Charter Arms 38 Question

erikpolcrack

September 12, 2016 03:52

I have two 'older' 5-shot Charter Arms 38 Specials with 1-7/8 inch barrels and round butt grips. One is marked Undercover(SN 3340XX)and is nickel plated. The other is marked Off Duty(SN 8807XX)and is blued. Other than the finish and the model markings on the barrel shroud, I can find no differences in the guns. My scale tells me they both weigh 16 ounces. What bothers me is I have read several places that the Off Duty is supposed to be a light-weight version of the Undercover, supposedly weighing only 12 ounces. Can anybody help me out here? Thanks!

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  11b6r

  September 12, 2016 05:09

  Check the frame of the Off Duty with a magnet. The Off Duty was supposed to be an aluminum framed handgun, with a steel cylinder and barrel. Weight for THAT gun was listed as 12 ounces. If you have one with a steel frame, it will be heavier.

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  beantownshootah

  September 12, 2016 06:34

  Charter arms has been through various incarnations over the years. The original company, became "Charco", then "Charter 2000", now the current incarnation.
  
  While the current "off duty" model is a 12 ounce aluminum frame gun, the original ones were blued steel. Since you say your guns are "older" there is your explanation.
  
  If your gun doesn't have an ejector rod shroud, its an earlier model.
  
  Edit: Original Off Duty:
  
  
  
  Edit #2: This is a nice reference article on Charter Arms. Per this reference, the "Off Duty" was introduced in 1984 and was otherwise identical to the "Undercover" except for a poorer finish.
  
  http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/CAR/car.html

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  erikpolcrack

  September 12, 2016 09:38

  Thanks,guys! - Erik

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