Ruger Old Army spares? - LONG

[tacfoley]

Dear All - many of us here on this forum have one of these revolvers, thought by many to have been the epitome of non-replica BP revolvers since their introduction in the middle-1870's, and bought and acclaimed whereever fun shooting happens world-wide.

Even here in UK.

Since the cartridge-firing handgun ban here in mainland UK back in 1997, hundreds, maybe even thousands, of these great handguns have been bought and enjoyed by shooters still keen to take what they can get in terms of handgun shooting experience.

I bought mine back in 1986 - serial 145-52052, in case anybody wants to know.

It worked just fine until yesterday, when, at a guest day, after removing the cylinder to clear a piece, the basepin screw was not correctly locked and on the subsequent attempt to reload, and was fully home. Trying to reload, it got bent.

Last night I sent an email to Sturm, Ruger Inc, and also copied it to our UK importers - Viking Arms. Now I have to tell you that the people at Viking Arms are renowned for being both courteous and helpful, never more so than with their dealings with the general shooting public who buy their Ruger products from the dealerships that they supply. So it came as no surprise to find an email waiting for me this morning when I opened up shop.

What WAS a surprise was that the the email told me in no uncertain terms that there were NO stainless steel base pins to be had from Ruger.

Last year, Ruger sent me [via Viking Arms] two rear frame securing screws - the little ones that go either side of the hammer - advising me as they did that they were the only FOUR of these little screws in existence, and asked if I wanted them all. I got them all - and if anybody has a need for the other two, just call me. BTW, they are black, NOT stainless - there are NO stainless
ones in existence.

My points to this ramble are simple -

1. What happened to Sturm, Ruger's company promise to support out of production firearms for ten years after cessation?

2. How come that spares for what must be one of the most popular BP handguns EVER made are almost non-existant, or in some cases totally non-existant?

3. Critics noted that sales had fallen off over the last couple of years - well, hello critics - barring ham-fisted operators [ahem], these guns, built are like Tower Bridge and just do not wear out [much], and how many of them do you want anyhow?

So to Sturm, Ruger Inc., I send a large SSSSSSSSPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLTHTHTHTHTHPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPP.

tac - V. disappointed

[Peter C]

Hi
Yes to the two spare screws please PM sent.

[lasbrisas]

Assumimg it's the rod that holds the cylinder in place, can it not be straightened ! I believe it is quite a common occurance so I would be surprised if no-one has resolved this before, I have an ROA bought second hand but had no nipple key, found one at the phoenix meet at Bisley but the part your after is a different matter.

[tacfoley]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. tried to straighten it using a jig I made on my little lathe but the metal has bulged around the area of the locking cut and I'm loathe the reduce it.....

Might get a pal with a CNC machine to make me a few in 18-8 SS or similar...anybody interested if I do?

tac

[pnuk]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. tried to straighten it using a jig I made on my little lathe but the metal has bulged around the area of the locking cut and I'm loathe the reduce it.....

Might get a pal with a CNC machine to make me a few in 18-8 SS or similar...anybody interested if I do?

tac

As it seems to be a weak spot, very possibly. I'll probably bend mine eventually

[harricook]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. tried to straighten it using a jig I made on my little lathe but the metal has bulged around the area of the locking cut and I'm loathe the reduce it.....

Might get a pal with a CNC machine to make me a few in 18-8 SS or similar...anybody interested if I do?

tac

Hey Tac

You can count me (well Dad) in ...... seen one bent on the range already - locking screw came undon & the guy carried on trying to ram the ball - ouch - bent pin !

It would not happen on mine as I have taken the ram part off & I dont do up the locking screw as I load off the gun on a stand

BUT . Dad has a ROA & I guess it may happen at some point


Keep up the fine work

Roy
.

[tim56]

Me too. Bent the one on my Rogers and Spencer when i first got into B/P. Couldnt get it to straighten even with workshop facilities. Bought a new pin from Kranks and made a tiny brass retaining pin with a thread in it which takes a stainless screw so you now have to use an allen key to remove the cylinder. Havent had any problems with the Rugers yet but its so easy to do its only luck i suppose. Bit worrying about the ROA spares situation though! Tim

[tacfoley]

Well, guys, seems that they are just made of plain ol' 18-8 SS - easily machineable stuff - with care. I'm going to ask a friend to make me some up - just in case - he has half-a-zillion £££s worth of CNC equipment doing nothing right now.

The little frame screws that go either side of the hammer, as I noted, are no longer available either, so i might ax him to make a few dozen of them, too. For interest, they have tiny nylon inserts, but I'm sure that green Lok-Tite would do the same thing

And for Peter in surrey - they were in the mail this morning - let me know when you get them, please.

Best to all

tac

[lasbrisas]

I would certainly have one of the rods as a spare, it's bound to happen one day, keep us informed of how you get on if you decide to get them made.

[tacfoley]

I would certainly have one of the rods as a spare, it's bound to happen one day, keep us informed of how you get on if you decide to get them made.

Will do, Gentlemen.

tac

[tacfoley]

Ah, right, Gentlemen - here is the response from Sturm, Ruger Inc. hot off the press, so to speak....

Dear Tac,

Thank you for your Online Support Request (Attached)

Unfortunately we no longer have spare parts for the Old Army Revolvers, you can check with Viking Arms to see if they have any parts left in their stock, see contact information below:

Viking Arms, Ltd.
Summerbridge, Harrogate
North Yorkshire HG3 4BW
ENGLAND
Tel. # 1423-780810
Fax # 1423-781500
Email: info@vikingarms.com
Web Site: www.vikingarms.com

Thank You.

Best Regards,

Christina Harbour
International Sales Specialist
Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc.
529 Sunapee Street - Export Department
Newport, NH 03773
Tel: 603-865-2451
Fax: 603-863-9371
Email: charbour@ruger.com

Whinemeal, I've made contact with a company in nearby Montana who make replacement SS basepins for most revolvers, including the ROA cartridge conversions, asking them to consider making a replacement base pin for the BP version of the ROA.

We'll see where we go from there, eh?

And I'll keep you posted - seems I'm not the only one with a fellow shooter who is unaware of his own strength.

Best

tac

[martindl99]

Let me tell you a story. When I first got my ROA I did exactly the same and bent the cylinder pin. My mate gave it a belt with a lump hammer and straightened it good enough to work.
It worked perfectly well until a couple of months ago, when it decided to snap on loading.
On checking around I had no luck in finding one from anywhere.
I phoned that lovely lady Christina at Ruger and had a very nice chat.She could not have been more helpful. We continued correspondence by e-mail.
I gave her all the details on my ROA,including the 4 digit serial number.
The parts dept at Ruger stated all ROA,s had a prefix number. I replied with a pic of the number and they traced when it was made. They said it was an old 'un but a good 'un.
Christina said, hopefully a new pin would appear on her desk within a few days.
I was holding my breath.
Anyway.......a few days later........a new pin from Ruger dropped onto my doormat free of charge, with Rugers compliments.
I was gobsmacked....how good was that.
But as the title says, I must have been the lucky last.

[tacfoley]

That's funny - that's exactly what I did too.

Even gave the serial number of my 1986-made ROA.

The result you see....so I guess you did get the last one.

Enjoy it in good health!

tac, reaching for the hammer...

[lasbrisas]

I'm surprised no-one has locked onto this niche market, if I had the equipment to make them I would, not sure how many were ever made but they go back a long way.

[Major Mallock]

Hi all,

It seems to be a popular problem to have with an ROA, I did the same - bent the rod and it broke on straightening it. Viking couls only replace in with a ordinal steel item in gun black. So I just polished the bit that shows to remove the black - you cant tell. As I clean the gun within hours of use and keep it well oiled, no problem.

However if anyone does start making stainless ones, I am a customer for 1 or 2.

Just for completeness, ROA is the BEST