the engagement portion and a second orientation of the gear and the engagement portion different than the first orientation, the base portion being disposed on the handle assembly, the engagement portion being disposed on the base portion and engaged with the gear, at least one of the base portion and the engagement portion being movable with respect to the other of the base portion and the engagement portion; and the gear and the engagement portion each having a non-cylindrical opening (52, 72) formed therein, the opening in the gear and the opening in the engagement portion being aligned with one another and structured to receive therethrough a shaft that is mechanically connected with the operating mechanism of the circuit interrupter when the engagement structures are engaged with the gear in the first orientation of the gear and the engagement portion, the opening in the gear and the opening in the engagement portion being at least partially misaligned and structured to resist receiving the shaft therethrough when the engagement structures are engaged with the gear in the second orientation of the gear and the engagement portion-. a handle assembly; a gear structured to be mechanically connected with a portion of the operating mechanism; a support apparatus disposed on the handle assembly and engaged with the gear, the support apparatus comprising a base portion and an engagement portion, characterized in that the engagement portion - comprises a number of engagement structures (76A, 76B) that can be engaged with the gear in either of a first orientation of the gear and the engagement portion and a second orientation of the gear and the engagement portion different than the first orientation, the base portion being disposed on the handle assembly, the engagement portion being disposed on the base portion and engaged with the gear, at least one of the base portion and the engagement portion being movable with respect to the other of the base portion and the engagement portion; and the gear and the engagement portion each having a non-cylindrical opening (52, 72) formed therein, the opening in the gear and the opening in the engagement portion being aligned with one another and structured to receive therethrough a shaft that is mechanically connected with the operating mechanism of the circuit interrupter when the engagement structures are engaged with the gear in the first orientation of the gear and the engagement portion, the opening in the gear and the opening in the engagement portion being at least partially misaligned and structured to resist receiving the shaft therethrough when the engagement structures are engaged with the gear in the second orientation of the gear and the engagement portion-.