Ruger Old Army .45 Cal 5.5” Barrel Cap & Ball Percussion Revolver, MFD 2002
SOLD FOR: $1,712.00
LSB#: LSB251202DH027
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model: Old Army
Serial Number: 148-08224
Year of Manufacture: 2002 / 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, “148-08224” 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 white 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 Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Stainless Steel
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 faint fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are light handling marks throughout. The cylinder has a crisp 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. The custom hammer has been spliced with a blackhawk Montado hammer-fan. The cylinder has been fitted with Hot Shot nipples.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This 2002 Ruger Old Army represents a late-production example of Ruger’s purpose-built percussion revolver platform, widely regarded as one of the strongest and most durable cap-and-ball revolvers ever manufactured. Unlike many traditional replicas, the Old Army was engineered from the ground up using modern stainless steel construction and Ruger’s investment casting process, resulting in exceptional strength and consistent lockup. The 5.5 inch barrel offers a balanced configuration suited to practical shooting, and the fixed quarter-moon front sight paired with the square-notch rear preserves its classic black powder revolver profile. Chambered in .45 caliber and clearly marked for black powder only, this six-shot percussion revolver retains its traditional loading lever and cap-and-ball cylinder configuration. This example features several custom modifications, including a hammer spliced with a Blackhawk Montado hammer-fan and a cylinder fitted with Hot Shot nipples, reflecting attention to ignition reliability and enhanced manipulation. These additions distinguish it from standard factory configuration while maintaining the integrity of the Old Army platform.
Conditionally, this revolver retains approximately 99 percent of its original stainless finish, showing only light handling marks and a crisp cylinder turn line. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, rating 9.5 out of 10 despite faint fouling. The smooth white grip panels with Ruger medallions remain intact with no chips or cracks and rate in very good condition. The action functions correctly and displays light operational wear consistent with limited use. Taken together, this customized 2002 Ruger Old Army offers a well-preserved and mechanically sound example of Ruger’s modern percussion revolver enhanced with practical performance-oriented modifications. -R.E.