Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics
o

Notices

Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics Post Your General Gun Topics and Non-S&W Gun and Blade Topics Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-28-2010, 05:03 PM
PALADIN85020's Avatar
PALADIN85020 PALADIN85020 is offline
US Veteran
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 10,440
Likes: 3,924
Liked 50,373 Times in 6,009 Posts
Default A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros

Too bad S&W doesn't make single actions any more - I love their "old time" look and the way they feel in the hand. Here are a couple of "old" Ruger Vaqueros in my collection that I especially like. Both are chambered in .45 Colt; the stainless model is a convertible that will take an extra cylinder in .45 ACP.

Can anyone spot what's different from the factory products with these two guns other than their faux ivory stocks?

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Last edited by PALADIN85020; 03-28-2010 at 05:21 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-28-2010, 05:18 PM
wyo-man wyo-man is offline
Member
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 707
Likes: 523
Liked 353 Times in 168 Posts
Default

Hammers and grips?
I don't know single actions that well, but great karma, count me in........

wyo-man
__________________
Live free or die

Last edited by wyo-man; 03-28-2010 at 06:14 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-28-2010, 05:22 PM
Ron H.'s Avatar
Ron H. Ron H. is offline
US Veteran
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 33
Liked 249 Times in 118 Posts
Default

Sir, it looks like their lockwork has been modified--both appear to be set on half-cock, which standard Vaqueros do not have.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
__________________
Wishin' don't make it so.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-28-2010, 05:33 PM
stoneman stoneman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: N.W. Montana
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Ooo pick me, pick me!

One is a Bisley and the other is not! And yes, they are not supposed to have a half-cock either. Whats up with that?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-28-2010, 05:40 PM
m657's Avatar
m657 m657 is offline
Member
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: sunny Orygun
Posts: 2,910
Likes: 392
Liked 307 Times in 195 Posts
Default

nice Karma.....
__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-28-2010, 05:56 PM
palmetto99 palmetto99 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upstate, S.C.
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 78
Liked 220 Times in 133 Posts
Default

My brother has on "old" vaquero with a bird's head grip. I love that gun. It is sweet to shoot. Your examples look great.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-28-2010, 06:08 PM
Andy Griffith's Avatar
Andy Griffith Andy Griffith is offline
Member
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Out for the duration
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 62
Liked 520 Times in 264 Posts
Default

Are they Vaqueros that have been modified to act like a Colt?

I checked the serial numbers on the Ruger website. They are the good "old" Vaqueros on the big Blackhawk frame. *thumbup*
__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

Last edited by Andy Griffith; 03-28-2010 at 06:30 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-28-2010, 06:12 PM
roarindan roarindan is offline
US Veteran
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: 12944, thats"upstate"
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 2,965
Liked 824 Times in 377 Posts
Default

the answer is...... you can't have the hammer back AND the loading gate open!!!!!
__________________
UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-28-2010, 06:16 PM
Andy Griffith's Avatar
Andy Griffith Andy Griffith is offline
Member
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Out for the duration
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 62
Liked 520 Times in 264 Posts
Default

Oh, and the color of the ejector housing on the blue one is off from the blue on the barrel....have you replaced it with a steel one yet?

I can't see the ejectors...are they replaced with bullseye ejectors?
I got it!...Factory ones don't have turn lines!!!
(Just funn'n ya! )
__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

Last edited by Andy Griffith; 03-28-2010 at 06:29 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-28-2010, 06:24 PM
mod34 mod34 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 133
Liked 1,609 Times in 518 Posts
Default

Where are the warnings on the barrels? At some point Ruger moved them to the bottom, but can't tell on these.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-28-2010, 06:55 PM
m657's Avatar
m657 m657 is offline
Member
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: sunny Orygun
Posts: 2,910
Likes: 392
Liked 307 Times in 195 Posts
Default

Blue looks like Montado hammer Bisley; other serial is rather older 3 digit.

Skinny brass indicates non ".4x" caliber....your turn....
__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-28-2010, 06:57 PM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 6
Liked 351 Times in 243 Posts
Default

Quote:
Can anyone spot what's different from the factory products with these two guns other than their faux ivory stocks?
Someone cleaned the silver solder off the base of the front sight?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-28-2010, 07:05 PM
gizamo gizamo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 137
Liked 864 Times in 187 Posts
Default

I definitely like the Bisley!...WooHoo!!!!!
__________________
Non gratum anus rodentum
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-28-2010, 11:43 PM
R Cubed R Cubed is offline
US Veteran
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maricopa AZ
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

they're both built on the 44mag frame - Cowboy shooters thought it too big. So, Ruger made them smaller, changed serial prefix to 3 digits. The new vaquero, as they're called, are the same size as the Colt SAA revolvers. Cowboy shooters are happy.

And, I have an old one in stainless with the ivory type grips, and the hammer of like the lower one.

Last edited by R Cubed; 03-29-2010 at 12:08 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-29-2010, 06:35 AM
danski danski is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Looks like they've been ruined by having Ruger's safeties removed to go to the Colt style click-click-click-click style and probably the transfer bars have been taken out.

In 1973 Ruger produced a safer single action (many personal injury lawsuits paid out) and now what is shown are only safely 5-shooters.

This modification is not uncommon.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 03-29-2010, 12:47 PM
PALADIN85020's Avatar
PALADIN85020 PALADIN85020 is offline
US Veteran
A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Arizona
Posts: 10,440
Likes: 3,924
Liked 50,373 Times in 6,009 Posts
Default THE ANSWER!

Well, some of you got it, some of you didn't, and some of you got it wrong!

As many of you know, the old Vaqueros released the cylinder for loading simply by opening the loading gate. Unfortunately, this did not allow reverse indexing by feel to line up the charge holes for loading and unloading. It had to be done visually, and if you missed one, you had to go around again to get to that chamber.

These guns have been altered by conversion kits from Ron Power (Power Custom). Now they operate exactly like the older Blackhawks and Colt Single Action Armies. You place the hammer on half cock, open the loading gate, and load or unload by feel, reverse-indexing the cylinder to line things up for loading or unloading. You can do it in the dark, and it's much faster. Normal Vaqueros do not have a half-cock notch on the hammer, but these do. This gives a "3 click" sound when the hammer is cocked fully - not quite as nice as the old "4 click" sound of the old Colts (no safety notch on the conversion hammer), but far more satisfactory than the "2 click" sound of the normal Vaquero.

Also, it should be understood that these guns can be loaded safely with 6 rounds. The transfer-bar action is retained, making the gun safe with the hammer down on a loaded round. So you have the best of both worlds - the safety of the modern Vaquero with the feel and convenience of the older action that allows fast loading and unloading with the hammer on half cock!

Those of you with Vaqueros should find these conversion kits very satisfactory - I know I do.

John
__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bullseye, colt, ejector, ruger, saa, vaquero

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Flashy Ruger Vaqueros for Cowboy Fast Draw Macinaw Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics 6 07-06-2014 09:47 PM
SOLD: 2 x Ruger New Vaqueros, stainless .44 Specials RonC GUNS - For Sale or Trade 0 02-15-2011 08:13 PM
WTS: Pair of Ruger OM Vaqueros, Argentine Hi Power Cristiano GUNS - For Sale or Trade 2 03-29-2010 10:25 AM
SOLD WTS/WTT 2 Ruger Vaqueros seeemmiss GUNS - For Sale or Trade 1 03-21-2010 11:53 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:11 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)