Charter Arms: Simplicity, Reliability & Lightness

by
posted on June 18, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Charter Arms Company logo fine american firearms since 1964

Douglas McClenahan, a young gun designer who had amassed a wealth of experience during his employment with High Standard, Colt and Ruger, launched a firearm company of his own in 1964. He wisely opened shop in Stratford, Conn., in the heart of America’s gunmaking tradition and home to a generous supply of trained and knowledgeable staff. That firm was named Charter Arms.

The first gun Charter Arms produced was a five-shot revolver, chambered for .38 Spl. It weighed only 16 ounces, despite its one-piece, steel-frame construction. It also featured what was, at the time, an unusual hammer block system. Somehow the gun still managed to have fewer parts than others on the market.

It was called the Undercover, an appropriate name that reflected its rugged build and light weight. It didn’t take long for it to gain favor among enthusiasts and some in law enforcement. In 1967, David Ecker, a lifelong friend of McClenahan, became a partner in Charter Arms. Health issues forced McClenahan into retirement in 1978. Ecker purchased his share of the company and assumed the roles of president and chairman of the board.

Running a firearm business is more complex than simply making good guns, though. By the late 1980s, the company was facing significant financial strain. It changed hands, and by the ’90s, was renamed Charco at one point—an acronym for Charter Arms Co.—and finally reacquired at the turn of the century by Ecker. He renamed it Charter Arms 2000, but returned to the original, shorter, Charter Arms version only a few years later.

Today, the company is based in Shelton, Conn., and continues to produce revolvers largely based on McClenahan’s original principle: simplicity breeds reliability and trims ounces. They remain light in weight, still feature that single-piece frame and reduced moving part inventory. Cylinders lock up in three places and hammer throw is short for fast lock time.

The company currently offers 13 different models—including one for lefties and the Undercover that launched the firm. Each are manufactured in the United States and available in different variants.

Latest

springfield armory kuna
springfield armory kuna

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Book Review: Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers Of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler

The result of a decade of research, Clockwork Basilisk is a comprehensive, two-volume history of the rare revolvers that preceded the development of the well-known Colt guns of the 1830s.

Preview: 1791 Gunleather Cobra Gun Belt 01

Employing the same rugged and rigid 0.25"-thick American steerhide as 1791 Gunleather’s original Gun Belt 01, the new Cobra Gun Belt 01 offers enhanced ease of use by taking advantage of a high-strength Cobra quick-latch/release buckle.

NRA CEO Hamlin and President Bachenberg Hold First Virtual Townhall

In the interests of transparency, NRA CEO and EVP Doug Hamlin and NRA President Bill Bachenberg held a live Townhall event, where both answered direct questions from NRA members.

Benelli Adds New 28-Gauge Models to Super Black Eagle 3 Line

Benelli initially introduced the 28-ga. chambering to its Super Black Eagle 3 line in 2022, but this year, the company added three new models tailored specifically to hunters.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.