NRA Gun of the Week: Charter Arms Professional

posted on June 18, 2021
** 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. **

The Charter Arms Blacknitride+ Professional in .357 Mag., is a mid-size revolver engineered for concealed carry and home defense, and it is priced affordably, too. Since the mid-1960s, Charter Arms kept its focus on manufacturing to provide the American market with affordable, light and reliable wheelguns; its latest Professional shares these hallmark attributes.


Built from stainless steel and aluminum, the Charter Arms Professional features a unique lockwork fitted within a one-piece frame that is lacking of side plates. Attached to the frame is a separate aluminum trigger guard and grip assembly that helps drop the weight of the Professional down to 25 ozs., empty.


A proprietary finish is featured on the Professional revolver that renders the surfaces matte black and provides utility of combining corrosion and wear resistance with the added functionality of increased surface hardening for a long working life.


Charter Arms supplies a 3” barrel that is one piece and fitted to the frame in front of a fluted cylinder that is set with a capacity for six rounds of .357 Mag. or .38 Spl. The gun's cylinder is secured by three lockup points for added security. The controls are typical for a double-action revolver, with an exposed hammer at the rear and a serrated cylinder release found on the left side of the frame. Walnut stocks come standard.


Watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above to learn more about the Charter Arms Blacknitride+ Professional revolver.


Charter Arms Blacknitride+ Professional Specifications

Manufacturer: Charter Arms
Action Type: double-action, center-fire revolver
Chambering: .357 Mag.
Barrel: 3” stainless steel
Frame: stainless steel, aluminum trigger guard
Cylinder: stainless steel, six-round capacity
Sights: square notch rear; fiber-optic front
Finish: Blacknitride+
Length: 8.25”
Height: 5.3”
Width: 1.60”
Weight: 25 ozs.
MSRP: $407

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.