ROA info. please?

[Big Old Boy]

A friend of mine bought a ROA ser# 140-064xx it has a brass square grip frame and is chrome or nickel but that can not be it should be blue only, did Ruger ever plate these and was brass frame used on any this early or any at all by factory? Thanks for any info, Bob.

 

[wwb]

I don't know about the grip frame, but the Old Army was made in stainless steel as well as blued steel.

 

[contender]

Well, the Ruger Old Army was the one gun that had the most factory shipped brass grip frames. If I had the complete serial number I could tell you if it was shipped as such. According to Dougan's list in his book, it's POSSIBLE that it was shipped as a brassie, according the partial number you gave.
However, I do not recall any factory brassies in the stainless guns, only blued guns.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Thanks here is the # 140-06483 thanks for the help I think someone had the gun done in nickel.

 

[street]

The Old Army Stainless Steel guns with a pre-fix in the serial number started at 145-0000X. The 140 prefix was used on blue guns only. It looks as if someone plated that gun.

With that serial number it doesn't show up in Dougan's book as a Factory Brass Frame Gun, but I understand that he doesn't have a complete list, so only a letter from Ruger will say for sure.

 

[Big Old Boy]

thanks for all the help just as I thought someone added the frame and had the gun plated should still be a good shooter but he paid way to much for the gun at $650.I gave $350 for mine and my son just got one in stainless like new for $450.

 

[contender]

As noted, the serial number doesn't show up in Dougans book. BUT,,,,, A factory brass gripframe, (pull the grips off & look to see if it cast in the grip frame; "MR3DB") is worth about $300 itself. He may NOT have paid too much.
If it's been plated, any possible collector value is gone, so he has a good shooter.

 

[chet15]

There were three stainless Old Army's that were produced with brass grip frames. 145-29000, 145-29001 and 145-34565.
Each will letter as brass.
Haven't heard the whole story on these, but these were probably done by a well known Ruger employee. Each also has a high polish finish, not unlike the high polish put on the stainless Vaqueros and high polish stainless "G" finish single actions.
Chet15