How About This Trade? (Bulldog Involved)

J

Joe_Pike

New member
I have Kel-Tec P32 that I've had for 5 years or so. I've carried it a fair amount but only have about 150 rounds through it. Anyway, I was at the local pusher's shop today and they have a Charter Arms .44 Special Bulldog for sale for $325. It is a first generation marked Strattford, Conn. on the barrel. It is blue, 3" barrel with original grips, serial number #840xxx. They offered me $200 trade value for the P32, 2 boxes of Fiocchi ammo and 2 extra maagazines. That's $65 less than what I'm asking for the package on Armslist, but he price difference isn't the question for me. The question for me is are these worth a hoot?
 
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I've always ranked Charter Arms revolvers in the "Saturday Night Special" category. I also consider the trade price too high, but that's just me.
 
Joe Pike said:
The question for me is are these worth a hoot?
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Mine is.........

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Rubber bumpers make it sweeter, w/o doubt.



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$200 for a P-32 is a pretty good trade offer from a dealer. I traded in my P-32 and got $150 credit for it towards another trade.
 
The question for me is are these worth a hoot?
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HECK YES! They're great little revolvers. I have one just like you described.

You're getting offered a decent trade price for your P32, however, I'd recommend just holding on to your P32 and picking up the Charter if you can swing it.
 
Not sure about the trade value, I don't indulge in such foolishness. :D
But I will say a LGS had a NIB stainless Bulldog for $369 a while back. I'd check the price of a new one first.
 
But I will say a LGS had a NIB stainless Bulldog for $369 a while back. I'd check the price of a new one first
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I much prefer blued guns. I know they are not as durable long term as far as the finish goes, though.
 
The original Bulldogs were quality guns and Charter Arms had a really good reputation before the "Charco" days. If I was in the market for one, I'd much rather have a Stratford gun than one newer ones. I think that would be a decent trade, especially if you're looking to get rid of the Keltec anyway.
 
Pretty sure that the new Charter company is owned by some of the same folks as the original.
They claim the new guns are as good as the originals, too.
Meaning they were designed for carrying more than shooting, but plenty good for their intended duty.
Good, reliable fire power in a small, light gun.
Most of the used originals seem to sell for around $250+ at local gun shows.
The good ones have unfortunately suffered from the poor reputation of the not so good ones.
And a lot of folks pass them by not knowing the difference.
 
Going by recent reviews of the Charter Arms line of revolvers, the reputation among buyers is better than you might expect.

I know a few people who are satisfied with their newer Charter Arms revolvers. , My neighbors dad bought 2 of them, both snub nose a .38 for the wife and a .357 for himself. She packs the .38 in her purse.

What I am surprised by is the trade in he offered on the Kel-tec. Definitely a fair price trade.
 
Going by recent reviews of the Charter Arms line of revolvers, the reputation among buyers is better than you might expect.
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I'm happy enough with my month old Undercover.

That said, I'd look over the "first generation, Sratford on the barrel" .44 real good. I've read reports (trying to find now) of frame issues with the early .44 Bulldogs that have seen much use.

(Until I find it, and maybe even after, I'd class that as "Interwebz gunboard hearsay, YMMV.")
 
Charter Arms revolvers may not be "first tier," but they are not Saturday Night Specials. I owned an Undercover in the '80's and was very happy with it.
 
That said, I'd look over the "first generation, Sratford on the barrel" .44 real good. I've read reports (trying to find now) of frame issues with the early .44 Bulldogs that have seen much use.

(Until I find it, and maybe even after, I'd class that as "Interwebz gunboard hearsay, YMMV.")
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OK, found the reference. This right here is what I remember: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427068

With my nickel Charco Bulldog Pug, I saw noticeable frame stretching (and concomitant flaking of the nickel on the topstrap, crane, and forcing cone) in ~300 rounds of PMC 240gr loads.

---Tamara, moderator emeritus
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Whereas others in that thread opine that her's was a problem from the Charco generation, not earlier or later.

Someone has actually just offered me a blue 3" Bridgeport Charter .44 Bulldog, and I might just take it. A "Son of Sam gun", he called it.
 
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Interesting report/post, I've been involved with & interested in Charter revolvers since the early 70's, and have yet to see a Nickel-plated version.



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Nickel doesn't seem like a good idea for a carry pistol, wouldn't it wear off quickly?
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Done right it's OK. I've got two nickel plated guns. The S&W I've never seen a finish problem with. The Bersa, only a few years old, has the nickel finish flaking in places on the slide. (Something people see with Bersas, if you search on it.)
 
Some folks call the Charters "Saturday Night Specials" but they're at least a notch or two above that. After all, there are plenty of decades old survivors out there; and they won't melt on a warm stove.

I have a newer Bulldog that occasionally replaces the S&W on my belt. I trust them both equally and completely.
 
My Dad bought a newer one in .357 magnum. Had to pound on the extractor the get the spent casings out of the chambers. He chamfered and polished the chambers and all is good now, but shoddy QC if you ask me...
 
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