Old model vaquero

[Reaper2204]

Thinking of sending my ruger old model vaquero to Robar for a Roguard finish, any opinions.

 

[PriseDeFer]

Is this for function or cosmetics? What's it look like now?

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
My first thought is "why?" Is the current finish bad, pitted, rusty? If so,,, I'd say have it done. If not,,, and the current finish is good, I'd say leave it as it shipped from the factory. The Original Vaqueros as opposed to the New Vaqueros are no longer made, and as such, are slowly becoming desirable to others. (I'll start a bit of discussion here,,, in that the Original Vaqueros are often called old models,, but the true Old Models were just in the SA line until 1973. In 1973,,, the New Model arrived, was marked as such, and has a safety transfer bar. All Vaqueros have the transfer bar system, and as such are New Model actions. Those of us who collect usually refer to the vaqueros as Original or New Vaqueros.)
The Original Vaqueros enjoy the same frame size as the Blackhawks,,, and as such can handle heavier loads.
So, to many, anytime you change the finish, or originality of a factory item,,, it can detract from the value.
UNLESS,,,,,,,,,, the finish is already ruined to where giving it a makeover will enhance it's looks. A good example is an OM 3 screw 45 Colt Blackhawk I recently got. It has pitting & rusty & other issues. It is currently getting a makeover in Cerakote. While it's not perfect,,, it will improve it's looks. And for a gun to get such treatment it had to be rough. Ruger built fewer 45's than they did the 44 mag Flattops. They are quite desirable.

Now, if you are asking just about the Roguard finish,,, I can't offer any comments as I've never fooled with it at all, and I'm totally in the dark about it.

 

[David Bradshaw]

There is no thing as an "old model Vaquero." As Contender clearly explains, all Peacemaker-style Rugers are built on transfer bar passive safety system introduced by Ruger in 1973. That departure----one hundred years after introduction of the Colt masterpiece----means that a New Model Ruger is loaded & unloaded without touching hammer or trigger, that the trigger must be pulled before the firing pin contacts a primer, and that the revolver may be carried hammer-down on a loaded chamber.

Ruger confused the issue with introduction of the New Vaquero----as Contender states, with frame scaled to that of the smaller Peacemaker.

Confusion didn't start with the New Vaquero. Once Ruger replaced the Single-Six, Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk series with New Model transfer bar lockwork, shooters and collectors commensed to call original lockwork Rugers "old models." Thus, manufacturer and shooter alike contribute to the gumbo of terminology.

Vaquero=Blackhawk/SBH-size frame.
New Vaquero=Colt SAA-size frame.
David Bradshaw

 

[rugerguy]

again, semantics, all the time people will say "I bought the new model Vaquero, instead of the old one or discontinued one, " whatever...what's old is old and what is new ,is new..........when writing a "technical journal or manual" then we would hope the correct usage of make, MODEL and caliber would be proper, gee, let me run down the road and ax my buddy what be what... 8) :roll: :wink:

another reason so MANY folks are afraid to come on , or ask anything on any given forum these days, give 'em a break.........................

 

[5of7]

old model? or Old Model? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I knew it wouldn't take long before the semantics experts started pounding their keyboards. 8)

 

[David Bradshaw]

Reaper2204.... Robar finishes are very thin and enjoy a reputation for durability. The Robar NP3 acted to reduce friction between slide and frame of SIG autoloading pistols in sub-ZERO shooting. Roguard is said to share the thin and durable characteristic on which Robar built its name.

Unless you have a sentimentality for a period finish to compliment the beauty of your Vaquero, the Robar finish may be just the ticket for weatherproofing. Certainly, one or another Robar treatment has much to recommend it in the humid South. Bluing and Nickel----and case hardening----are traditional to late 19th century firearms. Modern tactical finishes detract from the classical single action aesthetic. As an example, it was a mistake for USFA to offer their excellent remake of the Colt Peacemaker with bead-blasted, flat black finish. USFA called this matt-finished hobo the Rodeo.

Robar NP3----a matt gray-silver----should provide protection without straying so far from the Peacemaker aesthetic.
David Bradshaw

 

[JPGLSG]

Reaper2204....What ever you do with your old model, larger frame Vaquero how about sending us some photos of the finished gun. I've got a couple of large frame models that use to be case colored and blue. The previous owner kept them in a galvanized bucket in his barn, they look prudie bad but the workings are good. Been wondering what I might do to them just for the fun of it.

Welcome to the Forum, we look forward to hearing back from you.

 

[street]

A lot of people call the 1st model Vaqueros "Old Model Vaqueros" And a lot of people get bent out of shape because of it. If you say you got a Vaquero then they will ask if it is the older model or the newer model. Just calling it a Vaquero doesn't tell what you have. If you say Old Model Vaquero then they know exactly what you are talking about as they will type a few hundred words why you should not call it that. People that know Rugers know that the Vaquero is not an Old Model Ruger. But that doesn't mean that there can't be an Old Model Vaquero. Just don't call it an Old Model Ruger.

All of that being said if you want to call it an Old Model Vaquero, then have at it as Ruger has got it wrong too. The Older Vaqueros had Vaquero stamped on the frame and the Newer models had New Vaquero. Some where along the line Ruger made some New Vaqueros that had Vaquero stamped on the frame. So if Ruger can't get it right then who has the right to say you are wrong, when Ruger can't get it right. As long as you remember this. "ALL VAQUERO ARE NEW MODELS, EVEN THE OLD MODEL VAQUEROS ARE NEW MODELS. :wink:

 

[Rclark]

And a lot of people get bent out of shape because of it.

Well, it is just a matter of 'education'. Anyone even 'remotely' interested in Rugers soon learns that there are Old Models (pre-73 three screen revolvers) and New Models (two pin and transfer bars). So both the original Vaquero and the New Vaquero are New Models. Seems simple enough.... Just a matter of learning the terminology (and then using it correctly) . . Of course it would help if Ruger would get their story straight to help us along, so we wouldn't have to have these discussions :roll: !

 

[BlkHawk73]

again, semantics, all the time people will say "I bought the new model Vaquero, instead of the old one or discontinued one, " whatever...what's old is old and what is new ,is new..........when writing a "technical journal or manual" then we would hope the correct usage of make, MODEL and caliber would be proper, gee, let me run down the road and ax my buddy what be what... 8) :roll: :wink:

another reason so MANY folks are afraid to come on , or ask anything on any given forum these days, give 'em a break.........................

Semantics perhaps but if the media gets chastised and ridiculed if they aren't 110% correct in what they write... well, hopefully you see where that was going. Kinda sad how it's perfectly acceptable to be incorrect and even more so that it's inappropriate to correct what is incorrect. Just more of the dumbing down of society that is apparently perfectly acceptable.


Anyways...as for the finish question, I had a HK USP refinished in the Rogaurd years ago with internals in NP3 . It's fantastic! Not something I'd do expecting an increase in value but rather to provide a finish more durable and lasting than what is already there.

 

[CraigC]

For whatever reason, I'm just more comfortable with plating a revolver, rather than coating one. They certainly have their place but plating just seems more appropriate for a revolver, especially a single action.

Semantics perhaps but if the media gets chastised and ridiculed if they aren't 110% correct in what they write... well, hopefully you see where that was going. Kinda sad how it's perfectly acceptable to be incorrect and even more so that it's inappropriate to correct what is incorrect. Just more of the dumbing down of society that is apparently perfectly acceptable.

Agree. Very evident in the citizens our educational system is turning out. Teaching for tests rather than actually educating them.

 

[eveled]

Semantics aside. If it just needs to be refinished, send it to Ruger.

By all means post pictures, we'd all like to see before and after shots.

Don't let them scare you off, they're all good guys, you just hit on their pet peeve. Welcome to the forum.