Ok, so what's up with Ruger, John Wayne was a Colt man.
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Marshall
Member
Isn't that the point?
I'm not sure I know what you're post is really about. What are you asking?
Vern Humphrey
Member
The Ruger Blackhawk and Vaquero are fine revolvers in their own right. The Colt SAA was not being manufactured when Ruger brought out his Blackhawk, and the tratitional SAA is neither as strong nor as safe as the Blackhawk.
Cosmoline
Member
I don't think he always used a Colt, either. I seem to remember that a lot of the props in the 50's and 60's were really cheapo Great Western replicas. But in any case the John Wayne stamped firearms (and ammo) have long been confusing. IIRC Winchester came out with a John Wayne rifle way back, but chambered it in some bizarre cartridge Wayne never used. I saw "John Wayne" .30-30 ammo the other day in the store as well. A real John wayne replica would be a beat up '92 firing 5-in-1 blanks.
Hawk
Member
If the Vaquero gives you mirth, wait'll you get a load of the John Wayne Talo edition.
And the Red River D should be worth a chuckle or two.
But they're both authorized by the Wayne Estate so I'm not seeing a problem.
I'm not sure where this is going either. I do hope it's not another of those "USFA isn't a Colt" observations. A canary isn't a steam shovel either. Colt's are nice but things have changed - they don't make enough SAAs at just over 3K a year in 2006 to even supply the members that joined SASS during the same period.
If it wasn't for alternatives, those fine folks in CAS would have to fold up the tent and find another hobby.
And the Red River D should be worth a chuckle or two.
But they're both authorized by the Wayne Estate so I'm not seeing a problem.
I'm not sure where this is going either. I do hope it's not another of those "USFA isn't a Colt" observations. A canary isn't a steam shovel either. Colt's are nice but things have changed - they don't make enough SAAs at just over 3K a year in 2006 to even supply the members that joined SASS during the same period.
If it wasn't for alternatives, those fine folks in CAS would have to fold up the tent and find another hobby.
DougDubya
Member
That is a GORGEOUS Vaquero, regardless.
He carries the SAA because Ruger hadn't made the Vaquero yet.
1) Ruger wan;t he entity behind the VW NV, Talo was. They contracted Ruger to produce the revolvwer under agreement of the John Wayne estate and had the embellishemtns done elsewhere. They then distributed it themselves via thier own distribution group. With it neing theman's birthyear, Talo and other manufacturers wanted to pay tribute to this great American. Where's the bad in that? Oooohhh but it's not a trueColt branded SAA...maybe becasue Colt's dying or so it seems. Fewr and fewer models and I didn't see them doing anything to pay homage to John Wayne... Yup, THEY cared enough to dedicate a fine firearm to his legacy for curent generations to enjoy. :roll:
1) Ruger wan;t he entity behind the VW NV, Talo was. They contracted Ruger to produce the revolvwer under agreement of the John Wayne estate and had the embellishemtns done elsewhere. They then distributed it themselves via thier own distribution group. With it neing theman's birthyear, Talo and other manufacturers wanted to pay tribute to this great American. Where's the bad in that? Oooohhh but it's not a trueColt branded SAA...maybe becasue Colt's dying or so it seems. Fewr and fewer models and I didn't see them doing anything to pay homage to John Wayne... Yup, THEY cared enough to dedicate a fine firearm to his legacy for curent generations to enjoy. :roll:
Jim March
Member
The New Vaquero is similar in size and heft to the SAA.
Better yet, they didn't DARE apply the usual Ruger fake-color-case. We'd a strung 'em up if they'd done THAT.
Better yet, they didn't DARE apply the usual Ruger fake-color-case. We'd a strung 'em up if they'd done THAT.
gb6491
Member
There have been some Colt (or Colt based) John Wayne Commemoratives over the years-
Regards,
Greg
Virginian
Member
"It would really take some work to convince me that there was a better all around six-gun."
Well I think my OLD Vaqueros in .44 Magnum are better all around six guns. So there !
Well I think my OLD Vaqueros in .44 Magnum are better all around six guns. So there !
Joe Meyer
Member
Yep, I really like my Vaquero. It was made in 1996. I think it's a better platform for the .45 Colt than the New Vaquero. I like 300 grain bullets going 1300 feet per second.
Depends on the application
The old model vaquero is nice-- heavier loads are not a problem for it. The New Model is smaller and has some refinement. I shoot Cowboy action and dont use the pistol for self defense- so 300 grn is of no real purpose for my application. If one has smaller hands, the new model is hard to beat.\
Tbird
The old model vaquero is nice-- heavier loads are not a problem for it. The New Model is smaller and has some refinement. I shoot Cowboy action and dont use the pistol for self defense- so 300 grn is of no real purpose for my application. If one has smaller hands, the new model is hard to beat.\
Tbird
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Wayne was making Westerns long before Ruger was even in business.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I love it. Y'all are debating the gun choices of fictional characters played by a real and charismatic person in terms of product endorsement when neither the fictional character or the actor actually made the decisions as to the make and model of guns used.
I guess that along those lines, we can talk about firepower and terminal ballistics in movies to reflect which guns are better in real life as well. Maybe y'all didn't notice, but John Wayne did use some of those super cool endless ammo revolvers in a couple of movies. I don't recall Colt ever making one of those.
I guess that along those lines, we can talk about firepower and terminal ballistics in movies to reflect which guns are better in real life as well. Maybe y'all didn't notice, but John Wayne did use some of those super cool endless ammo revolvers in a couple of movies. I don't recall Colt ever making one of those.
JohnBT
Member
"Ruger just trying to make a few bucks?"
Like nobody else ever did that?
Trivia time !!!!
Name the movie he carried a .22 in.
You mean he never carried one???
1983 and only $475 MSRP. What a deal.
John
Like nobody else ever did that?
Trivia time !!!!
Name the movie he carried a .22 in.
You mean he never carried one???
1983 and only $475 MSRP. What a deal.
John
Sunray
Member
Think in terms of, "He who sells the most, wins." It's marketing. Commemoratives, generally, don't hold their value any better than the regular firearm of the same make. Collectors, if you can find one who wants it, don't want 'em unless they're still in the original, unopened box.
Movie actor John Wayne wasn't exactly a "Colt man" in personal life, as he owned a number of handguns made by other makers - including Colt but not limited to that company. And of course he didn't carry a Single Action Army revolver in movies that weren't set in the western era.
So far as movies are concerned, he carried whatever firearm(s) were provided by the movie company's prop department.
Any number of gun makers have offered John Wayne commemoratives of various kinds. Most if not all of these were produced under license issued by the Wayne family. The money goes to various charities. Considering this I can't imagine why anyone would object.
I suspect that if today’s Ruger single action revolvers had been available during the 1800’s their strength, more rugged lockwork that is less subject to breakage, and the ability to safely carry a fully loaded cylinder would have forced Colt to either revise the design of their 1873 model, or drop it all together. At the time it was favored simply because nothing better was offered. During the first four decades of the 20th century sales dropped like a rock in a pond, and didn’t come back until the 1950’s when westerns dominated television. This is when Bill Ruger had the foresight to introduce an improved single action revolver while Colt sat on their butts and let a prime opportunity go by. It took them years to wake up.
So far as movies are concerned, he carried whatever firearm(s) were provided by the movie company's prop department.
Any number of gun makers have offered John Wayne commemoratives of various kinds. Most if not all of these were produced under license issued by the Wayne family. The money goes to various charities. Considering this I can't imagine why anyone would object.
I suspect that if today’s Ruger single action revolvers had been available during the 1800’s their strength, more rugged lockwork that is less subject to breakage, and the ability to safely carry a fully loaded cylinder would have forced Colt to either revise the design of their 1873 model, or drop it all together. At the time it was favored simply because nothing better was offered. During the first four decades of the 20th century sales dropped like a rock in a pond, and didn’t come back until the 1950’s when westerns dominated television. This is when Bill Ruger had the foresight to introduce an improved single action revolver while Colt sat on their butts and let a prime opportunity go by. It took them years to wake up.
Harve Curry
Member
I recall reading John Wayne's first Colt SAA was either a 38-40 or a 32-20?
There were alot of movies made with early 1890's to 1917 era double actions, so the actors could shoot faster.
The Ruger was a leaping improvement on the Colt SAA design. Then again when he added the transfer bar safety about 1970, making a SAA safe to carry with a live round under the hammer.
There were alot of movies made with early 1890's to 1917 era double actions, so the actors could shoot faster.
The Ruger was a leaping improvement on the Colt SAA design. Then again when he added the transfer bar safety about 1970, making a SAA safe to carry with a live round under the hammer.
Understand that I deeply love the single action platform for all-around shooting, but I wouldn't pick one as the handgun of choice for a defensive weapon. Even Elmer Keith switched to double-action Smith & Wessons during his later years. While you seldom see them in movies, during the last third of the 19th century Colt (and others) sold a lot of double action revolvers, and an examination of period photographs and literture will show their considerable popularity.
That said, the S.A. style still remains an excellent choice for an outdoorsman or woman where speed of shooting and reloading is less important. This is especially true where heavy loads in largebore cartridges is involved.
Never the less, as improvements in arms came along, westerners were quick to upgrade, and this was the point I was trying to make.
That said, the S.A. style still remains an excellent choice for an outdoorsman or woman where speed of shooting and reloading is less important. This is especially true where heavy loads in largebore cartridges is involved.
Never the less, as improvements in arms came along, westerners were quick to upgrade, and this was the point I was trying to make.
Y'all keep in mind there were never any "old model" Vaqueros. Both the Vaqueros and New Vaqueros are New Models. Ruger did not resurrect the the "old model" lockwork and install it in the Blackhawk-sized Vaqueros. And, according to John Taffin, who can be considered an authority on single action sixguns, some of the sixguns used by John Wayne were indeed Great Westerns, which in my opinion pale in quality compared to Colt or Ruger, though a few may may been hand-fitted to a higher level.
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