Old model Vaquero question

[southernbuck101]

Was there ever a 7-1/2" OM vaquero made/ sold/ cataloged from Ruger? Preferably in stainless.
I have a 44 mag hi polish Vaquero and a baby Vaquero Single Six hi polish in 7-1/2 ,along with a 357 hi polish 4-5/8, and have always wondered about this and would like to purchase one if available.
Thanks in advance.

 

[hittman]

I “think” a friend had one, blued, 45.
And a heads up …. They’ll be along shortly to remind us there are no OM Vaquero’s.
”Original” large frame Vaquero? Yes.
New Vaquero’s? Yes.
Never an OM 3 screw.

 

[lolbell]

Yes, I have an original large frame Vaquero in 45 Colt with the 7-1/2” barrel

 

[southernbuck101]

My apologies.
I find that I didn't quite finish my question.
Which was, were there any 7-1/2" vaqueros in 357.
Preferably stainless.And Preferably " original" frame.

I do know of a "original " Vaquero 7-1/2" stainless 45 Colt for sale in Northeast Georgia at a pawn shop.
It's been priced for at least 8 months at north of $900.00. I have considered offering much less but I'd prefer the 357 in that length.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

No, Ruger did not make the 357 original model Vaquero with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. Only 45 colt, 44 mag and 44-40 were made with that barrel length and in SS and blued.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Here are two that I wish I would have kept. They just look COOL MHO I woke up STOOOOOOOPID one day and sold them.
High polish, cylinder throats reamed to correct dia., spring kit, action job, custom grips and Super hammers added later.

 

[southernbuck101]

Those are sweet.
And yes the 7-1/2" stainless Vaqueros get attention anywhere they are displayed.

 

[powder smoke]

Here are two that I wish I would have kept. They just look COOL MHO I woke up STOOOOOOOPID one day and sold them.
High polish, cylinder throats reamed to correct dia., spring kit, action job, custom grips and Super hammers added later.

View attachment 26710

Very Nice My kind of shooting irons right there! awesome collection!

 

[Hondo44]

You'd have to make one in .357, and I suggest a New Vaquero because it's made on the mid-frame. A .357 original vaquero large frame is way too-heavy-for-caliber.

I made mine by starting with a short barrel New Vaquero .357. I found a 7 1/2" 45 barrel, had it bored out and a .357 liner inserted. Then sell your original barrel.

Your net cost won't be that much and you'll have the talk of the town!! It won't be one-of-kind, but it'll be one of two-of-kind!

 

[Hondo44]

By the way, original Vaquero and New Vaquero barrels have the same thread and will interchange.

 

[Hondo44]

If you haven’t shot a New Vaquero you’ll like its RIPS (reverse indexing pawl system) chamber alignment for ease of loading/unloading New Models with their transfer bar safety. I‘ve even installed the system on New model single sixes for ease in loading/unloading .22s.

 

[BearBiologist]

Original Vaqueros are threaded the same as Colt 2nd Gen SAAs. I had Bobby Tyler convert one for me.

Patrick Grashorn made the ramshorn grips. I deconstructed and reconstructed the EPS holster. Added Indian Pennies as conchos. Homage to my Cherokee/Irish/Chickasaw grandmother.

 

[southernbuck101]

You'd have to make one in .357, and I suggest a New Vaquero because it's made on the mid-frame. A .357 original vaquero large frame is way too-heavy-for-caliber.

I made mine by starting with a short barrel New Vaquero .357. I found a 7 1/2" 45 barrel, had it bored out and a .357 liner inserted. Then sell your original barrel.

Your net cost won't be that much and you'll have the talk of the town!! It won't be one-of-kind, but it'll be one of two-of-kind!

You got a picture of that gun?

 

[Hondo44]

Sorry, no. I don’t even have the gun any longer. Because it was a mid-frame, at first glance many thought it was a Colt SAA.

 

[Hondo44]

Original Vaqueros are threaded the same as Colt 2nd Gen SAAs. I had Bobby Tyler convert one for me.

View attachment 33802

Actually, Ruger single action mid and large frame barrels, including the Original Vaquero and New Vaquero barrels are 24 TPI x .685" (11/16), (shank .618".) which is the same as 3rd Gen. SAA Colt barrels.


SBH Hunter barrels are the exceptions: thread pitch and diameter varies:

.41 SBH Hunter is 32 TPI x .708" (shank diameter is .623"),
.44 SBH Hunter is 20 TPI x .747" (shank diameter is .680"), (same as Super Redhawk ) (S&W is 36 x .670")
.45 SBH Hunter is 32 TPI x .703" (shank diameter is .623").

 

[BearBiologist]

I stand corrected. I thought it was a 2nd Gen barrel we used=musta been a 3rd Gen.

 

[Hondo44]

I stand corrected. I thought it was a 2nd Gen barrel we used=musta been a 3rd Gen.

I have to think twice at my age and refer to my notes, can't trust my memory anymore. And your idea to use a Colt barrel is an excellent idea; a Colt .357 barrel avoids the extra work of re-lining a larger caliber Ruger barrel.

And a Colt ejector rod is my preference on my Rugers as an improvement over the Ruger button and puny crescent ejector.

 

[GasGuzzler]

It's been said already but there is no Old Model Vaquero.

 

[BearBiologist]

'OM' REALLY CONFUSES THE ISSUE: "OM"= "Old Model" or "Original Model" depending on who's using it! We need to get a consensus!

 

[hittman]

Well then we can cuss and discuss SS

Single Six?
Stainless Steel?
Service Six?
Speed Six?
Security Six?

Hmmm…. I wonder if Security Six Is OM and GP100 is NM? :unsure:

 

[southernbuck101]

Yall will just have to overlook me then.
Old Vaquero is already etched into my brain,having owned my first one over 25 years.
I currently own 3 actual Vaqueros, and 2 Single Sixes with the "u" notch rear sight and half moon front sight.
The only "New Model" Vaquero I have is the Birdshead in 45acp.

I do hope to aquire a match to either the Birdshead, or my Old Vaquero 357 stainless 4-3/4 when the funds, on my part, and availability, divinely interact ,someday.

 

[rugerguy]

yessir no doubt about it, if you have an original Vaquero , you definitely got the older one..............:cool::rolleyes:;)

 

[Hondo44]

OM only means OLD MODEL single actions (without a transfer bar) none of which are Vaqueros, and should not be used for Original Vaqueros. If OM is used and the context of the post indicates Vaqueros are the subject, it should be clarified/corrected to "original Vaquero" (vs. New Vaquero*) by readers of the post.

It's a learning process we all experienced. New Vaqueros and the .44 Special Vaquero* are those with the chamber/loading trough alignment system RIPS (Reverse Indexing Pawl System).

*The exception is the .44 Special which is marked just "Vaquero" because there were no Original Vaqueros chambered in .44 special.

 

[contender]

Good post Hondo44!!!!!!!

MANY, MANY people come to this Forum looking for correct & excellent information on Rugers. (All Rugers,, old & new!) We should be THE standard for the proper terminology to assist in helping newer folks understand what we are talking about.

 

[Battlement]

Was there ever a 7-1/2" OM vaquero made/ sold/ cataloged from Ruger? Preferably in stainless.
I have a 44 mag hi polish Vaquero and a baby Vaquero Single Six hi polish in 7-1/2 ,along with a 357 hi polish 4-5/8, and have always wondered about this and would like to purchase one if available.
Thanks in advance.

Yes there was, and they are hard to find That people want to let go of.

 

[Rclark]

The above picture is 5 1/2" 'original' Vaquero... Not 7 1/2" .

Good post Hondo44! Someone had to say it!