Vaquero Sheriff model questions?

[Wheelyfun44]

Hey All,
I just put a Vaquero Sheriff in 45LC on layaway, so do not have pics yet.....but a question.

This revolver has the short barrel, faux color case hardening, short base pin, wood grips w/Ruger logo, and serial number is: 58-99XXX
My biggest observation is that the "billboard" is not written on the side of the barrel, like most "old" Vaquero models, but instead is written underneath the barrel, like the "new" Vaquero models?

I guess I am looking for anyone who knows for sure that this model is the "old" Vaquero (yes, I know that there is no such thing as "old" and "new" Vaquero, but am trying to differentiate between the two)......

I have never seen an "old" Vaq with the Billboard under the barrel?

This thing is mint condition, barely a turn line, and came from a Ruger employee's collection.
There were actually TWO of these, with Consecutive serial numbers....but I cannot afford both!
I picked them over for quite some time, and took the best one.....can't wait to share some pics!

Any knowledge is appreciated!

 

[Fox Mike]

According to the RENE guide I have that would make it a 2008 or later model.

 

[Wheelyfun44]

According to the RENE guide I have that would make it a 2008 or later model.

When did the "new" Vaquero models start?

I ordered some grips from Eagle Grips, and I specified that this is an "old" Vaquero (Eagle Grips makes grips for "old" and "new" Vaquero)....am I wrong to think that this revolver is an "old" Vaquero?

When did the faux color case hardening cease?

Guess I better pick this beauty up from the LGS soon....so I can post pics!

 

[Hondo44]

You do have a large frame original Vaquero confirmed by the 2 digit prefix on the serial number. They were discontinued c. 2005 when the mid frame NEW Vaquero was introduced. The case coloring was discontinued soon after.

However I believe what you have is known as a "clean-up" gun denoted by the later NEW Vaquero barrel with billboard marking on the bottom of the barrel and it's 2008 production date. These are guns in very limited numbers that were incomplete when the large frame Vaqueros were discontinued. Ruger completed them later and shipped them out to "clean-up" their excess inventory.

Hope that helps,

 

[Wheelyfun44]

Thanks for the info!
Pics and full report to follow...as soon as I pick it up!
p.s.-the store has another one of these...with a serial number that is one digit higher than mine!
pm me if interested in the store's address & phone number.

 

[gak]

What he ^ ^ said. Ruger seems finally to be done with these left-over/special runs of the large frame Vaqueros, but for a few years they'd make a batch of this or that caliber/model available from time to time. Never say "never" though as it wouldn't take that much to re-produce the big Vaq. Afterall, it's basically a steel gripped, different sighted/top strapped and, in SS models, different finished large frame Blackhawk.

Also, had yours been the smaller mid-frame New Vaquero (in the .45 or .357 cals) it would have said "New" on the frame. AFAIK, unless there are very recent changes I'm not aware of, thus far the only mid frame exception to this rule is the limited Lipseys distribution of .44 Special New Vaqueros, which say just "Vaquero" on them. Confusing things further, Ruger (and hence many distributors and vendors) has chosen to call all New Vaqueros just "Vaquero" in their printed and online literature in recent years, while they continue to, properly IMO, mark the mid frames "New Vaquero" on the guns themselves (other than the above .44 exception).

 

[Timbo22]

You have one of the very last "original big" Vaqueros as indicated by the two digit serial number prefix. As others have stated it is one of the "clean up" guns released after the Vaqueros were officially discontinued. I have one just like yours that I bought new in February 2011 with serial 58-99601. Does yours have a higher serial number than that? I have been curious about what was the last serial number of the original Vaqueros and if they ever went high enough to go to a "59" prefix. From what I understand the Vaqueros in the 58-99XXX range included stainless models in 40 S&W, stainless Bisleys in 44 Mag and 45 Colt, stainless or blue and color case Birdhead gripped verisons and blue and color case plow handle gripped Sherrif's models in 45 Colt.

 

[Wheelyfun44]

Mine is serial number 58-99000
I know, I know, we are not supposed to post serial numbers online...but I ain't skeered!
The other one that this shop has is numbered 99001....wish I could have bought them both!

The thing I love about mine is that the ugly "billboard" warning is UNDER the barrel, like the new Vaquero models!
Mine is LNIB, and I doubt it has ever been fired (outside of the factory)...

I paid 599., but to me, it is worth it, for several reasons: cool serial number, billboard warning hidden, faux case coloring, LNIB condition, and they are NOT making any more of these!

I have grips on order (Eagle Gunfighter Rosewood checkered) and will post better pics and range report soon.
I just started to reload, and am looking forward to finding the perfect load for this tough gun!

 

[Hondo44]

What a great pick-up and cool serial #! The laminate grips are the only downside of the clean-up guns but easiest to fix! And all the other great features make it a winner for sure. Can't wait to see it with "real" wood grips.

 

[gak]

Nice gun! I think I'm in the minority that says the Vaquero line, old and New, "needs" the case coloring - even if it is faux on the Rugers. Easy for me to say as I've had none of the rust issues - I have a few with the CC, including a Vaquero, an early NV and a few Vaqueritos - and they "speak" to me more than the ones I have without, and I plan on doing something about the latter as soon as I can. I agree on the real wood but these laminates look nice also on this gun. I've got a pair (red and "black") on some Single Sixes - they fit well and make for a good working grip.
Good grab!

 

[Hondo44]

+ 10 on case coloring!

 

[Wheelyfun44]

What are these "rust" issues you speak of?
Mine has zero rust....but should I be doing something special to prevent? (i am obsessive about wiping down with oiled rags...daily!)

Are there any cleaners/solvents that will harm the faux color case "hardening"?
Any way to help the color stay....colorful! (wax?)

Thanks for advice!

 

[Hondo44]

Rusting from factory bluing residue is not common, but almost every manufacturer has experienced this problem at some time in its history due to a lack of proper neutralizing of blued parts. In the 1950s S&W had a problem when they blued the barrel with the front sight attached. For years these guns leached out rust from the sight-to-barrel seam. The neutralizing agents just didn't penetrate the seams as well as the bluing agents.

Originally, Colt lacquered its CCH frames and hammers in the 19th century. Turnbull does this and USFA did when they were still producing SAAs. That's the best. But some cleaning solvents will remove it, so be cautious if you do that.

 

[wproct]

Nice revolver, Wheely. I know that grips are one of the first changes a lot of us make to new revolvers, but really the ones you have on it don't look bad at all to me.

 

[Rclark]

I've always cleaned up mine with Hoppes #9. Never has affected the CCH finish that I can tell. The CCH just fades over time. Nature 'aging' :) .

The grips don't look bad ... but I too change 'em out to ones that fit my hand better. I use Bear Paw grips.

 

[Wheelyfun44]

It is true, the grips don't look too bad...
but I change them out because the factory Ruger grips have a horrible shape and feel, in my hand.
I love the Eagle Gunfighter (silly name) grips, which are much thinner and shaped....better!

I just put my first shots downrange today, and this 45 is ACCURATE!
Someone had left up some "bad guy" targets, and I was shooting the eyes and nose out of the target.
My first two cylinders full, from 7 yds out, were nearly all clover-leafing the target!

Nice tight gun, trigger ok....kinda heavy break to it, but no creep or mush.
I love it!

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Beautiful revolver!
Mine is #57-44139, manufactured 1999.
Terry