Charter Arms Bulldog: Exploring the Legacy of a Classic Revolver - Unleashing the Past: The History of the Charter Arms Bulldog

The Bulldog is a 5-shot traditional double-action revolver designed by Doug McClenahan and produced by Charter Arms. It was introduced in 1973. The Bulldog has been available for the .44 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges. It was a top-selling gun during the 1980s and it is considered to be Charter Arms' trademark weapon. It has been produced by four different companies since it was released.

Designed by the founder of the first version of Charter Arms, Doug McClenahan, the Bulldog was released in 1973. It was one of the best-selling weapons of the 1970s and the 1980s in the United States. Its design and execution, which were quite modern at the time, caught the attention of the gun press and combat shooters. By the mid-1980s, more than half a million units had been produced and nearly 37,000 were being manufactured every year. Bulldog production has been stopped a few times since 1992, when Charter Arms, the original manufacturer, went bankrupt.

Some time later, manufacturing began again under the Charco (descendant company of Charter Arms) trademark. This company also filed bankruptcy, and the models produced during this period showed obvious production flaws. It was produced again by Charter 2000; this company, which failed also, improved the weapon with a one-piece barrel, front sight, and ejector-shroud assembly. The original model had no ejector-shroud and the aluminum front sight was soldered to the barrel.

In June 2007, a version of the Bulldog with new features^[6] began to be produced by another company named Charter Arms, but this time was distributed by MKS Supply.

The Bulldog was used by the serial killer David Berkowitz aka "The .44 Caliber Killer" and the "Son of Sam" who was responsible for a series of attacks and murders in New York City during 1976–1977 (before he was caught due to an outstanding parking violation).

The name “Bulldog” was a homage to the original Webley revolvers of the same name.

Like most Charter Arms weapons, the Bulldog is a relatively inexpensive yet serviceable, no-frills, snubnosed revolver. It was designed to be concealed easily because of its small size, yet also fire a "big bore" caliber. The Bulldog has no sharp edges to contend with when carrying the weapon in a holster or a pocket. The Bulldog is a solid-framed traditional double-action revolver with a five-round cylinder which can be opened by pushing a release slide on the left of the gun, or in the original model by pulling the ejector rod. It features a concave sight. Its trigger pull, in both single and double-action modes, is quite light. If a large quantity of residue piles up inside the revolver because of heavy usage, the cylinder crane's axle screw can be removed and the cylinder pulled out from the gun for cleaning. Most critics believe the best use for the Bulldog is self-defense.

The accuracy of the Bulldog is aided by its trigger pull. According to reviews, it is more accurate than expected for a revolver of its size and type but probably not enough to be called an "accurate" weapon.

When the gun is fired, the hammer does not actually strike the firing pin. Under normal firing circumstances a small steel bar (called a transfer bar) is raised as the trigger is pulled, placing it into a position between the firing pin and the hammer itself. The falling hammer strikes the transfer bar, which in turn strikes the firing pin, discharging the weapon. If the trigger is not being pulled when the hammer falls, the transfer bar will not be in position and the weapon will not discharge.

The Bulldog is apparently intended for light, fast bullets, as with heavier and slower bullets it is less accurate. With most ammunition types the muzzle velocity tends to be between 705 and 1000 feet per second (215 and 305 meters per second, respectively). For self-defense the Blazer 200-grain (13 g) Gold Dot is, apparently, the load of choice for the Bulldog. If the Bulldog is used to hunt, the most effective ammo is, reportedly, the 240- or 250-grain (16 g) SWC. With this bullet type, the shot is very powerful and has a strong penetration but the recoil can easily be handled. Other ammo types are weaker or provide too much recoil.

Model 13520 - Caliber .357 Magnum, Length 6.7 inches (171 mm), Barrel Length 2.2 inches (56 mm), Weight 21.8 oz (620 g), Capacity 5 Cyl, Full Grip,  Regular Hammer

Model 14420 - Caliber .44 Special, Length 7.2 inches (184 mm), Barrel Length 2.5 inches (64 mm), Weight 21.8 oz (620 g), Capacity 5 Cyl,  Full Grip, Regular Hammer

Model 73520 - Caliber .357 Magnum, Length 6.7 inches (171 mm), Barrel Length 2.2 inches (56 mm), Weight 20.1 oz (570 g), Capacity 5 Cyl,  Full Grip, Regular Hammer

Model 74420 - Caliber .44 Special, Length 7.2 inches (184 mm), Barrel Length 2.5 inches (64 mm), Weight 20.1 oz (570 g), Capacity 5 Cyl,  Full Grip, Regular Hammer

Model 74421 - Caliber .44 Special, Length 7.2 inches (184 mm), Barrel Length 2.5 inches (64 mm), Weight 21.8 oz (620 g), Capacity 5 Cyl,  Full Grip, Double action only

Serial number 0 to ~19,000 have NO barrel ADDRESS and s/n is  on lower right corner on right side of frame. CA company founded in  1964, first production pieces of the Undercover model produced in 1965
Serial number ~19000 to ~315,000 1967 - 1969, Bridgeport CONN address
Serial number ~316000 to ~1,090,000 1970 - ~1991, Stratford CONN address
All marked as Charter Arms Corporation

2nd Generation

CHARCO, Ansonia Conn adress - 1,090,000 to ??? ~1991 - 1999

3rd Generation

CHARTER 2000 - Shelton Conn - 0 to where ever they are today.