The Charter Arms Bulldog Classic 3" is a five-shot double-action .44 Special built for belt carry, and Charter Arms still builds it. It is the dressed version of the Bulldog, with a color-cased hammer and checkered walnut grips with a medallion over a carbon steel frame in black oxide.

The sights are fixed front and rear. The barrel is 3.0 inches, the gun is 7.75 inches long, the frame stands 5.0 inches tall, and the whole thing weighs 20.0 oz with an aluminum trigger guard keeping that figure down. An internal hammer block is the safety, with nothing on the outside. Walnut puts more of the recoil into the web of the hand than a rubber panel does.

If you're cross-shopping, the Charter Arms Bulldog 2.5" Blued is an ounce lighter at 19.0 oz, on a stainless frame with rubber grips and the same five rounds. The Smith & Wesson 396 Night Guard has an MSRP of $1,269 and the same 3.0-inch barrel, on a scandium frame at 23.4 oz with a tritium front sight and an adjustable rear. The Classic is the one bought for the wood and the case colors.