Changes to ROA over the years.....?

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Vermonter

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Would someone familiar with the Ruger Old Army mind telling about the changes to it over the years? Did the action ever change? I know the markings on the barrel did.

Thanks
 
Barrel markings on the original ones didn't have the law school lesson on liability on it.

The bicentennial model (1776) had some special markings. I believe someone here has one.

As to the design, I'm not aware of any modifications. From what I can tell of the drawing in the manual, it's the same gun. Why the drawing? Look at the Mini-14 drawing. It's the same one with the very old style bolt hold open on it. I don't think Ruger ever got around to paying someone to update them.
 
I don't know about the action, but I came across this pic of the ROA with square back brass trigger guard.

ruger square.jpg
 
Brass or blued backstrap/triggerguard, adjustable or fixed sights, stainless or blued finish, 5 1/2" or 7" barrel, rosewood or simulated ivory grips seems to about cover it.

I asked the question on the Ruger forum, so we'll see what the experts say.
 
Brass square trigger guard

I'm by no means an expert, but I believe the early ROA's all had the brass trigger guard. I have one that dates to the second year of production. I've considered getting a 5 1/2 inch with fixed sights and slapping the brass frame on it,would look really good!
 
Here's the response from the Ruger forum folks:

The first 800 or so Old Armys had a wide flattop Baughman type ramp front sight and an adjustable target rear sight. After that the front sight had a more pointed profile. In 1994, the fixed sight model (BP-7F) was introduced with the traditional blade front sight. I believe the first models also had an aluminum grip frame (BP-7) before they were brass, then later, steel. The wide trigger was available with the brass grip frame (BP-7B) and approximately 1200 blued revolvers were made in this configuration. There were also several special editions made: The Liberty Series, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Series, the Ruger Collectors Association Series and a 2nd Ruger Collectors Association Series.
Click to expand...
 
Slight hijack, is the Old Army still in production? I'd love to get one, but the Ruger site lists them as discontinued. I' hoping the site is wrong.
 
Slight hijack, is the Old Army still in production? I'd love to get one, but the Ruger site lists them as discontinued. I' hoping the site is wrong.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but the current management of Sturm, Ruger announced in April that the Old Army was no longer being produced. They said they could make more money with other guns that used the Old Army production line assets.
 
It's the son's fault.

"The Old Army - that’s a revolver I really like, the
finest percussion revolver ever made, and we’ll never
discontinue that revolver — not if I can help it."

William B. Ruger, Sr.
Shooting Times, March 1999
 
The Son is no longer in charge. He stepped down(or was voted down and out) prior to the board of directors decision to discontinue ROA. Ruger is share holder driven public company just like GM, now.....Mike
 
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