Appreciation for the original Ruger Vaquero and Blackhawk frames

[Miami_JBT]

A trio of .45 Colt chambered Ruger Vaqueros. Since they're the larger frame and cylinder design, they can take the "Ruger Only Loads".

I enjoy these guns and need to get another Mernickle holster for the Bird's Head.

 

[Tom K]

I have a .45 Colt Bisley Ruger much like the one you've shown, except the polymer ivory grips have no medallions. It'll take some stout thumper loads. (Second picture taken with camera timer.)

I also have a customized .45 Colt Bisley by a gunsmith unknown to me that I picked up at a Wanenmacher show. The stocks are a little more hand-filling and so more comfortable with the thumpers.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

No doubt about it!

I know why Ruger changed the size of the Vaqero but it wasn't an improvement.

 

[Moo Moo]

Hey Miami........AJ and I have been keeping your thread alive.
Every day for this entire year I will post a old school printed gun advertisement.

Albeit, we don't have any Ruger Single Action ads in it yet.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Hey Miami........AJ and I have been keeping your thread alive.
Every day for this entire year I will post a old school printed gun advertisement.

Albeit, we don't have any Ruger Single Action ads in it yet.

Been busy with work and unable to keep up with it. Thanks though!. Also, my hard drive with all my ads is 500 miles away from me at thr moment.

 

[Miami_JBT]

 

[bearpa]

Change In Frame Size

They made the change in the frame size because everybody wanted it to compare in size to the Colt SAA. That was brought about by the cowboy action shooters and cowboy fast draw who didn't want to pay the cost of a SAA but wanted the feel and also wanted the Ruger design strength.
There is a marked difference in in comparison of the two frame sizes, both in overall size and in weight. I have used both the old and new model in cowboy fast draw with the new model being faster and handier then the old model. But a person with large hands may find the old model to be better suited to them. I used two old models in SASS competition for years and never had a problem, but then I wasn't trying for that extra fraction of a second as in a fast draw.
I like them both, as well as the old three screws, I just like Ruger single actions!. Just think, if Bill Ruger had been around when Sam Colt was what history would be saying now.

 

[bearpa]

My Barbecue Gun

Here is a couple of photo's of my Old Model Vaquero Barbecue Gun. The bowie is for picking your teeth after dining! Engraving was done by Rachel Wells of Prescott in the GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA!

 

[jack the toad]

Hey Miami, although a new model, I have a Mernickle for my birds head in .45 colt.

 

[Echo40]

Personally, I've never understood why Ruger changed the Vaquero frame. I've heard that it was because the CAS crowd didn't like it because it didn't look like an authentic Colt Single Action Army or a replica thereof, but personally I don't understand why anyone would buy a Vaquero in the first place if they wanted a SAA because to me they're an entirely different animal, and the beefier frame of the old Vaquero struck me as more of a feature than anything else because it obviously reduced felt recoil of Standard Pressure .45 Long Colt loads, and probably made CAS Loads all the more fun/fast to shoot. Plus there was the utility of being able to shoot those hot Ruger/Freedom Arms Only Loads which rival .44 Magnum.

The New Vaquero just seems superfluous to me because if I wanted a SAA Replica then I would sooner opt for an Uberti, seeing as Uberti once produced Cap & Ball Replicas of the old Navy Revolver for Colt under license, and supposedly make one of the most authentic replicas of the SAA you can get for under a grand.
The old Vaquero actually had a niche as something of a Heavy Duty modern iteration of the SAA that was smaller, lighter, and more traditional-looking than the BlackHawk, yet still could handle the same stout loads. Which to me is a definite selling point.

 

[DGNY]

F S W does make a good point. But I think behind it all is the idea that once Ruger could crank out highly refined cast steel revolvers, it was only a matter of time. Time until they thought "If the full stack of pancakes is wonderful, there may be a few people who would like a short stack".

Also, for those who cut their teeth on OM Blackhawks, with smaller frame, the New Vaquero was kind of like going home. As well, for reloaders, no shame in lighter loads, as "earthquake" loads for large frame were generally off the table.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Ruger was late to the party with their New Vaquero. Cas/SASS membership was in decline. People had already spent their money. I think they could have given the Italian repro guns a run for their money if introduced earlier. I bought my Rugers because they were available and made in America. They had the New Model Single Six .32s in their line then which was a nice cas womans or gamers revolver. I have bought 8 Rugers, sold one and gave my dil a new model birdshead and have 3 Italians, won a Uberti Thunderer at the NE Regional. Only gun I’ve ever won. Only bought the Schofield and open top for my Rafe Covington impression.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I have five Vaqueros at the moment, the three shown in my OP and a New Model Vaquero in .357 Magnum that I bought for cheap plus a .45 ACP only Bird's Head.

For .357 Magnum, thr smaller frame is fine because it can take the full brunt of the cartridge as is.

The .45 ACP model is a fun gun for being a smaller frame critter. I can't shoot. 45 Super out of it, but that's okay.. I bought it specifically because I like .45 ACP revolver.

But like Forte Smitten Wesson said, I always thought of the larger frame Vaqueros being able to take monster loads as a plus, not a negative. I was never into CAS/SASS all that much when it became gun golf and made the rules to where I can't actually enjoy real period guns like my Krag or S&W DA .38.

The ability to have a modern rendition of a Cowboy gun with modern design and ability to take cartridges that have the power of what would be found in a rifle round back then in awesome.

Hence why I'm holding onto mine and never letting them go.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Hey Miami, although a new model, I have a Mernickle for my birds head in .45 colt.

Jack, I have a New Vaquero too... in .45 ACP.

In reality, I need three Mernickle holsters. One for my larger frame Bird's Head, one for the small frame Bird's Head, and one for my 5.5" small frame .357.

 

[jack the toad]

Ive been considering getting a factory cylinder in ACP just for the cheaper aspect. Wish mine came with an auxiliary one.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I didn't realize I had this many "Cowboy" guns until this morning.

The top gun is a New Vaquero in .357 Magnum.

Left row from top to bottom.

Three Screw Ruger Single Six in .22 LR
Ruger New Bear Cat in .22LR
Ruger New Single Six 50th Anniversary Edition in .22 LR/Mag
Ruger Wrangler in .22 LR
Stoeger imported Uberti 1873 Cattleman in .45 Colt
Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt
Ruger New Vaquero in .45 ACP

Right row from top to bottom.

Pietta 1851 "Marshal" in .44
Uberti 1858 in .44 with .45 Colt Conversion Cylinder
Pietta 1858 in .44
Pietta 1858 in .36
Ruger Vaquero Bisley in .45 Colt
Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt

 

[jack the toad]

Very nice collection going on there Miami.
I’m currently at only these 4...

Got this .45 back when were $250 NIB.

Got these SASS .357’s when oldest gdaughter started CAS.

Of course already posted this one.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Very nice collection going on there Miami.
I’m currently at only these 4...

Got this .45 back when were $250 NIB.

Got these SASS .357’s when oldest gdaughter started CAS.

Of course already posted this one.

My Stoeger marked Uberti 1873 Cattleman was a sub $250 gun. Got it back in 2006. It was a floor model at Bass Pro and got them to knock off 10% from the sticker. Which was $250.00

I'm surprised at how much they've risen in price.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

The birdshead is shown pre zebra and post zebra. Cylinders swapped without an issue. Waiting on a .45acp blackhawk cylinder to arrive so I can use srp in my small primer .45acp brass to conserve my lpp’s. Hoping that I can get it to run on the birdshead. Andy Horvath did the shorty build.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Truths being told:

Personally, I've never understood why Ruger changed the Vaquero frame. I've heard that it was because the CAS crowd didn't like it because it didn't look like an authentic Colt Single Action Army or a replica thereof, but personally I don't understand why anyone would buy a Vaquero in the first place if they wanted a SAA because to me they're an entirely different animal, and the beefier frame of the old Vaquero struck me as more of a feature than anything else because it obviously reduced felt recoil of Standard Pressure .45 Long Colt loads, and probably made CAS Loads all the more fun/fast to shoot. Plus there was the utility of being able to shoot those hot Ruger/Freedom Arms Only Loads which rival .44 Magnum.

Ruger was late to the party with their New Vaquero. Cas/SASS membership was in decline. People had already spent their money. I think they could have given the Italian repro guns a run for their money if introduced earlier. I bought my Rugers because they were available and made in America.

They made the change in the frame size because everybody wanted it to compare in size to the Colt SAA. That was brought about by the cowboy action shooters and cowboy fast draw who didn't want to pay the cost of a SAA but wanted the feel and also wanted the Ruger design strength.

Most of that is accurate enough. At the time the "New Vaquero" came out cowboy action shooting was not in the same growth mode it had been before and the New Vaquero wasn't really needed.

Also true is the fact that early CAS/SASS rules permitted Blackhawks in a different category than SAAs due to the adjustable sights. Folks who wanted to shoot fixed sight SAA-replicas could either buy the Italian replicas or, after 1993, fixed sight ("NM") Blackhawks known as Vaqueros. Vaqueros came not only sans adjustable sights but they also came with the rounded top frame contours of a Colt SAA and a rounded blade front sight similar to SAAs.

Further, there were enough companies making quality SAA replicas that another attempt was not needed.

In a saturated market the New Vaqueros were very much an unnecessary after thought.