Charter Arms Undercoverette 32

M

mducote005

Inactive
Hello to all. I am new to this forum and have a question concerning a revolver that I was given. The revolver is a Charter Arms Undercoverette .32. I can find an abundance of information about them all over the Internet. However most of the ones I find are the stainless steel version. Mine is unique to due to the fact that it has wood grips, brown frame, and a blued barrel. The model number is 1322. I have looked numerous time and cant find any information on it. Can anyone provide me with any information on this particular model? Thanks in advance.
 
A new incarnation of Charter Arms is currently in business. They are in Connecticut -- Shelton, I think, or maybe Stratford? Try contacting them directly.
 
Some of the early Charter frames had an off-color that looks copperish.
My bet your gun is a standard blued Undercoverette-as they were made in blue and nickel only.
 
mducote005,
On your UNDERCOVERETTE .32 - the number you posted, 1322, may be the serial number - if so it is stamped into the lower right side of the frame forward of the trigger guard, and the barrel would be marked on Left side with the model name, while the right side would be marked as CHARTER ARMS CORP. without an address??? The "copper" or plum color is seen on quite a few of the very early Charter 1st Gen. guns.
 
First off brown might have not been the best adjective. Plum or copper would most probably better describe it. The number 1322 is not the serial number because the serial number is stamped into the gun and is a different number. I have the original box and on the box next to model it reads "1322 undercoverette". Charter Arms Bridgeport Conn is stamped on the barrel. Other than those two markings there are no other markings on the gun. Can anyone give me thier opinion on the value of this gun?
 
July312011
 
mducote,
With a Bridgeport barrel address - but the serial number not available - I can tell you that your gun was made prior to 1974 and is a 1st Generation Charter Arms Corp.
The plum color on your gun is just about the most pronounced that I have seen during researching the 1st Gen CA (includes around 1000 pieces seen in person or in pics.)
Current RETAIL values depend upon condition and location (to a lesser extent) - what I've seen over the past couple weeks on the Internet auction sites indicates your piece would probably sell in the $185 - $200 range. The chambering in .32 S&W Long may attract a bit of attention by someone who collects guns in that caliber - it might go as high as $225 if one of those gents should see it. If you take it to a gun shop, expect to be offered about 60% of the RETAIL value.
 
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There were 4 different era "Charter Arms" (owners) making revolvers in CT.

The current Charter Arms is located in Shelton, CT - the same as "Charco 2000" was.

Your blued Undercoverette was made by Charter Arms in either Stratford, CT prior to 1991, or in Ansonia, CT 1992-1996, before the blued version was discontinued.

.
 
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Well, that information is not entirely correct.
Here's the most up to date product of my 6+ years of researching the Charter Arms story:

The very first Charter Arms Corporation production began in 1965 in BRIDGEPORT CONN - earliest pieces - mostly Undercover model will have either NO address on the right side of the barrel or will have BRIDGEPORT CONN
Around 1974, address was changed to STRATFORD CONN - all pieces made after mid 1974 will be marked with that address on the right side of the barrel and all will have CHARTER ARMS CORP. as the first line. Sometime in 1991, Charter Arms Corp. ceased operations. This was the end of the FIRST GENERATION.
Around mid 1991, the company was re-organized under new leadership and became known as Charter Arms Company - CHARCO, and was located in ANSONIA CONN. All second generation pieces will be marked on the right side of the barrel with that name and address in two lines. This is the SECOND generation and apparently the period which caused the most damage to the Charter name and reputation.
In 2000, the company was again reorganized as CHARTER 2000 and relocated to SHELTON CONN. All pieces made during this THIRD generation will be marked with the SHELTON address. Early production of this generation seems to have been spotty and reputation still lagged. About a year and a half ago, the company re-reorganized under the direction of MKS Marketing and seems now to be if not flourishing at least it is progressing in quality and market share.
From the limited data set that I have been able to assemble so far the following serialization seems to be valid: (NOTE: model name and caliber will be stamped on left side of barrel on all pieces)

FIRST GENERATION
0001 - <13500 1964 - ? CHARTER ARMS CORP. right side of barrel marking only, no address
~13500 - <315,000 ? - ~1965 CHARTER ARMS CORP. over BRIDGEPORT CONN .marking
~315,000 - <1,088,000 - ~1974 to 1991 - CHARTER ARMS CORP. over STRATFORD CONN. marking

SECOND GENERATION
>1,090,000 - ??? 1991 - 2000? CHARCO over ANSONIA CONN- marking

THIRD GENERATION
000001 - to date 2000 - 2011 CHARTER ARMS 2000 over SHELTON CONN marking.

This is the updated (6/11) serial number info that I have - based upon around 950 data points
The earliest 1st Gen - ~0 to ~13,500 have NO barrel ADDRESS and s/n is on lower right corner on right side of frame. CA company founded in 1964, first production pieces of the Undercover model produced in 1965
Bridgeport CONN address - ~13,500 to ~315,000 1967 - 1974
Stratford CONN address - ~315,000 to ~1,090,000 1974 - ~1991
All marked as Charter Arms Corporation

2nd Generation - CHARCO, Ansonia Conn address - 1,090,000 to ??? ~1991 - 1996?

3rd Generation - CHARTER 2000 - Shelton Conn - 0 to where ever they are today. 2007 Charter Arms/ MKS

From the 26 pieces in my collection (all 1st Gen) and from dozens more that I've had the opportunity to observe and handle, I'd say that around s/n 600,000 the finish was made a lot finer - although the integrals (lock work, action) was at least as good as the earlier ones. I have or have read magazine articles that cover pretty much of the production life of the 1st Generation, and during that period (around late 1980, early 1981) it seems that CA attempted to capture more of the market by doing so, also in April of 1981, they introduced Stainless Steel revolvers into the mix, for the first time. Some of the articles lamented that the earlier pieces, although rough finish, were rather inexpensive (~60-65% of S&W) and when CA began their "modernization" process, the finishes got better but the prices increased to about 85 to 90% of the S&W line for comparable models.
During the 2nd Generation, the CHARCO (Charter Arms COMPANY), under new management and reorganized, the quality was definitely more spotty and haphazard. I've seen CHARCO produced guns with Stratford marked barrels, obviously using up old stock.
The earliest CHARTER 2000 pieces I had the opportunity to handle (some fairly early 4 digits s/ns - were uniformly, poorly fitted and finished and had some horrendous and gritty actions. That seems to have been rectified under MKS's (circa 2007) new leadership and the most recent pieces I've handled - s/n's in the high 100,000 range have been "decent" but not as fine in finish and action as the mid years of the 1st Generation. This is simply my studied opinion based upon experience.

 
32 Undercoverette in SS

Bought one used and haven't bought any Starline brass for it yet......Sits unused and am wondering how they shoot reloads. Factory ammo is hard to find and expensive so reloading is the only way to shoot it. Do they shoot to point of aim reasonably well. Anyone that could share their experiences would be appreciated. afish4570:)
 
Thank You 32 magnum for your very informative post. I've never owned an undercoverette but have fired a bulldog and a southpaw extensively. Each operated as intended but lacked finely fitted parts and smooth actions. In a nutshell they worked fine for the economy guns they were intended to be.
 
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