Single Action Ruger Question

jmar:

I bought a New Vaquero only a few years ago and it has the thing where you load by opening the lading gate and there's no half cock. When did this change happen?

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The New Model Ruger Single Actions date from 1973.

As to fanning, the last gun you want to fan is a Ruger Blackhawk. That rear sight really will do a number on the heel of your hand!

Bob Wright

The rear sight is no problem, you simply grind it off.

Concerning reloading, you still open the gate to release the cylinder, but two or three years ago they added a spring driven plunger that prevents the cylinder from being rotated backwards, and positions the chamber correctly in the frame. This came about because those awful SASS cowboy shooters made it clear they didn't like things as they were. Because of the demand for other firearms caused by the current bunch in Washington who want to ban this and that other models weren't changed. It is presumed that if or when things slow down the feature will be made available on all Ruger single actions.

The rear sight is no problem, you simply grind it off.

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Oh, it has been done with style.
Once upon a time, before the Vaquero had ever been thought of, there was a shop that specialized in converting Blackhawks to fixed sight. They were usually floridly engraved and plated, sometimes two-tone.

The nicest outfit was a pair of .44s that had the topstraps converted to hogwallow fixed sights and plain blade fronts installed. I think there was some other recontouring done to bring the Blackhawk as close as possible to Colt proportions. The only giveaway was the trigger plunger. Not engraved, but nickel plated which I figure concealed the welds. Grips were ivory micarta. Said to have been done for the then president of the Ruger Collector's Association.

The rear sight is no problem, you simply grind it off.

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I was being intentionally sarcastic.

With the arrival of the current mid-frame Vaquero line-up there is no longer any good reason to butcher Blackhawks.

The reason is to have the old style action.

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In that case you would be better of buying an "old style single action" from one of the Italian makers.

As a rule, "fanners" don't wear out, they beat and batter themselves into the ground. The weakest points are the cylinder notches and the frame at the point where the bolt's ball extends into to the cylinder window. Some extensive modifications (and I don't mean thinning springs and polishing lockwork) will slow the inevitable, but not stop it entirely, and at that point the question of available parts at affordable prices come into the picture.

The Italian revolvers have they're faults, but at least all of the critical parts are available except the frame. Ultimately this may be the only thing that keeps you from ending up with a total loss.