keep a Ruger Old Army for spare parts as time goes by?

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Tallbald

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I have four now since my loving wife gifted me a fixed sight beauty. One I've got up for sale locally. But in the back of my mind sometimes and as I see parts for Old Army's skyrocket, I wonder about a need to keep a parts Old Army available. I know I don't need all four for my lifestyle and infrequent shooting, but should I have an accident and bend a ram lever I would have a pickle of a time replacing it. Cannibalizing one is a horrible thought to me because they are a piece of art in metal. Anyone else starting to consider having a sacrificial ROA when thinking about "thinning" a collection? I just don't see anyone stepping up to the plate to make replacement parts like can be had for some other discontinued guns. Don
 
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Yes, I bought two beater adjustable sight models to provide parts for my cowboy action guns. So far I have not had to cannibalize them, but I don't worry about spare parts now.

We think alike.
 
No.

I buy guns to use. I don't have 'safe queens' (well, except maybe for that POS Starr SA...) nor do I keep non-functioning piles of parts. Now, some don't get used very often as I do have favorites, but they're all available and working.
 
I have spare locks, springs, etc. for some of my side hammers but my 3 ROAs are intact and functional. The only component I would "borrow" from one would be a cylinder. However, I have 2 spare aftermarket cylinders.
 
Lever rams can be straightened. I bent mine and had it straightened.
 
Lever rams can be straightened. I bent mine and had it straightened.
Click to expand...

I load on a press, no problem with bending anything. :D I hope it never needs a part. If i shot it a lot in CAS or something, I'd worry about it, but I shoot it only occasionally and will NEVER sell it. Wish my stainless one hadn't gotten stolen, though. :rolleyes: I'd like another stainless one, but they're pricey now days.
 
I envision some manufacturers expanding their line of Old Army parts to meet the demand as time passes. Folks will not give up their ROA's and at some point I believe that with a frame, you will be able to build a complete gun just as with other favorites like AR platforms, 1911's and a few others. Just my expectation. Don
 
Gents,

Mitch Schulz at Gunsmithing Ltd., Southport, CT has a shop attached to the a Ruger plant there. He has a lot of parts he acquired from them. Just talked to him today when I picked up one of my ROAs that needed a conversion cylinder fitted. He is well known for his work on Winchesters and Rugers but is a good all around gunsmith.
 
I'm mostly concerned about the internals and fitted bolts. A barrel could be made from a blank, sights are pretty replaceable. Cylinder pin and ram could become a problem. Just pondering actually. With care, I doubt I could ever wear an Old Army out. But now my grandchildren.....
 
Is there any specific parts you are worried about?

Aw, man, don't spoil the rationalization with realism!!!

It was a perfectly good way to justify buying another pair of Old Armies!!
 
Tallbald said:
I have four now since my loving wife gifted me a fixed sight beauty. One I've got up for sale locally. But in the back of my mind sometimes and as I see parts for Old Army's skyrocket, I wonder about a need to keep a parts Old Army available. I know I don't need all four for my lifestyle and infrequent shooting, but should I have an accident and bend a ram lever I would have a pickle of a time replacing it. Cannibalizing one is a horrible thought to me because they are a piece of art in metal. Anyone else starting to consider having a sacrificial ROA when thinking about "thinning" a collection? I just don't see anyone stepping up to the plate to make replacement parts like can be had for some other discontinued guns. Don
Click to expand...
Whatever justification works for you to keep them is golden I suppose.
 
I envision some manufacturers expanding their line of Old Army parts to meet the demand as time passes. Folks will not give up their ROA's and at some point I believe that with a frame, you will be able to build a complete gun just as with other favorites like AR platforms, 1911's and a few others. Just my expectation. Don
Click to expand...

Well, I'd love to find out you were right some day, but don't hold your breath. ROAs didn't sell that well and CERTAINLY aren't in the sales class that ARs and 1911s are. Heck, I expect most shooters never heard of the ROA. Many don't even know cap and ball exists. Their first question would be "Does it have a rail on it?". :rolleyes:
 
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For the sake of the conversation, I'd say that I'm confident I would be able to find a source or a fabricator for most ROA parts.

However, if the core question is really "Can you ever have enough Ruger Old Army's?" then the answer is NO, keep 'em all, and add more.
 
The question shouldn't be whether you keep any or all of your ROAs; it should be whether you acquire a double rig so you carry two of them. And the answer is ''Yes."
 
AJumbo would it be too flashy of me to make a rig to carry all four Old Army's at once (grins)? Yeah.... that would be a bold fashion statement! Wish I had four hands. I'd be sure to wear clean and attractive underwear in case my britches got dragged down from the weight! Just pondering.
Ever stop to think that a double rig would let you carry over a $1000 worth of muzzle loaders on your belt at once? Times have sure changed. Don
 
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