The Charter Arms Bulldog 2.5" Blued is a five-shot double-action .44 Special built for belt and pocket carry, and Charter Arms still builds it. It weighs 19.0 oz on what Charter calls its large frame, with an aluminum trigger guard taking mass out of a revolver that is otherwise steel.

The sights are fixed front and rear, so point of impact is wherever the factory set it. The grip is full rubber in a combat shape, which spreads .44 Special recoil over the whole palm. The barrel is 2.5 inches, the gun is 7.25 inches long and the frame stands 5.0 inches tall. An internal hammer block is the safety, and there is nothing on the outside to set or forget.

If you're cross-shopping, the Charter Arms Bulldog Classic 3" is the dressed version of the same gun, 20.0 oz of carbon steel under black oxide with checkered walnut and a color-cased hammer. The Charter Arms Bulldog Boomer 2" goes the other way at 18.0 oz, with a DAO trigger and no front sight at all. At 19.0 oz this one sits between them.