Pics added. Is this a factory old Vaquero?

[71shooter]

I need to move a few guns, and I'm wondering if one I have is factory original or custom:

Old Style 5.5 inch Bisley vaquero 45 Colt That has a very bright deluxe blue with no CCH (not over buffed, but shiney). The gun has a 57 prefix and Ruger says it was made in 2000. What really makes me think it is custom is that the warning paragraph is on the bottom of the barrel, and I thought Ruger did not start doing this until along about the time the new vaqueros came out about 5 years later. The gun is not particularly tight in anyway, as the trigger seems factory, the throats are all about .450-.451", the B-C gap is on the wide end at .008", and it has a loose fitting (within normal) factory base pin. Passes range rod test. I can post picks later sometime if that helps, but figured someone in this crown might know if it could be factory. Box has a white label. Thanks!

P.S. I posted this on single actions.com as well so I can get the biggest number of folks who know about these things to see it.

 

[PRichardson87]

A picture or two would be quite helpful.

 

[Timbo23]

A picture of the end of the box would be very helpful as well. As long as its the original box to the gun. It would have the model number and matching serial number. I really liked the original Vaquero and don't remember a version like that, but they made a bunch of special ones and its been a great number of years.

 

[contender]

The model nomenclature says it was a "blue Ruger Bisley New Model Vaquero with the color case finish cylinder frame."

And from looking at the pictures,, it appears to having been re-blued.

As for the warning billboard,, it's also possible a barrel was replaced.

 

[Professor]

Might have gone back to Ruger and rebarreled refinished etc. I would not refer to it as custom.

 

[71shooter]

The handwritten "406 NH 00" on the box label makes me wonder if it might have been refinished in the bright blue at the factory. Lots of knowledgeable folks here might know.

 

[G2]

There was a time when Ruger would replace the faux finish with a re-blue when the faux failed, like a lot of them did.

As for the bottom warning on the barrel, as mentioned it could have been changed out at the same time as the re-do.

Either way it looks nice, has period correct grips & carbon hammer/ trigger.

A call and/or letter to Ruger "might" get you some answers to your curiosity.

 

[71shooter]

Thank you. I think I will do that.

 

[contender]

I do not think the reblue is factory.
The quality of the polishing is not to factory standards. I see dished out areas around the pins. Ruger does a better job than that.
And if someone replaced the barrel, they either used a later produced factory barrel, or re-cut the threads to fit. My guess would be a replacement barrel,, because to re-cut the threads and set back the barrel usually would not reposition the warning,, AND it can also cause the ERH to need cutting.

When asking for the letter, list the desire to know if the factory did a reblue.

 

[71shooter]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[rugerguy]

reblued and rebarreled good luck in finding out by "who, whomever" as they don't letter "service" as far as I know of , never could help us in that department...can you find out any 'history, background', from who you got the gun from?? I know a few years back we had refinished a few Vaqueros that their "faux" color faded or actually disappeared, do not recall doing a Bisley version but all that is history no pictures, no records, I even asked Walt my partner back then...besides if we rebarreld or altered the barrel ( cutdown) we removed the "warning", never put on a new style barrel ,never got any from Newport....nice looking gun really, I like it........

OH well I guess I did save the last one.............almost forgot......

 

[71shooter]

I bought this gun Used from a local shop. They could tell me nothing of its origin.

 

[chet15]

Yes, definitely re-barreled. I also see a Newport address on the barrel. Ruger didn't change the address to the bottom of the barrel until well after the New Vaquero was out. Only the older Vaqueros involved in the cleanup run have rollmarks on the bottom of the barrel (58-96xxx and up).
Chet15

 

[rugerguy]

gotta be careful what you pick up at any shop never may know just WHAT it really is............

trying to remember "why" we did this for somebody..........

 

[Hondo44]

In 2006 the 'Billboard' message "Read the owner's manual…" moved to the bottom of the barrel.

In 1978, Jan.: Barrel warning began on the left side of barrel.

 

[freakindawgen]

Here is its older sibling. Warning is side of the barrel

RUGER Old Model Bisley Vaquero RBNU455 00590 .45 Colt Single-Action Revolver from 1997 in the Box

RUGER Old Model Bisley Vaquero RBNU455 00590 .45 Colt Single-Action Revolver from 1997 in the Box for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com