Skalkaho Slim
Blackhawk
I recently came into another Birdshead Vaquero after stupidly selling one off back in 2004 right after they first came out.
Here's the thing.......
1. It's got a 58 prefix - that should tell me that it is indeed an "old" Vaquero as they started with the 510 prefix in 2006 when it was changed to the "New" Vaquero.
2. It does not have the "New Vaquero" stamp on the frame.
3. Cylinder measurements correspond with those of the older Vaq's.
3. Here's the odd thing, the spent casing envelope has a date of 11/30/2009.
I figured it was just sitting in a warehouse somewhere, but I thought they were proofed pretty much immediately after assembly, boxed up and shipped out.
So's I got curious and emailed Ruger. Here's what I sent.........
"I recently acquired a Birdshead Vaquero and am curious as to it's build date. According to the Serial Number History on your website, the 58 prefixed Vaquero's stopped production in 2005. The envelope that contains the fired case that came with this gun has a date of 11/30/2009. I want to verify that it is an "Old" Vaquero, not a "New" Vaquero."
Here's their reply............
Model: KBNV-325X
Shipped: July of 2004, this is the new Vaquero revolver
So, by the date of build (2004), it should be an "old" one.
But they say it was shipped in 2004. If it was shipped in 2004, why wasn't it proofed until November 2009?
What I find funny is this - are they telling me it's a "New Model" Vaquero, or that's it's just a "new" Vaquero? :lol:
I love to over-analyze. :lol:
Here's the thing.......
1. It's got a 58 prefix - that should tell me that it is indeed an "old" Vaquero as they started with the 510 prefix in 2006 when it was changed to the "New" Vaquero.
2. It does not have the "New Vaquero" stamp on the frame.
3. Cylinder measurements correspond with those of the older Vaq's.
3. Here's the odd thing, the spent casing envelope has a date of 11/30/2009.
I figured it was just sitting in a warehouse somewhere, but I thought they were proofed pretty much immediately after assembly, boxed up and shipped out.
So's I got curious and emailed Ruger. Here's what I sent.........
"I recently acquired a Birdshead Vaquero and am curious as to it's build date. According to the Serial Number History on your website, the 58 prefixed Vaquero's stopped production in 2005. The envelope that contains the fired case that came with this gun has a date of 11/30/2009. I want to verify that it is an "Old" Vaquero, not a "New" Vaquero."
Here's their reply............
Model: KBNV-325X
Shipped: July of 2004, this is the new Vaquero revolver
So, by the date of build (2004), it should be an "old" one.
But they say it was shipped in 2004. If it was shipped in 2004, why wasn't it proofed until November 2009?
What I find funny is this - are they telling me it's a "New Model" Vaquero, or that's it's just a "new" Vaquero? :lol:
I love to over-analyze. :lol: