Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special DA/SA Revolver, 2-inch, Blued, 5-shot, Stratford CT Era
This Charter Arms Undercover is a steel-frame, blued .38 Special snubnose produced during the Stratford, Connecticut era (1976–1980s). Notable features include a one-piece steel frame without a sideplate, a five-shot fluted cylinder that rotates clockwise, and fixed sights. It also has an exposed hammer for DA/SA operation, a transfer-bar safety, and smooth hardwood grips with Charter Arms medallions.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Details: This firearm shows light signs of wear and handling. Some surface scratches are visible on the metal. The frame may have been reblued at some point. These marks are minor and consistent with normal use.
What’s Included
- Charter Arms Undercover .38 Special revolver
- Installed smooth hardwood grips with Charter Arms medallions
The Stratford, Connecticut address marking places this revolver in the 1976–1980s production period. This era is associated with the one-piece steel frame design without a sideplate, which is a hallmark of the model’s construction. The frame, cylinder, and overall finish are blued, with a color case-hardened hammer and trigger.
The Undercover configuration features a 2-inch steel barrel, an unshrouded short ejector rod, and a five-shot fluted cylinder that rotates clockwise. Sighting is straightforward and durable with a serrated ramp front and a topstrap groove rear, both fixed.
Operation is double-action/single-action with an exposed hammer for deliberate single-action shots when desired. A transfer-bar safety is integrated into the action for safe carry and handling.
The barrel uses button rifling with eight grooves, pairing traditional rifling geometry with the revolver’s compact format. The grips are smooth hardwood with inlaid Charter Arms medallions, reflecting the factory style of this period.
Made in the United States, this example presents as a clean, practical snubnose from the classic Stratford production era with features that define the Undercover line.