Just checked the Ruger website......

[denden]

And looked for my .44 Mag, SS 4 5/8 Vaquero. I guess they were discontinued at some time in the past. Anyone tell me when it was discontinued and if it has any extra value now. I bought it in '98 and wanted the .44 Mag because I already reloaded that caliber and thought I could reload it to .44 Spl specs for target shooting.

 

[Rainman]

Welcome to the forum denden. You are right, your Vaquero was replaced by the smaller and lighter "Colt-size" New Vaquero several years ago. Occasionally some factory "clean up" original Vaqueros will show up from time to time at places like galleryofguns.com (Davidson's). I personally like the original Vaquero for the big calibers like yours but I also love the 44 SPL in my stainless New Vaquero.

You definitely own a keeper and it's worth more now than you paid for it.

Dan

 

[gak]

Dan is right, the .44 Mags (and other large frame Vaqueros) have not been available for at least six years (except for the odd/occasional special "clean up run" offered by the likes of Davidsons.

 

[denden]

Thanks for the replies. I bought this gun used / as new in the box. Maybe not even fired and traded back to the original dealer. Just happened to see it in the case while I was ordering another pistol.

 

[yankee7809]

One of our local gun shops has a new Vaquero in .44 Mag. It is a stainless high polished 4.63" model with the Bisley gripframe.
While not my cup of tea I was surprised to see a new one after all this long. So there are a few of the .44 Magnum Vaqueros being released, at least here and there.

 

[chet15]

Yep...discontinued "officially" in 2004. But there have been several cleanup runs of the .44 Mag. in various model configurations, some shipped just recently (RBNV-475I).
All of the cleanup guns have the Warning rollmark on the bottom of the barrel.
Chet15