Bob Dunlap understands the design, function, and repair of Doug McClenehan™s innovative revolver as well or better than anyone else alive today. If you want the quick course on how to get the your Charter Arms revolver apart, back together, and operating as intended, then this course is for you (if you want the long course, look into our basic 108 hour Professional Gunsmith course).

Among the items covered are:

• Doug McClenehan designed this lightweight, solid frame revolver in the early 60s and formed Charter Arms in 1964 to produce it. His friend David Ecker became his partner in 1967 and sole owner in 1972. Today his son Nick Ecker is the owner. Bob knew David for many years and was a warranty station for Charter. Bob has carried a Charter Undercover chambered in .357 Mag as his concealed gun for many years.
• Charter Undercover .38SPL was the lightest 5 shot steel frame on the market, weighing only one pound.
• Because of its solid frame (no sideplate) design it was very strong.

Design & Function

• Explanation and demonstration of the double action & single action hammer/sear/trigger firing cycle using cut-away gun.
• Operation of the transfer bar shown.
• Advantages of cylinder rotation direction which tends to push cylinder closed discussed.
• Operation of the bolt (cylinder stop) and its interaction with the trigger nose. Correction of timing issues discussed.
• Thickness & length of the hand important just as on Smith & Wesson.
• Timing issues between bolt and hand discussed and corrections explained.
• Bob shows the answer to the question; What does the hand do and how does it do it?
• Cautions regarding working on beryllium copper firing pin.
• Explanation and demonstration of the operation of the primary and secondary sears and the hammer cycle.
• Push-off defined and corrective action given.
• Operation of the cylinder latch and cylinder locking systems (front & rear) explained & demonstrated.

Disassembly

• Bob demonstrates complete disassembly, special attention given to parts that should not be disassembled under normal circumstances & why
• Extensive disassembly, parts not removed have removal described, Cylinder removal Cylinder disassembled, common problems and their solutions discussed.
• Grips and mainspring removed Grip frame removed. Knurled pins should be driven out knurled end first Hammer removal and disassembly shown.
• Trigger removal shown & hand & transfer bar removed
• Spring loading of transfer bar & hand discussed
• Cylinder stop removed
• Cylinder latch removed
• Firing pin removed

Cleaning & Lubrication

• AGI cleaning & lubrication methods shown, along with the reasons for their use.

Reassembly

• Making sure you have no parts Left over Subassemblies assembled first Hammer & D/A sear (hammer strut) assembled.
• Cylinder latch installed in frame Simple tool you can make to make assembly easier Reassembly of cylinder/base pin/extractor shown, as well as two tools you can make that make assembly easier Trigger/hand/transfer bar reassembled and unit installed in frame.
• Cylinder reinstalled
• Hammer installed
• Cylinder stop (bolt) installed
• Grip frame reinstalled
• Mainspring & grips reinstalled

Common Problems

• Cylinder timing (slow) shown and fixes discussed If you noticed how often the terms explanation, and visual demonstration are used, you may be getting some idea of why this course is a must have for any Smith & Wesson revolver owner, or someone who intends to be.

View a sample of the content of this course below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZk_eAMGrWk]