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

CZ 600 01
CZ 600 01

CZ 600+ Introduces Switch-Barrel Capability

In 2025, CZ USA expanded its 600 series rifle lineup with the CZ 600+, a design that delivers on the company's promise of a switch-barrel platform.

Preview: Savior Equipment Specialist Double Rifle Case

The Specialist Double Rifle Case from Savior Equipment is, as its name suggests, a rifle bag capable of carrying a pair of longarms simultaneously ...

Gun Of The Week: Traditions Outfitter G3 Pro

Join American Rifleman staff in this video to get a close look at a single-shot rifle design oriented toward today’s modern hunter, particularly those in states where straight-wall cartridges have been legalized for hunting.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 12, 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.

Sellmark Ranch Opens, Offers Hunting & Shooting Opportunities To The Public

Sellmark Corporation, the parent company of several notable firearm industry brands, opened its 6,800-acre ranch to the public, which provides dedicated hunts, mile-long shooting ranges and more.

CZ Recalls All-American Trap Combo Shotguns

CZ-USA has identified a manufacturing defect affecting the barrel of certain CZ All-American Trap Combo shotguns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.