Ruger Old Army

[Mustang]

Just started the DROS on a Ruger Old Army that I glommed from an auction. It is some kind of commemorative...has crossed swords and the legend "Duty Honor Country" on the cylinder, as well as "US" on the grips and the backstrap.

It looks unfired and if so, probably because it is some kind of commemorative.

[sealocan]

Nice, it's only one of a hundred made, which I think in firearms made in commemorative issues, it is a comparatively low number of total units made in a series.

..." limited edition Ruger Old Army black powder revolver. One of only 100 manufactured and simply called the "Old Army Horse Pistol", this revolver features crossed sabers on each side of the cylinder with the motto "Duty-Honor-Country", all in gold. There is also a gold "U.S." on the top of the rear grip strap as well as "U.S." branded into the side of each grip. "

The perfect gift to to give any military, leo or U.S. Patriots.

On top of that it's probably a model of gun they might not already have in their collection already.

[Tom-ADC]

[Madpyro]

Nice! It’s cap and ball, no need for DROS.

[Mustang]

Nice, it's only one of a hundred made, which I think in firearms made in commemorative issues, it is a comparatively low number of total units made in a series.

..." limited edition Ruger Old Army black powder revolver. One of only 100 manufactured and simply called the "Old Army Horse Pistol", this revolver features crossed sabers on each side of the cylinder with the motto "Duty-Honor-Country", all in gold. There is also a gold "U.S." on the top of the rear grip strap as well as "U.S." branded into the side of each grip. "

The perfect gift to to give any military, leo or U.S. Patriots.

On top of that it's probably a model of gun they might not already have in their collection already.

This was the cheapest ROA that I've seen in my search. Didn't come with a box or papers. I was interested because it looks unfired.

[Mustang]

I’m surprised you had to DrOS it it’s cap and ball black powder I would have thought exempt from DROS.
Great find though.

Nice! It’s cap and ball, no need for DROS.

Auction house insisted that it does require DROS as it is not made before 1899, is not a replica of any model made before 1899 and can be readily converted to a cartridge gun.

[Beetle Bailey]

Very nice! Are you gonna shoot it? Mine is just a regular one, and not in nearly as nice condition, but it shoots great!

[condor]

Auction house insisted that it does require DROS as it is not made before 1899, is not a replica of any model made before 1899 and can be readily converted to a cartridge gun.

Sure looks like a close copy of an 1858 New Army to me?? And... just about every Italian copy can be converted to shoot center fire with the CF cylinder swap, so are they all required to be DROS'd?? It should be OK to mail to your front door via USPS. I haven't checked and don't know if a CF cylinder is made for Old Army's by anyone, but it should be BP exempt. Cool looking Ruger!! Didn't know that they existed.... :-) Thanks.

[sakosf]

As mentioned on another posting thread, supposedly Ruger uses the same frame one the Old Army as they do on their Black Hawk revolvers.....that fact may disqualify the Old Army from being in the same class as a modern replica of a antique cap & ball

[Springfield45]

I doubt it needs to be DROSed. But it is the auction houses rules. If they want it DROSed, they get it or no sale. Cool looking Ruger OP. I really like the crossed sabers on it.

[Springfield45]

As mentioned on another posting thread, supposedly Ruger uses the same frame one the Old Army as they do on their Black Hawk revolvers.....that fact may disqualify the Old Army from being in the same class as a modern replica of a antique cap & ball

Different frames.

[SkyHawk]

I doubt it needs to be DROSed. But it is the auction houses rules. If they want it DROSed, they get it or no sale. Cool looking Ruger OP. I really like the crossed sabers on it.

It is ATF opinion, not just applying to CA. And a thorough reading of 18 USC 921(a)(16) leads me to the same conclusion: ATF is correct, there is no antique exemption because

1) the Old Army is not a replica of any handgun made before 1899, and
2) it is readily convertible to fire fixed ammo.

That precludes it from being exempt. Lose either one of those and it is exempt. There is a big reason almost every BP revolver is a replica of something made before 1899...

Here is an old post from a FFL, maybe even the auction house in question:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=14786000#post14786000

[condor]

As mentioned on another posting thread, supposedly Ruger uses the same frame one the Old Army as they do on their Black Hawk revolvers.....that fact may disqualify the Old Army from being in the same class as a modern replica of a antique cap & ball

And there are center fire replicas from Italy. That reason alone doesn't make the Old Army BP in need of a DROS. In my collection I have a couple of Uberti's in both 45LC and BP... Never had to DROS the BP because of it.. However if the auction house wants it to DROS have them send it to your FFL1. Explain to your FFL1 what's going on, and when it comes in go pick it up... Modifying a Ruger BP to make it a center fire, and having to install a loading gate etc make it a little challenging...

[SkyHawk]

Different frames.

Doesn’t matter, it is a well documented fact that Ruger modified the Blackhawk in 1973 to produce a modern Blackpowder revolver that is the Old Army. Many publications from the era including magazine and books attest to this. Here is one:

https://books.google.com/books?id=LQausfRgWvYC&pg=PA147#v=onepage&q&f=false

[M76]

Very nice...congrats