Found a 44 special vaquero!

[Medicmike3762]

Walked into the shop and it was laying with some other no name revolvers in the case it's a 3.75" blued gun. I love the look of the short barrel with the ERH. I hope it's a shooter! No box or papers but the price was good I thought so I'm going to pick it up today. I think it will get a bisley hammer and a nicer set of grips but other than that, I like it.

When were these produced? Were these an exclusive? Also what grip frame do these have?

 

[rammerjammer]

Made in 2010

Around 500-510 of 4 variants 3.75" bbl and 4.75" bbl stainless and blued.

So fairly rare. If I may ask, what did you pay for your Vaquero?

 

[Jim Walsh]

Would not have passed that one up. Nice find.

 

[needsmostuff]

They already have a little more polish than the average so YEAH, a hammer and some grips can spruce um up pretty easy.

 

[Medicmike3762]

Made in 2010

Around 500-510 of 4 variants 3.75" bbl and 4.75" bbl stainless and blued.

So fairly rare. If I may ask, what did you pay for your Vaquero?

575 was the price I thought that was more than fair

 

[rammerjammer]

575 was the price I thought that was more than fair

Great price!

Forgot to answer your initial question about grips frame. These have the XR3 grip frame.

Lipsey’s Exclusives Archive

RUGER Ruger Mark II Deluxe | 4" | Manufacturer Model: 0138 Ruger Mark II Backpacker | Manufacturer Model: 0167 Ruger Mark II Deluxe | 5-1/2" | Manufacturer Model: 0179

lipseysguns.com

 

[71shooter]

That' a fantastic deal on a really nice looking one. Congrats !!!!

 

[Timbo23]

My SS 3 3/4" was bought new and has an envelope with the fired case that was dated Aug 2010. I can't believe I've had it going on 15 years. The serial # is 510-99XXX.
The grip frame is the same one as used on New Vaqueros and NM flat tops.
Congratulations, that's a nice snag!

 

[Medicmike3762]

Well actually came out beater on the deal than I thought! Brought in an old police colt AR (ban era gun) I had and got the gun and a nice E Arther Brown TC encore barrel in 6.5x284 Norma and two boxes of ammo! Got home and ripped that wretched vaquero hammer out and threw in a standard Blackhawk hammer I had laying about much better now.

 

[Timbo23]

The New Vaquero (and 44 Spl Vaquero) hammers seem to have few fans. The longer spur does offer greater leverage to make cocking easier but it does stick out more to catch on things.
Lots of people like the Bisley hammer but I don't care for it on anything other than the Bisley. To fit one on a regular frame requires grinding away part of the back of the hammer. The hardest cocking SA that I have is a Bisley and I believe that part of the problem is that hammer offers the least mechanical advantage.
Personally, I prefer the Super Blackhawk hammer and have retro fitted them on the Blackhawks that I shoot the most. It offers lots of surface area for my thumb and the lateral grooves allow the thumb to easily slide off to the side after cocking.
My experience has been that it's a drop-in swap (when you can find them) with no fitting required.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Very Nice!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Nice
Here is a couple Sheriff Models in 45 Colt that I bought new.

 

[Hondo44]

Great find at a great price! I stumbled onto one in 2010 at the original price of $500 if I recall correctly. I immediately dumped the hammer as well and added the New Vaquero .45 Montado wide checkered hammer. And some faux ivory grips with scrimshawed steer heads. Also a Colt ejection rod. I'll add a photo when I get home.

 

[71shooter]

I recently picked up a 4 5/8" version with a worn finish. It's still tite, though, and it has a truly wonderful 2.5lb trigger. Can't wait to shoot it!

 

[Medicmike3762]

I recently picked up a 4 4/8" version with a worn finish. It's still tite, though, and it has a truly wonderful 2.5lb trigger. Can't wait to shoot it!

Let me tell you, the trigger on mine is outstanding! Also the fit and finish on this little sheriff beats the breaks off of my new rugers! If ruger could go back to the mid 2000s QC they would really have something. My last 44 special flattop 4 5/8 stainless bisley QC not even close to the fit and finish of this little sheriffs model.

 

[71shooter]

Let me tell you, the trigger on mine is outstanding! Also the fit and finish on this little sheriff beats the breaks off of my new rugers! If ruger could go back to the mid 2000s QC they would really have something. My last 44 special flattop 4 5/8 stainless bisley QC not even close to the fit and finish of this little sheriffs model.

I agree! I have a 4 5/8" 44 special FT from that era, and the trigger, and finish are fantastic.

 

[Rclark]

Oh man, you got me excited when I saw the title... as I was thinking new run, 5 1/2" barrel... hoping . I already have a .44 Special Sheriff. Anyway, neither here nor there. Enjoy the Sheriff. I get mine out once in awhile for fun. Only problem I have with mine is the short front sight. Shoots way high. Had the barrel turned to get the horizontal component correct, so shooting high is not as big a deal for the intended belly gun use case....

 

[gnappi]

My 3 3/4 can't hit diddly at 200 yards, I hope yours is a better shooter.

 

[JackBull]

Still kicking myself for not buying when these came out. Hoping for Ruger to reissue.

 

[Hondo44]

Vaquero sheriffs model with scrimshaw faux ivory grips, Colt ejector rod, standard Flattop Blackhawk hammer, and grooved trigger:

Vaquero .45 Montado stainless hammer added after the photo was taken: