Old vaquero purchase

[Molonlabe207]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, but I just made a purchase the other day and thought it was pretty sweet. But I wanted to know if you guys think it was as good as I think. It's a 1993 vaquero in 45lc, but best part, it's never been fired!! Unfortunately I didn't receive the original box, but I payed $425 out the door. I still haven't shot it, as I won't have time till this weekend, but I guess before I do, I wanted to know if I shouldn't. I don't know how "rare" if at all of a find this was, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures yet, but it is the blued, with case hardened look on the receiver and rosewood grips. Also, it doesn't even have the ring on the cylinder. Man, I'd love to know the history of this gun and why it was never shot. So did I find a diamond, or a shooter? Thanks for any info.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum. Barrel length affects the value. But you haven't said wjat it is.

 

[Molonlabe207]

Sorry its the 5 5/8 I think or 5 1/2 depending on who u talk to

 

[6gun]

No diamond 45 Colt is likely the most common cal of all Vaquero's nothing rare but will be a great shooter.

 

[gak]

Welcome! Congratulations on a great gun. Yes it'd be. 5-1/2". No, I say shoot it and enjoy it. Though long out of regular production, unless it's a "special edition" of some sort, it is not yet such a "collectible" to the extent of worrying about devaluing by shooting it to any great degree.

Before shooting or even cocking it (which you may have done already, wouldn't blame you!) a proper tune job done on it will lessen if not entirely eliminate the possibility of the turn ring. Otherwise, it's a "normal" Ruger signature! At the same time you may want to have a "free spin pawl" kit installed which will allow the cylinder to be, you guessed it, freely spun with no stops. If you're not attentive, your "old" Vaquero will over-travel the loading/eject port so that you will have to go 'round again to align the chamber you're trying to access. The free spin kit is is the next best thing to the current New Vaquero/Flattop system which stops "properly," aligning the chamber you're wanting to load/unload. This is if your current system bothers. It does for some, not others. If it doesn't for you, no issue and leave it alone. Actually haven't done my old Vaqs yet as I've at least tolerated - but it's my next planned project, as having New Vaqueros as well has highlighted the difference!
Shoot it and enjoy!

 

[street]

The only ones that are somewhat rare are the ones that came from the factory with the Sim. Ivory grips. And the .45s are the most common of those. That being said go ahead and shoot it, as yours has the Rosewood grips and it is the large frame you can shoot the hot loads in it.

 

[Hugh]

Congratulations, it sounds like you got a good deal. Shoot your 5-1/2" .45 Colt. If you don't like it bring it over to my house and maybe we can find something in my small gathering that you like better.

 

[Molonlabe207]

Thank you everyone, honestly I was hoping it would be "just a shooter" cause I love the feel of it over other single actions I've had in the past, and I didn't want to feel guilty about shooting it. Haha. The free spin deal certainly catches my attention and I load all my ammo so I can't wait to load up some nice hand shake rounds. Out to the range on Sunday, so ill try to post a picture by then and give an update, just encase anyone is interested. thanks again.

 

[Rclark]

Nice find. Only thing you might find (highly probable) is the cylinder throats will be small. My old Vaquero were 'really' small. Reamed them to .4525 and good to go. Shrunk my groups in half.

Don't worry about turn lines, lack of silly boxes/papers, etc.... Just go out and have fun with it . Enjoy!

 

[gak]

Don't worry about turn lines, lack of silly boxes/papers, etc.... Just go out and have fun with it . Enjoy!

What he said,...I was only meaning - if the idea of a line it bothers you, have it tuned right away. Since I've had any new-bought Rugers tuned right away anyway, it has eliminated the (prospects of) the line, nd that I admit is nice. Used ones I've purchased with the line haven't bugged me so much.

 

[Molonlabe207]

Fair enough, every revolver I have owned has had the line, I was just thinking, this one may be nice to keep without considering the find

 

[jeffnles1]

I have the 4 5/8" barrel version of the same gun and I think made about the same time frame. I lost count of the number of thousands of rounds I've put through it. Shot the thing in competitions for a while now, I just plink. Saying over 10K rounds through it would be on the conservative side. It still shoots great. Has some holster wear, yes it has the turn line, the case colors (not really case hardened, just some finish Ruger applied) are still there and starting to wear to a silverish finihs in some places. It is better looking now than when new. I made a set of grips out of some wood cut from a cherry tree that fell over in my grandmother's yard before she died.

Shoot your new gun and enjoy the heck out of it.

Jeff

 

[MikeNV]

You may want to call Ruger and see if your 93 Vaquero is on any recall list. I first purchased my first Vaquero in 1993 it was the exact model you have. After a few hundred rounds it locked up tighter than a drum, couldn't cock it or move the cylinder. I sent it back to Ruger for repair, they stated that they were getting a few back that had this exact problem. Not to rain on your parade but better to be safe and sorry.

 

[Hondo44]

Mike,

There can always be a problem with any product but there wasn't a rash of problems with '93 Vaqueros.

What was the problem that Ruger fixed?