Charter Arms .44 Bulldog First Serial #

[fjruple]

I purchased one in the early 70's, serial number was 2060##. I remember the State Police coming around wanting to look at the pistol as I lived in a neighboring State from where SOS did all of the killings. They told me they were tracking all of the Bulldogs since very few were made at that point. I believe later the SOS gun was found to come from Texas second hand. Could be wrong on that.

 

[DWalt]

I purchased one in the early 70's, serial number was 2060##. I remember the State Police coming around wanting to look at the pistol as I lived in a neighboring State from where SOS did all of the killings. They told me they were tracking all of the Bulldogs since very few were made at that point. I believe later the SOS gun was found to come from Texas second hand. Could be wrong on that.

It did come from Texas. As I remember, Berkowitz bought the BD from an Army buddy who had bought it from a gun store in Houston (Spring Branch Jewelry and Loan Company). I don't know the timeline but early enough that it could have been from Bridgeport.
"The handgun was illegal. It was acquired through a "straw purchase" for Berkowitz by an old Army friend, Billy Daniel Parker, on June 12, 1976, in a Houston, Texas gun shop. Berkowitz asked Parker to buy the revolver so he would have protection on his drive back to New York City. He could not have legally purchased a gun in Texas himself, as he did not have the proper identification."

Stop the presses. I did find a video on YouTube that stated the SoS .44 BD's serial number was 212927:
"One thing that may be of interest to you: Berkowitz's bulldog was serial number 212927, which means the barrel must have said "Bridgeport," not "Stratford." (See: The Journal News from White Plains, New York, October 12, 1980, page 17.) This also dates the gun to pre-1974."

 

[Goony]

The Rock Island Auction Co. has occasionally sold examples of this model, but unfortunately none of these appear to stretch the serial number range for Bridgeport production.

See: Charter Arms Bulldog Double Action Revolver with Box | Rock Island Auction

And also: Three Double Action Revolvers -A) Charter Arms Bulldog Revolver | Rock Island Auction

And finally: Two Charter Arms Bulldog Double Action Revolvers | Rock Island Auction

 

[DWalt]

I purchased one in the early 70's, serial number was 2060##. I remember the State Police coming around wanting to look at the pistol as I lived in a neighboring State from where SOS did all of the killings. They told me they were tracking all of the Bulldogs since very few were made at that point. I believe later the SOS gun was found to come from Texas second hand. Could be wrong on that.

The State Police comment about "very few were made" is interesting. I would like to know just how many of the Bridgeport-made CA revolvers from the 1973-74 period were .44 BDs. My wild guess with no substantiation whatsoever would be no more than around 10K, and that number may be high. I think nearly the entire CA production could have been .38 Special Undercovers then as they were probably much higher demand items than BDs. Without factory shipping information, which seemingly does not exist, there is no way to know.

 

[wyo-man]

My Bridgeport CA .44 spl. BD is 290XXX.

wyo-man

 

[DWalt]

My Bridgeport CA .44 spl. BD is 290XXX.

wyo-man

Today I found a mention of a Bridgeport-stamped .44 BD with a SN of 340xxx, a little higher than the earlier 315xxx sometimes stated as the upper limit SN for Bridgeport guns. But no verifiable documentation to prove it. Thanks for providing 290xxx.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

So many Bulldogs, so little time...

 

[sw702]

Old Charter 44

A few years ago spoke with a very nice lady at Charter Arms about this Bulldog. She took the serial number and a few hours latter called me back. Said that it was made in the first year production'73. She had no info on the pocket hammer.

 

[Goony]

Observed today - #313815, Bridgeport marked.

 

[DWalt]

Observed today - #313815, Bridgeport marked.

That has to be very near to the end of the line for the Bridgeport production.

 

[BRING_GUNS]

Late to the party but I have a Bridgeport Bulldog SN 194075. Found this thread trying to figure out what year it was made, sounds like it's probably a very early one made in 1973 if I'm understanding right?

 

[Hawg Rider]

Wow, it seems that there are a bunch of Charter Arms fans here on the Forum. I've looked at them several times because of the design and the price, but I've always put them back down. I have never found a CA with a smooth action and decent trigger pull...and that includes well used examples. Obviously most folks choose the CA revolvers for EDC, but if it takes 500 to 1000 rounds just to smooth them out what's the advantage over a nice S&W? I've never found a CA that could compare with a S&W out of the box. This is not a attack on Charter Arms, or Bulldogs in particular, just my experiences and preference.

 

[mtgianni]

I bought a 4" CA Target Patriot about10 years ago. It was their 327 Federal chambering. Interesting to me they had no literature specifically for that model and all the instructions were for the 44 Bulldog model. I traded the gun off on something else.

 

[walnutred]

#196436 is a 3" Bridgeport revolver.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I picked this Charter Bulldog up for short money in a local auction a while back. All but new if not actually new and unfired. Very smooth action.

 

[DWalt]

I picked this Charter Bulldog up for short money in a local auction a while back. All but new if not actually new and unfired. Very smooth action.

WIth that grip style, I suspect it is not a Bridgeport production revolver.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

My Bridgeport .44 and I just got back from a Sunday afternoon walk in the woods. It's sn is 260xxx

Uh, where do you load that 6th round...?

Cheers!

 

[mikerjf]

The red nose is to let you know the strip is empty.

 

[LittleCooner]

One way to tame some of the recoil is to install a set of sambar stags. This old gal was purchased some time in the early 1970s and has been carried many many miles is the woods over the past 50 years. Resting in a shoulder hoster under my left arm, she has been wet many time, rain, sweat, etc and has taken many a timber rattler in the Appalachian mountains that I have played and worked in for the past 50 years. A lot of "usage marks" and she does duty in the night stand in her later years. 287292 is all mine and one of the first revolvers in my group over the years.

 

[A10]

Wow, it seems that there are a bunch of Charter Arms fans here on the Forum. I've looked at them several times because of the design and the price, but I've always put them back down. I have never found a CA with a smooth action and decent trigger pull...and that includes well used examples. Obviously most folks choose the CA revolvers for EDC, but if it takes 500 to 1000 rounds just to smooth them out what's the advantage over a nice S&W? I've never found a CA that could compare with a S&W out of the box. This is not a attack on Charter Arms, or Bulldogs in particular, just my experiences and preference.

Little tiny gun, great big bullet. What's not to love?

For defensive guns, I can put up with a less than wonderful trigger. If I shoot them enough I get used to the feel, and I'm not looking for tiny groups.