charter arms

[Murray]

Can anyone tell me anything good/bad about charter arms. My wife saw a .38 revolver, wanted to know if these guns are any good/reliable.

thanks

[Steve_NEPhila]

Charter Arms is a lower price point contender in the revolver market. Their handguns are cheaper because they use cheaper materials and manufacturing methods. Charter Arms cuts corners and produces a low quality product to keep costs down.

I recommend Smith and Wesson revolvers. They are more expensive, yet the quality is superior and their customer service is excellent. Quality is what matters when betting your life on a handgun, why not by the best.

[Murray]

Thanks for the info..

[billamj]

Charter Arms is a lower price point contender in the revolver market. Their handguns are cheaper because they use cheaper materials and manufacturing methods. Charter Arms cuts corners and produces a low quality product to keep costs down.

I recommend Smith and Wesson revolvers. They are more expensive, yet the quality is superior and their customer service is excellent. Quality is what matters when betting your life on a handgun, why not by the best.

That used to be true. About five years ago the company went into chapter 11 bankruptcy and a group of the employees bought the company name and equipment and reorged the company. According to no less an authority than Jerry Ahern they turned QC 180 degrees and the product is much, much better.

[tlgpa]

Check here for some history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_Arms

They've had financial problems in the 90's - 2000's. And quality inssues which may be attributed to this. Older models were made pretty well.

Some reviews
http://www.gunblast.com/Charter-PinkB.htm
http://www.handgunsmag.com/featured_...810/index.html

[Azzy]

Last model (left handed .38) I checked out has metal chips and rough edges still in the cylinder advance teeth.

Set it down and moved my buddy along. YMMV

[DCChris]

I like my Bulldog 44 Special. Very light, very concealable, good shooter for a snubby.

[tdyoung58]

Have one and had a issue with it.... Charter took care of it and has been trouble free since. When I called them about it someone answered the phone who spoke English.... turn around time was within a week. I have a friend who just got a Purple one for herself and she finds it easy to shoot and pretty accurate for someone who had never shot a pistol before.

[Flash]

I'm only the second person to post who actually HAS a charter Arms revolver.

I have (and love) an original CA Stainless Undercover w/bobbed hammer and no-snag sights. Original, I say, since there have been changes in the company since 1981, when I got it. I also have a S&W 36 from ten years before that. When the CA appeared, the Smith became "the gun under the matress". Way too easy to conceal, especially how it sort of melts into the flab on my side. If I had to carry concealed a 38SPL, this would be it. Double action is reallly good, and SA is possible, if you feel it is neccessary.

(But honestly, my daily carry is a KelTec P-11, due to size, concealability, round-count, true DA. About same size and weight as the Charter, just six more JHP's).

Utterly reliable, never a problem, after I got the front sight silver-soldered to the barrel (they were originally EPOXIED! fer goodness sake - in 1981).

Current production and customer service is prob as good as anybody's, now. (Yeah, I know, that might not be saying a lot).

Try one - unless you have hands as big as a shovel, you might just fall in love, too.

Flash

[mrnyman]

Charter arms were started by a former Smith and Wesson engineere who left Smith &Wesson in disgust back when they were owned by the British or by the Brazilians, this guy were a Genius who designed ways of making Guns cheaper without sacrificing quality.

The ones maDE earlier and the new ones are good guns but the ones made in the 2000 era under the name Charco can be spotty with poor quality.

Its a good American company that deserves a Chance, Sure Smiths are better , But will a Charter save your Bacon? Sure it can.
And believe it or Not But Smiths ARE NOT the best Revolvers made , Its Korth, but , Do you have to have a Korth to save your life , sure dont.

NByman