I purchased a new .38 stainless undercover, (snubnose), in the late '90s. The crane locked shut when I fired the first five rounds of .38 wadcutters. It was locked up until it cooled. I filed a little metal off the area on the frame to the rear of the cylinder. I lightend the trigger pull and over five years fired about 1000 rds through the gun. It was accurate and fun to shoot and had less recoil than the lighter Smith. I never trusted it for self defense and sold it and purchased a Smith-Wesson 642. I regret selling it though.
I've had one in .38 Spec for many years. 2" bbl in SS. I seldom carry it anymore but it has always been completely reliable. I did take it on a hog hunt when I lived in California and used it to shoot a hog that I had shot with a muzzle loader. It has always worked well for what I have used it for. I now keep it in the house in case of a home invasion. It will certainly shoot minute of bad guy within the confines of a house.
I have 6 of different vintage 2 1st generation in 22 LR 1 in 22 WMR second generation 1 38 spl 1st generation 1 44 bulldog in SS 3 inch 1st generation and a 32 H&R mag current generation.
Birth are nice looking pistols. About like the Taurus from that area. Which were good also.
My 38 Undercover needed a little massaging from the factory. At he peak of collecting I had over forty handguns. Add about twenty more over the years. My experience has been that I've had more issues with lower priced firearms. I gave up on them. Once a firearm has an issue I do not trust it for self defense. Once I did my thing on the litle Charter it was fun to shoot, accurate and was a good looking little gun.
