ADP3 said:
What I never understood was why Ruger stamped the .44 Special frames "Vaquero" when the pistols were New Vaqueros.
Best Regards,
ADP3
This has been debated many times.
Let's clarify the 44 Spl marked just "Vaquero":
It may seem strange until one understands that for a model to be marked a "New" whatever, there had to be a predecessor of that model. In other words all the New Vaqueros are in calibers that existed in the original predecessor model like .357, 45, or 44 Mag. But what was the predecessor for the 44 Spl? There wasn't any! It's the first in that caliber. Therefore it can't be a "new" version of anything even though it has the RIP System, it's an original model in 44 Spl cal introduced with the RIPS, hence it's just a "Vaquero" and marked as such.
Ruger's logic is also consistent with the "Single Ten", "Single Nine", Single Seven, etc. These are what we all consider New Models because of the transfer bar action, but none of them are stamped "New Model" on their frames because they are ORIGINAL MODELS, not NEW MODELS of Old Model 3 screw six shot cylinder Single Sixes.
The 32 H&R Single Six with transfer bar is stamped New Model because just like the New Model .22 six shot Single Sixes, it is a new transfer bar updated version of a previous Old Model single six.
Ruger's more recently released Talo/Lipseys exclusive .44 Mag large frame stamped "New Vaquero" is "New" because it has the Reverse Indexing Pawl System of the "New Vaquero" and the 44 Spl "Vaquero", but 44 Mag was built in the original Vaquero. None of the original large frame "Vaqueros" has that system.