Charter Arms Bulldog
Encyclopedia
The Bulldog is a 5-shot 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
with a length of 7.2 inches (184 mm) and 6.7 inches (171 mm) and barrel lengths of either 2.5 inches (64 mm) or 2.2 inches (56 mm). It was a top-selling gun during the 1980s and it is considered as Charter Arms' trademark weapon. It has been produced by four different companies since it was released.
(now defunct), 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, but this company also filed bankruptcy; 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, 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 began to be produced by another company named Charter Arms, but this time was distributed by MKS Supply.
The Bulldog was used by the infamous serial killer
David Berkowitz
aka "The .44 Caliber Killer" and the "Son of Sam" who was responsible for a brutal series of attacks and murders in New York City during 1976–1977 (before he was caught due to a parking ticket).
weapons, the Bulldog is a relatively inexpensive yet serviceable, no-frills, snubnosed revolver
. It can be concealed easily because of its small size, and has no sharp edges to contend with when carrying the weapon in a holster or a pocket. The Bulldog is a solid framed 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 triggerpull, 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 cranes axle screw can be removed and the cylinder pulled out from the gun for cleaning. Most critics believe the best way to employ the Bulldog is self-defense.
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 when the hammer is cocked, 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.
s, 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 gr Gold Dot is, apparently, the load of choice for the Bulldog. With this load, the muzzle velocity can exceed 1100 feet per second (335 meters per second). If the Bulldog is used to hunt, the most effective ammo is, reportedly, the 240- or 250 gr 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.
and the motion picture Manhunter
based on the novel. Graham starting carrying the .44 caliber weapon after the .38 Special revolver he was carrying failed to put down a serial killer that Graham was tracking. Graham would later use the .44 Bulldog to kill serial killer Francis Dollarhyde in the film Manhunter. However, Graham fires six shots at Dollarhyde without reloading, which is not possible to do with a five shot .44 Bulldog.
and .357 Magnum
cartridges
, gun lengths of 7.2 inches (184 mm) and 6.7 inches (171 mm) and barrel lengths of either 2.5 inches (64 mm) or 2.2 inches (56 mm). All Bulldog models have a cylinder of 5 shots. Currently, Charter Arms
only offers its 14420, 74420 and 74421 versions. Charter's Police Undercover could also be considered as a Bulldog variant because it's produced with the same frame model but its caliber is different and it was built to resemble the Undercover by Charter.
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
designed by Doug McClenahan and produced by Charter Arms
Charter Arms
Charter Arms Co. is an American manufacturer of revolvers that are relatively inexpensive yet serviceable handguns. The original Charter Arms produced revolvers chambered in calibers .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Special and...
. It was introduced in 1973. The Bulldog has been available for the .44 Special
.44 Special
The .44 Special or .44 S&W Special is a smokeless powder center fire metallic cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908.-Development history:...
and .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
cartridges
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
with a length of 7.2 inches (184 mm) and 6.7 inches (171 mm) and barrel lengths of either 2.5 inches (64 mm) or 2.2 inches (56 mm). It was a top-selling gun during the 1980s and it is considered as Charter Arms' trademark weapon. It has been produced by four different companies since it was released.
History
Designed by the founder of the first version of Charter ArmsCharter Arms
Charter Arms Co. is an American manufacturer of revolvers that are relatively inexpensive yet serviceable handguns. The original Charter Arms produced revolvers chambered in calibers .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Special and...
(now defunct), 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its design and execution, which were quite modern at the time, caught the attention of the gun press
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
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, but this company also filed bankruptcy; 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, 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 began to be produced by another company named Charter Arms, but this time was distributed by MKS Supply.
The Bulldog was used by the infamous serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
David Berkowitz
David Berkowitz
David Richard Berkowitz , also known as Son of Sam and the .44 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer and arsonist whose crimes terrorized New York City from July 1976 until his arrest in August 1977.Shortly after his arrest in August 1977, Berkowitz confessed to killing six people and...
aka "The .44 Caliber Killer" and the "Son of Sam" who was responsible for a brutal series of attacks and murders in New York City during 1976–1977 (before he was caught due to a parking ticket).
Description
Like most Charter ArmsCharter Arms
Charter Arms Co. is an American manufacturer of revolvers that are relatively inexpensive yet serviceable handguns. The original Charter Arms produced revolvers chambered in calibers .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Special and...
weapons, the Bulldog is a relatively inexpensive yet serviceable, no-frills, snubnosed revolver
Snubnosed revolver
A snubnosed revolver has a barrel length of less than three inches. It was a popular type of firearm with undercover police officers due to its compact size and ease of handling...
. It can be concealed easily because of its small size, and has no sharp edges to contend with when carrying the weapon in a holster or a pocket. The Bulldog is a solid framed 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
Sight (device)
A sight is a device used to assist aligning or aim weapons, surveying instruments, or other items by eye. Sights can be a simple set or system of markers that have to be aligned together as well as aligned with the target...
. Its triggerpull, 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 cranes axle screw can be removed and the cylinder pulled out from the gun for cleaning. Most critics believe the best way to employ the Bulldog is self-defense.
Performance
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 when the hammer is cocked, 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.
Ammunition
The Bulldog is apparently intended for light, fast bulletBullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
s, 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 gr Gold Dot is, apparently, the load of choice for the Bulldog. With this load, the muzzle velocity can exceed 1100 feet per second (335 meters per second). If the Bulldog is used to hunt, the most effective ammo is, reportedly, the 240- or 250 gr 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.
In Popular Culture
The character of FBI Investigator Will Graham carried the Charter Arms .44 Bulldog in the novel Red DragonRed Dragon
Red Dragon is a novel by Thomas Harris, first published in 1981. It was the first novel to feature Harris's character Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. The novel was adapted as a film, Manhunter, in 1986 which featured Brian Cox as Lecter...
and the motion picture Manhunter
Manhunter
Manhunter may refer to:*Manhunter , a 1986 film based on the novel Red Dragon*Manhunter , the name of numerous superheroes and villains from DC Comics**Manhunter , one such character...
based on the novel. Graham starting carrying the .44 caliber weapon after the .38 Special revolver he was carrying failed to put down a serial killer that Graham was tracking. Graham would later use the .44 Bulldog to kill serial killer Francis Dollarhyde in the film Manhunter. However, Graham fires six shots at Dollarhyde without reloading, which is not possible to do with a five shot .44 Bulldog.
Models
Five models of the Bulldog have been produced, allowing customers to choose between: .44 Special.44 Special
The .44 Special or .44 S&W Special is a smokeless powder center fire metallic cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908.-Development history:...
and .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
cartridges
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
, gun lengths of 7.2 inches (184 mm) and 6.7 inches (171 mm) and barrel lengths of either 2.5 inches (64 mm) or 2.2 inches (56 mm). All Bulldog models have a cylinder of 5 shots. Currently, Charter Arms
Charter Arms
Charter Arms Co. is an American manufacturer of revolvers that are relatively inexpensive yet serviceable handguns. The original Charter Arms produced revolvers chambered in calibers .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Special and...
only offers its 14420, 74420 and 74421 versions. Charter's Police Undercover could also be considered as a Bulldog variant because it's produced with the same frame model but its caliber is different and it was built to resemble the Undercover by Charter.
| Variant | Caliber | Length | Barrel length | Weight | Capacity | Grip | Hammer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 13520 | .357 Magnum | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 21.8 oz (620 g) | 5 Cyl | Full | Regular |
| Model 14420 | .44 Special | 7.2 inches (184 mm) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 21.8 oz (620 g) | 5 Cyl | Full | Regular |
| Model 73520 | .357 Magnum | 6.7 inches (171 mm) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) | 20.1 oz (570 g) | 5 Cyl | Full | Regular |
| Model 74420 | .44 Special | 7.2 inches (184 mm) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 20.1 oz (570 g) | 5 Cyl | Full | Regular |
| Model 74421 | .44 Special | 7.2 inches (184 mm) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) | 21.8 oz (620 g) | 5 Cyl | Full | Double action only |