A couple of unusual Ruger Vaqueros

[PALADIN85020]

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?

 

[wyo-man]

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

wyo-man

 

[Ron H.]

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.

 

[stoneman]

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?

 

[m657]

nice Karma.....

 

[palmetto99]

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.

 

[Andy Griffith]

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*

 

[roarindan]

the answer is...... you can't have the hammer back AND the loading gate open!!!!!

 

[Andy Griffith]

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! )

 

[mod34]

Where are the warnings on the barrels? At some point Ruger moved them to the bottom, but can't tell on these.

 

[m657]

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

Skinny brass indicates non ".4x" caliber....your turn....

 

[Jellybean]

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?

 

[gizamo]

I definitely like the Bisley!...WooHoo!!!!!

 

[R Cubed]

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.

 

[danski]

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.

 

[PALADIN85020]

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