Ruger Old Army .45 Cal 5.5” Barrel Cap & Ball Percussion Revolver, MFD 1999
SOLD FOR: $1,200.00
LSB#: LSB251112TA022
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model: Old Army
Serial Number: 148-06993
Year of Manufacture: 1999 / 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, “148-06993” 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 checkered dark wood 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 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: None.
Our Assessment: This 1999 Ruger Old Army represents a late-production example of Ruger’s modern percussion revolver platform, a model long respected for its strength and refined execution. Unlike many reproduction cap-and-ball revolvers, the Old Army was engineered using Ruger’s investment casting and modern steels, resulting in one of the most durable and precisely fitted percussion revolvers ever offered. The 5.5 inch barrel provides a balanced configuration, and the fixed quarter-moon front sight paired with the square-notch rear maintains 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 integral loading lever and traditional cap-and-ball operation. Ruger’s approach delivered improved tolerances and a stronger frame compared to many period-style reproductions, enhancing longevity and mechanical confidence. The blued finish and checkered dark wood grips give this example a classic and understated appearance characteristic of late 1990s production.
Conditionally, this revolver retains approximately 99 percent of its original blued finish, with only light handling marks visible. The cylinder shows a thin, honest turn line, and the action displays light wear consistent with limited use. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, rating 9 out of 10 due to light fouling. The checkered wood grip panels remain sharp and intact with no chips or cracks, rating in excellent condition. Taken together, this 1999 Ruger Old Army offers a well-preserved and mechanically sound example of one of the most respected modern cap-and-ball revolvers ever produced. -R.E.
