[Jim, West PA]

Can someone please explain to me the differences twixt the Vaqero and the New Vaqero ?
What i mean is how to tel them apart.
I jist bot a Vaqero and don't know which it is.
( I know the 'New' can't handle the loads the reguar Vaqero can. )

[Gary A]

The two easiest identification methods I can suggest are the serial numbers and the name engraved on the lower left side of the frame above the trigger guard. The Vaquero will have a serial number with a two-digit prefix of 5x-xxxxx and will say "Ruger Vaquero" on the frame. The New Vaquero will have a serial number with a three-digit prefix of 5xx-xxxxx and will, at least in almost every case will say "Ruger New Vaquero" on the frame.

[Jim, West PA]

Thank you Gary.
I got the good one :D
Now i gotta check my wife's Vaqeros.

[Gary A]

That's great! you're welcome.

[Greg528iT]

Good one, all depends on what youmean by good? Smaller, slicker, smoother, closer to the Colt SAA it was supose to replicate?? Thats why I bought the NEW Vaquero. Being able to handle Ruger Only loads? ummmm OK. I like m wrists, so not for me. :-)

[skt239]

Good one, all depends on what youmean by good? Smaller, slicker, smoother, closer to the Colt SAA it was supose to replicate?? Thats why I bought the NEW Vaquero. Being able to handle Ruger Only loads? ummmm OK. I like m wrists, so not for me. :-)

Agreed. Mine is a .357 so I don't have to worry about it. Also, the New Vaqueros have the warning under the barrel so I didn't have to sand anything. Regardless, congrats on a great revolver. Let's see some pics.

[Gary A]

skt239 brings up a good point. The New Vaquero in .357 doesn't lack for strength at all and is perfectly suited to the .357 round. It is in .45 Colt that more care needs to be taken between the Vaquero and New Vaquero loads. Not that the New Vaquero is "weak"; it is not. But it doesn't have the meat of the Vaquero either.

I'm with Greg on this one and find the New Vaquero adequate for my needs. (Anyway, I have Blackhawks if it came to that...:))

[Lost Sheep]

I believe the New Vaquero is not available with adjustable sights, only fixed sights, a notch in the top strap and a rounded (Colt-like) blade.

The Vaquero is built on the Blackhawk frame and is available with adjustable sights. (Not even sure it if comes with fixed sights.)

Lost Sheep

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Driftwood_Johnson/rugers/Logo_original_Vaquero.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Driftwood_Johnson/rugers/Logo_New_Vaquero.jpg

Yup, the guns pretty much tell you what they are, except I hear some of the newer Distributor Exclusive New Vaqueros simply say Vaquero on them.

The safety warning was always on the side of the barrel on the "original model' Vaqueros. I have an early New Vaquero that has the safety warning on the side of the barrel too, but more recently the New Vaqueros all have the safety warning on the bottom of the barrel.

[ArchAngelCD]

I believe the New Vaquero is not available with adjustable sights, only fixed sights, a notch in the top strap and a rounded (Colt-like) blade.

The Vaquero is built on the Blackhawk frame and is available with adjustable sights. (Not even sure it if comes with fixed sights.)

Lost Sheep
Both the original Vaquero and New Vaquero come with fixed sights. The Blackhawk comes with adjustable sights. That's the main difference between the two.

I have an original Bisley Vaquero in .45 Colt and 2X New Vaqueros in 38/357 so I have the best of both worlds...

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o26/ArchAngelCD/Three_SA.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o26/ArchAngelCD/Vaquero-2.jpg

[CraigC]

All Vaqueros and New Vaqueros have fixed sights, it is their reason for being.

The Vaquero was built on the large frame from 1993-2005. They are all stamped "Vaquero". The .45's are safe for "Ruger-only" loads.

The New Vaquero came into being in 2005 as an improved model. It features a smaller, Colt SAA-sized frame, reverse indexing pawl and a new steel version of the old XR3 grip frame. The .45's are NOT safe for "Ruger only" loads in the 32,000psi range. However, the new .44Spl version, which is still the smaller frame but unfortunately stamped simply "Vaquero", is safe for the heavy 1200fps Keith load.

[Frank V]

The New Vaquero also has a very distinctivly shaped hammer that is easy to tell from the Vaquero once you've seen a few of them.
Frank

[ghitch75]

i like the old models as i like to launch some stout stuff:D....

http://i40.tinypic.com/ao6sly.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/35n8zyg.jpg

[Driftwood Johnson]

The New Vaquero also has a very distinctivly shaped hammer that is easy to tell from the Vaquero once you've seen a few of them.

Howdy Again

Yes, when the New Vaquero first came out, it had a higher spur on the hammer than the 'original model' Vaquero did. The sights are visible with the hammer down on the 'original model' Vaqueros. With the higher hammer spur of the New Vaquero, the sights are not visible with the hammer down. The two short barreled revolvers in this photo are New Vaqueros, the longer barreled gun is an 'original model' Vaquero. Also, notice one of these New Vaqueros does have the legal disclaimer on the side of the barrel. It was made before the disclaimer was moved to the bottom of the barrel. (The cylinder pin on this 'original model' Vaquero is not standard, it is an after market part.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Driftwood_Johnson/rugers/Vaqueros_ColorCase.jpg



The higher hammer spur was in keeping with making the New Vaquero more closely resemble a Colt. The sights are not visible with the hammer down on a Colt either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Driftwood_Johnson/rugers/SAANewVaqueroComparison.jpg


However, you can no longer count on identifying a New Vaquero by the height of the hammer spur. The SASS New Vaqueros have a much lower hammer spur.

http://www.ruger.com/products/vaqueroSASS/models.html

[Old Fuff]

Ruger also thined the hammer spur on the bottom to prevent it from pinching some hands between it and the backstrap, when after a shot or two the handle had rotated a bit. They didn't use this configuration on the (new) flat top Blackhawk's though. Why, I have no idea because for whatever reason they didn't ask me... :D

[Jim, West PA]

Thanx folks, this thread is becomin quite educational for me.
It's also givin me a hankerin to do some 'smithin' on my Vaqero :D
Trigger job, Bisley style hammer 'nat.

Driftwood, would you elaborate on the aftermarket base pin ?

[Driftwood Johnson]

Driftwood, would you elaborate on the aftermarket base pin ?

I have installed Belt Mountain base pins on several of my single action revolvers, Colts and Rugers.

One problem with many single action revolvers is that under heavy recoil the cylinder base pin can start to jump forward. With a New Model Ruger it will tend to lock up the gun because the small spring plunger at the base of the pin is no longer pushing back on the transfer bar as it rises. This can cause the T bar to get caught under the firing pin while the hammer is being cocked. This can lock up the gun. With a Colt, or a replica Colt, this will not happen as there is no transfer bar. But if the latch is not holding the pin securely, and it starts working its way forward, the pin can become disengaged from the frame at the rear of the cylinder. This can cause alignment problems as the bullet leaves the cylinder and enters the barrel. I have had it happen on a couple of my Colts, without mishap, I just happened to look and the pin was close to falling out of the gun.

Mind you, I ain't saying it will always happen, but it can.

Belt Mountain pins were designed to stay put without jumping forward. Some have a small set screw which tightens against the barrel to stay in place. Others do not have the screw, they just have a slightly better configuration which keeps them locked in place better.

http://www.beltmountain.com/

The pin on my blue 'original model' Vaquero is called the #5 after the pin design that Elmer Keith designed for his famous #5 Colt.

Here is a photo of Elmer's famous #5 Colt. If you look carefully, you will see the gun is resting on his modified pin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/Driftwood_Johnson/colts/Keith5.jpg

[CraigC]

The Belt Mt. #5 basepin is an excellent addition to any single action. Whether you have issues with the factory pin jumping out or not. I love `em!

[Claude Clay]

for the New, the cylinder indexes....the chambers lines up with the loading gate, a bit more forthright than the 'old' model. plus what all else has been said.