Ruger Old Army .45 Cal 5.5” Barrel Cap & Ball Percussion Revolver, MFD 2005
SOLD FOR: $1,032.77
LSB#: LSB251202DH033
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model: Old Army
Serial Number: 148-10954
Year of Manufacture: 2005 / 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, “148-10954” The left side of the frame is marked, “RUGER OLD ARMY” The cylinder is marked, “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 checkered walnut screw-set to the grip frame. There are faint handling marks throughout. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rates about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Polished Bright Steel
Finish Originality: Refinished
Cylinders: One 6rd .45 Cal. Cylinder
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There are spots of surface rust forming throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7.5/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 10% of its metal finish. The bluing has been mostly polished off with some remaining on the topstrap and inside the frame. There is moderate action wear. There is surface rust forming in the cylinder and inside the frame. The screw heads are sharp and the pins undamaged. The markings are clear. This pistol is in overall Fair + condition as Refinished.
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: None.
Our Assessment: This 2005 Ruger Old Army represents one of the final production examples of Ruger’s modern percussion revolver platform, a model long respected for its strength and durability in the black powder category. Unlike many traditional cap-and-ball reproductions, the Old Army was engineered from the outset with modern steel and Ruger’s investment casting methods, resulting in a robust and mechanically sound design. Chambered in .45 caliber and clearly marked for black powder only, the Old Army retains its six-shot percussion cylinder and integral loading lever system. This example has been refinished to a polished bright steel appearance, with most of the original bluing removed through polishing. While visually distinctive, the refinished surface departs from factory specification and contributes to its Fair Plus overall classification. The checkered walnut grip panels remain in excellent condition, providing a strong contrast against the bright metal and maintaining crisp lines and fit.
Conditionally, the revolver retains approximately 10 percent of its original bluing, with most surfaces polished to bright steel. Moderate action wear is present, and surface rust is forming on the cylinder and within the frame, along with areas of developing rust inside the bore. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling but shows surface rust spots, bringing it to a 7.5 out of 10 rating. The screw heads and pins remain in good shape, and the markings are clear and legible. While the action functions correctly, the revolver would benefit from thorough cleaning and preventative maintenance to address rust formation. Taken as a whole, this refinished Ruger Old Army offers a mechanically sound but cosmetically altered example of one of the most durable modern percussion revolvers ever produced. -R.E.
