Charter Arms

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=About=
Douglas McClennahan, a young gun designer who founded Charter Arms in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1964, had previous revolver experience after working for Colt, High Standard, and Sturm-Ruger. The first revolver produced by Charter Arms was a five-shot revolver called the "Undercover" chambered for .38 Special. McClenahan's innovation was to avoid using the side plate designs manufactured by other revolver makers for a one-piece frame, giving the new revolver a strength that allowed it to safely shoot powerful loads. Charter Arms revolvers do not use a side plate, which creates a stronger frame, and they do not use a traditional crane arm, as it locks inside the frame to create a stronger action. Charter Arms revolvers are interesting because the lockwork is something of a combination of Ruger, Smith & Wesson and Colt technology. McClenahan also reduced the number of moving parts used in the gun and created a safety transfer bar device for the firing pin that was later copied by most modern revolver manufacturers, such as Taurus, Colt, Ruger and Smith & Wesson. In 1967, McClennahan's lifelong friend, David Ecker, became a 50/50 partner in Charter Arms. Around 1974 to 1976, production was moved to Stratford, Connecticut. In 1978, Doug McClennahan retired from Charter Arms and Ecker became the company's sole owner. Some time after, Nick Ecker, David's son, started working at the company. By 1984, Nick Ecker became partner, but in 1988, the company was purchased by Jeff Williams, who renamed it to "CHARCO" and moved production to Ansonia, Connecticut. In 1996, the company filed for bankruptcy because of Charco's mismanagement and in 1998, it closed. Two years later, in 2000, Nick Ecker purchased the company along with two other investors, naming it "Charter 2000", and operations were moved to Shelton, Connecticut. By 2002, Nick Ecker was the sole owner of the company, but the company ended up filing for bankruptcy once again as the result of frivolous lawsuits. However, two years later in 2007, the company was renamed to the original name "Charter Arms" and emerged from its financial difficulties. Basing their new line of weapons on the basic Charter Arms design, the new company has made a few improvements such as the use of a one-piece barrel and front sight. The one-piece barrels of the new models are machined with eight grooves instead of six for higher velocity, flatter trajectory and better accuracy. The new models feature a completely blocked hammer system so that the gun cannot fire unless the trigger is held in full rear position. Since 2000, Charter Arms has innovated considerably. They are the only company to make a revolver chambered for rimless cartridges that does not require moon clips: the "Pitbull". Charter Arms is also the only company that makes a production model left-handed revolver: the "Southpaw", named after a left-handed boxer. Charter Arms revolvers also come from the factory in a variety of colors. The average Charter Arms revolver is twenty-five percent smaller and lighter than other revolvers, and the Ultralites are half the weight of other revolvers. Charter Arms revolvers are known for being affordable and high-quality, and are built by the Ecker family in Shelton, Connecticut, located in New England's Gun Valley. They are completely American-made, with most of their part suppliers being less than an hour's drive away. Charter Arms has produced many different handguns chambered in .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .41 Remington Magnum, .44 Special, and .45 Colt. The company currently offers revolvers in .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .32 H&R Magnum, .44 Special, .22 Magnum, .22 LR, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
=Information=
Founded: 1964
Country: USA
Products: Revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, rifles
=Handguns=
Weapon 	Caliber(s) 	Capacity	Produced 	Variants 	Image
Charter Arms Undercover 	.38 Special 	5 	1964-Present	UndercoveretteUndercover Lite 	
Charter Arms Bulldog 	.44 Special.38 Special,.357 Magnum 	5 or 6 	1973-Present	 	
Charter Arms Bulldog Police	.38 Special,.357 Magnum.44 Special.32 H&R Magnum	5 or 6 	1973-Present	Police UndercoverBulldog Target	200px
Charter Arms Explorer II 	.22 Long Rifle 	8 	1973-1990 	 	
Charter Arms Bulldog Pug 	.44 Special.38 Special,.357 Magnum 	5 or 6 	1999-Present	Charter Arms Mag Pug 	
Charter Arms Off Duty 	.38 Special 	5 or 6 	2002-Present	Charter Arms On-Duty 	
Category:Manufacturer