Very nice those were built to last thats for sure.
I've heard another more likely story of why the quit making them....conversion cylinders. The story is they didn't want the liability of someone skirting the law to have a fixed cartridge gun. Sadly believable.
I doubt it would have to have a safety feature if re-made today, none of the imports have to have that feature.
You did OK on the price, that might be the 1st year the stainless model came out, thus the "low" serial number. The blued ones came out in 1973.
Shoot the heck out of it, and learn to clean it properly, you will be set for a LONG time!
You did well. Check Gunbroker on this but I bet you could get 8 or 9 hundred for it at auction. Maybe more. I’d also advise shooting it for a while. As a cap gun. They are wonderful revolvers.
Old Army is an excellent choice. Very accurate. You can buy aftermarket nipples for it that guarantee ignition. Did yours come with the tools? Congrats.
i think they started making the ss with reverse black powder only roll engraved on the cylinder in the last of 1975, also no 1776 writing on the top of the barrel with the serial number of 1321 with no pretext.
Here in MO, a stainless one in good shape, will bring $1,200-1,500. If yours is NIB or like NIB, you can add at minimum another $200 to the price. Blued ones not so much, $500-700, but everyone wants the stainless.
WWG1WGA
Tyrants use the force of the people to chain and subjugate-that is, enyoke the people. They then plough with them as men do with oxen yoked. Thus the spirit of liberty and innovation is reduced by bayonets, and principles are struck dumb by cannon shot: Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma
“You should tell someone what you know. There should be a history, so that men can learn from it.
He smiled. “Men do not learn from history. Each generation believes itself brighter than the last, each believes it can survive the mistakes of the older ones. Each discovers each old thing and they throw up their hands and say ‘See! Look what I have found! Look upon what I know!’ And each believes it is something new.
Louis L’Amour
The Californios
Kirst is now making replacement, drop-in cylinders for ROA. Only in stainless at this time. I picked up 2 for $225 each. Now I can go to the range with 3 loaded cylinders.
And Ronnie G Wells is looking into a five shot .50 caliber cylinder for the old army frame…
Seems to me that my Accurate Arms #1 manual has reloading data in it for the Old Army, with 5744 as I recall. I know I have been told many times on the range that shooters were shooting smokeless in Old Army guns by the shooters themselves. Said they saved all that BP cleaning mess.
“There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
Cervantes
“Never give up, never quit.”
Robert Rogers
Roger’s Rangers
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Will Rogers
very nice. A friend let me borrow one years ago for a back up gun for deer hunting for black powder hunting in New Mexico when i was in the military. It was a really nice gun, i would have loved to buy it from him but he made it pretty clear that it was not for sale. He said he paid $500.00 for it new. Im thinking thats alot for a BP pistol. The quality is there and thats what you are paying for. Man that was i nice pistol. I only got to shoot it six times and that was to empty it. I would love to have one.
Dont pee down my back and tell me its raining.
I've never seen the attraction of these guns. Others are obviously crazy about them.
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Looking for a Hensly &Gibbs #258 any thing from a two cavity to a 10cavityI found a new one from a member here
Great cap and ball revolver! An 1863 Remington on steroids. My buddy has shot two deer with his using a conical bullet and 28 grs of 3F Enjoy your great gun show find.
The very first handgun I bought was a Ruger Old Army. Bought in March of 1974 at our local hardware store for around $100.00. Was 19 years old making $90.00 a week and made four payments that are noted on the box. Still have and cast a pile of balls for it a couple weeks ago. You got a good buy on yours.
If you live and deer hunt in woody, up and down terrain (Eastern Ky) you would see the real beauty of the ROA. Having to score BP matches and only having time for a pistol match adds to the joy. Winning an occasional muzzleloading rifle match with the ROA helps your self respect, too.
To the original poster: Start looking for percussion caps. Now!
Over here in England at the auctions the ROA blued version goes for around £200 or$260 ish and the stainless version in very good condition around $500 maybe $600 cased with all relevant loading accessories and that is a high price at auctuion.
Last edited by andy h; 05-15-2024 at 07:38 PM.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |