On the other hand, the timing was perfect, and the cylinder star was well formed with cleanly cut facets. In addition, the cylinder was a bit hard to open and close, as the rear of the ejector rod showed some evidence of dragging on the recoil shield. For example, there was a small amount of back-and-forth play in the cylinder when the hammer was cocked and at rest. The fitting of the various parts to the frame and each other was generally good overall with a few exceptions. The large finger grooves on the grips provide a good purchase for the strong hand and help cushion recoil.Īt the workbench, I closely examined the revolver for fit and function. The color of the soft rubber grips is a good match to the color of the matte black stainless steel. Some areas, such as the interior surfaces of the crane, were not polished, although they were properly conformed and sufficient for their intended task. Overall, the finish on my test sample was well applied, and there were no scratches or places on the gun where the finish was uneven or misapplied. The matte black finish on the barrel, hammer, cylinder, triggerguard, trigger and hammer is dark and one of the least reflective finishes I’ve seen on a handgun. The Undercover Lite Earthborn has one of the most subdued finishes of any of the Undercover Lite revolvers. Back To Earth The barrel, trigger and cylinder contrast nicely with the earth tone frame for a stylish yet functional look. The advantage of the DAN system is that it’s possible to achieve a high level of quality control when it comes to the finish no matter how small or large the part is. This feature is usually found on more expensive revolvers, as is the Undercover’s fully shrouded ejector rod.įinally, Charter Arms states that it’s the only firearms manufacturer that polishes its products using DAN robotic work cells. In addition, the cylinder locks in three places instead of the usual two, which, through time, helps prevent wear and excessive cylinder endshake between the cylinder and frame. Another unique feature is the eight-groove rifling, which Charter Arms says gives the bullet a higher velocity and a flatter trajectory. Not having a side plate adds strength to the frame. There is no side plate that must be removed to clean, lubricate or repair the lockwork. Undercover Lite revolvers also have some features not found on many other wheelguns. RELATED STORY: Wheelgun Sentries – Ultra-Reliable Charter Arms Revolvers.38s, the Undercover Lite has a swing-out cylinder, a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger and a transfer-bar ignition system-something that Charter Arms invented. The front sight is ramped and serrated to reduce glare, and the rear sight is a notch in the top of the frame, which leaves about 0.13 inches of light on either side of the front sight.
Charter Arms recommends standard-pressure ammunition rather than +P rounds in this gun. The Undercover Lite is a 12-ounce, five-shot revolver with a 2-inch barrel chambered in. The Undercover Lite is the aluminum-framed version of Charter Arms’ Undercover. Undercover Lite The Earthborn’s 2-inch barrel features eight-groove rifling for consistently higher velocities, and the ejector rod is fully protected. The new guns include the matte black/earth tone Earthborn, the rose gold/stainless Rosebud, the blue/stainless Blue Diamond and the gold/stainless Chic Lady. Because I spend considerable time outdoors, I decided to put the matte-finished Undercover Lite Earthborn through its paces. These new revolvers follow an increasingly popular trend for handguns with color schemes suited to the tastes of their owners. 38 Special revolvers at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia. Charter Arms of Shelton, Connecticut, announced four new Undercover Lite.