Ruger Old Army
Sturm, Ruger & Co. · Pistol · Discontinued · 1972
Also known as: Ruger Old Army Percussion Revolver
Overview
The Ruger Old Army is a single-action, cap-and-ball percussion revolver produced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. from 1972 to 2008. Rather than copying a historical Civil War-era design, it was engineered as a modern black-powder revolver based on the steel frame and lockwork of Ruger's Blackhawk, using a coil mainspring and Ruger's adjustable sights. Loaded from the front of a six-chamber cylinder with loose black powder, a percussion cap, and a .457-inch round ball or .454-inch conical, it was widely regarded as the strongest and most accurate cap-and-ball revolver of its era and was offered in both blued and stainless steel.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1361 g (48.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 346 mm (13.62") |
| Barrel Length | 191 mm (7.52") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 300 m/s (984 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 420 J (310 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Stainless Steel |
| Barrel Material | Stainless Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Stainless |
Calibers
- .45 Caliber Cap & Ball · primary — also known as .44 cap and ball, .457 round ball, .454 conical, black powder percussion
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Safety Notches Between Chambers, Loading Lever Latch
- Features: Single Action Only, Fixed Or Adjustable Sights, Blackhawk Derived Frame, Coil Mainspring, Loading Lever, Round Ball Or Conical
Service history
Operators
- Civilian black-powder shooters · adopted 1972
Production
Production years: 1972-2008
Blued models 1972-1981; stainless steel from 1982; fixed-sight option added 1994
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William B. Ruger
Discontinued: 2008
Notes
Marketed over its life as both a .44 and a .45 caliber, though all examples use the same .457-inch round ball or .454-inch conical projectile. Safety is provided by notches between the chambers that let the hammer rest safely on a fully loaded six-round cylinder.
Background
Conceived by company founder William B. Ruger as a deliberately modern muzzle-loading revolver, the Old Army earned a reputation among black-powder competitors and hunters as the most robust and accurate cap-and-ball sixgun ever mass-produced.