Ruger Old Army .45 Cal 5.5” Barrel Cap & Ball Percussion Revolver, MFD 2004
SOLD FOR: $1,003.26
LSB#: LSB251202DH001
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model: Old Army
Serial Number: 148-10191
Year of Manufacture: 2004 / Modern
Caliber: .45 Cal. Black Powder Only
Action Type: Percussion Black Powder 6 Shot Revolver with Ramrod.
Markings: The right side of the frame is marked, “148-10191” The left side of the frame is marked, “RUGER OLD ARMY” The cylinder is marked, “FOR BLACK POWDER ONLY” The barrel is marked, “STURM, RUGER & CO. INC. SOUTHPORT CONN. U.S.A.”
Barrel Length: 5.5”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a quarter moon blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch cut into the topstrap.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth walnut panels with silver Ruger medallions on either side. There are faint handling marks throughout. There are no chips, or cracks. Overall, the grips rate at about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Cylinders: One 6rd .45 Cal. Cylinder
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is some light fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are light handling marks throughout. The cylinder has a thin turn-line. The action has light wear from use. The screw heads are sharp and the pins undamaged. The markings are clear. This pistol is in overall Very Good to Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: Original Ruger hardcase, tool, lock, paperwork.
Our Assessment: This 2004 Ruger Old Army is a late-production example of Ruger’s purpose-built percussion revolver, a model long regarded as one of the strongest and most precisely manufactured cap-and-ball handguns ever offered. Unlike traditional historical reproductions, the Old Army was engineered using Ruger’s modern investment casting process and contemporary steels, resulting in a robust frame and cylinder assembly designed for durability and consistent lockup. The 5.5 inch barrel provides a well-balanced configuration, while the fixed quarter-moon front sight and square-notch rear deliver a clean, traditional sight picture consistent with classic black powder revolvers. Chambered in .45 caliber and clearly marked for black powder only, this six-shot percussion revolver retains its original loading lever and cap-and-ball cylinder configuration. Ruger’s interpretation emphasized strength and reliability, giving shooters the aesthetics of a traditional percussion revolver combined with modern metallurgy. The blued finish and smooth walnut grip panels with silver Ruger medallions offer a classic presentation representative of early 2000s production.
Conditionally, this example retains approximately 99 percent of its original blued finish, showing only light handling marks and a thin, honest turn line on the cylinder. The action exhibits light wear consistent with limited use, and the bore remains bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, rating 9 out of 10 due to light fouling. The walnut grips remain in excellent condition with no chips or cracks. Accompanied by its original Ruger hard case, tool, lock, and paperwork, this 2004 Old Army stands as a well-preserved and mechanically sound example of Ruger’s modern black powder revolver platform. -R.E.
