A charging handle apparatus includes a two-piece support apparatus that is disposed on a handle assembly and that is engaged with a gear. One of the two pieces is movable with respect to the first piece. The second piece of the support apparatus includes a number of engagement structures that are engaged with the gear and that retain the gear in a given position with respect to the handle assembly. The charging handle apparatus thus can be provided as a pre-assembled component that is readily mountable to a shaft of a circuit interrupter.