Sometimes we wind up buying guns we don't really want. So it was today. An 85 year old woman in my church has a 96 year old friend with a gun that belonged to her husband who has been dead for 20 years. The woman in my church really wanted me to drive her to pick up a sewing machine she had bought from her old friend. Told me about the gun saying they thought it was a 45 of some kind. It took a 50 mile round trip. The sewing machine was actually more of a piece of furniture. Since I have a truck I was able to take care of that. The gun was a Charter Arms 38 Special Off Duty in virtually new unfired condition. It's a Stratford, Conn gun with a SN of 1064XXX. So it has to be first generation before they went bankrupt in the 1990's. I "really" didn't want it. The 96 year old is going into a nursing home and has no interested kids or grandkids. I gave her $125 for it. I'm going to wind up giving it to somebody. Does anybody know how old it might be (I'm guessing 1980's) and what it might be worth? Here's a picture.

Attached Images

Charter Arms 38 Off Duty.jpg (102.8 KB, 182 views)

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Dr. B

Probably worth double what you paid.
Is the ejector rod tip missing, or were those made that way?

Ooo ooo pick me pick me!
Probably worth double what you paid. There are folks that like the older Charters

Cool old guns. To echo others, $250ish is what it is likely worth.

It appears the ejector rod was made that way. The end of it is a screw with a finish that matches the gun. You do have good eyes to see that in my picture. It does look like something is missing. Thanks for the info on possible value. Maybe I'll have a drawing to see who gets it.

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Dr. B

That would be an outstanding gesture.
Think you would set a record for most number of entrants on that one.

This, this and this! $249.95 is the going price (i.e., tagged or asking price) in top condition around here.

That would be a great gesture if you decided to do a drawing. Regardless, good karma for you anyway for helping your fellow church member getting the sewing machine.

Keep it. If you ever have a need for a disposable handgun then there it is. I have one in .32 S&W Long.

The old ones in really nice shape can sell for 300 or even a bit more in certain areas, or at least did not long ago. Cheap Tauri may have cut into the market. I too would say keep it.

I have 1 too not the best polishing job done @ Charter befor Blueing but dependable & reasonably accurate for it's intended purpose My s/n is a few thousand higher 109xxxx

Hang on to it. you never know when you may need it for use or for trade. I have a newer one that I put in the boat when I go fishing. Not worried about it. Will trade it some day for something I want.

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

I like old CA revolvers.
If you want to give it away, I'm in metro Atlanta.
I'd keep it. Good little snub.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I'll enter the drawing if it ever takes place.
Personally, I'd keep it as a truck gun - as others have suggested.
FWIW one was just advertised on a local gun board in my area for exactly what others have said - $250. It didn't last long.

That is a good, honest, serviceable revolver. I have a Bulldog in .44 Special. Reliable and accurate.

Rich

I had an early one in 38 spl like the one in Colby's pic without the
barrel shroud. This was back in the time of the infamous Speer loading
manual. I was a lot younger back then and I never questioned any
loads from manuals that were declared safe. Looking back now I am
amazed that I didn't blow up that little Charter Arms. They were good
guns for the money.

First generation guns had the "hook" shaped front sight verses the ramp on the OP's gun.

They are solid frame guns like Rugers which means they are pretty strong for their size and weight. They'll last longer with a diet of heavy loads than the shooter will.

They won't win many beauty contest but are reliable tools that'll get the job done.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I have learned that Stratford and the SN do date it to a first generation gun. . .front sight used in late first generation. It's actually one of the last first generations made around 1990.

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Dr. B

I love the old CA revolvers.
I wouldn't dream of parting with my Bulldog.
I still kick myself for selling my bull-barreled Bulldog, back in the early '90s.
It had a bull barrel that was halfway between the standard Bulldog and the Bulldog Pug in length.
It had a flat milled in the bottom of the barrel for ejector rod clearance.
Not sure when it was made. I saw it in the LGS in mid-late 1990.
Wanted to buy it, but was only 20.
It was still there when I turned 21, in 1991.
I bought it. Forget why I sold it.
Still kicking myself, 23 years later.

Some people don't like Charter. I do.
Some Charters I've owned had horrendous DA pulls.
Some had very good DA pulls.
My current Bulldog is an old Stratford made 3" gun.
It has a very good DA pull. I won't part with it.

So, does anyone know of a database of CA revolvers that would enable me to date mine?

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What would Jim Cirillo do?