Please Help with a Vaquero Decision

[Saragosa]

I recently acquired a 44 Magnum High Gloss S/S 4 5/8" BBL Vaquero that has never been fired. It came with the original box and manual but nothing more. The cylinder has a faint line around it from dry cocking and spinning. I'd like to start shooting it but I don't want to significantly devalue it. My question is, is there any reasonable expectation that its value in the future would be considerably more unfired than fired and well taken care of? I'm itching to play with this beauty!

 

[Black Knight]

What did you buy it for? Did you buy it to shoot, to look at, or resell? I have a 5 1/2" bright stainless Vaquero in 44 Magnum. Mine was a Christmas gift from my parents and I enjoy it any time I can. You won't be able to fully enjoy the gun if you don't shoot it. Guns that have been shot can be as valuable as those that haven't depending on their history and owners. I'm sure there are those who will tell you not to shoot it but I say shoot it and enjoy it. Of course it is your gun and the final decision is yours.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Shoot the bejezees out of it. Take care of it and you will be fine. Why worry about not shooting so that 50+ years from now someone else can enjoy shooting it for the first time.

 

[towboat_er]

Shoot, shoot it...

 

[2RCO]

If it has a cylinder line then shoot it and enjoy it. Unless you abuse it your value won't really decrease.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For some reason Rugers aren't known to hold their value much anyway. There are very few Rugers that are considered "collectible" to start with so I would use that revolver the way it was meant to be used, shoot it!

 

[bannockburn]

If it were mine I would most definitely shoot it. While that particular model is no longer made, it's not that rare of a production piece that it would be considered a collectible item.

 

[Saragosa]

Thank you all for your advice. You helped me make up my mind. I'm going to shoot it and enjoy it and I'm going to take extra good care of it.

Black Knight.... I bought it because I just couldn't pass up the deal. I didn't have a plan in mind when I got it. It was one of those situations where I couldn't help myself. I bet you know what I'm talking about. Once I had it in my hands I was afraid to 'ruin' it by shooting it. Not any more. I feel liberated!

 

[harvester]

Its not an older Colt so shoot it as it was meant to be used, oh and enjoy.

 

[dagger dog]

2RCO said it all, it has a turn line so it isn't a collector ! HAVE FUN SHOOT IT!

 

[Black Knight]

Saragosa: Been there done that to. Many years ago I read that S&W was discontinueing the 547 (a 9MM revlover) and I knew a local shop that had one. I called the owner and he said he would keep it for me. I bought it on a speculation buy (thinking it might be more valuable in the years to come). I still have that gun and have shot only 1 box of ammo through it. Not sure I will ever sell now since it matches with my other guns so well. Enjoy the Vaquero, with magnum ammo it is a "blast" to shoot; mine is. Since yours is the bright stainless Ajax used to make a set of imitation ivory grips. Try to find a set and check out how well it sets off the Vaquero. I have a set on mine and she is a beauty with them on.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Since yours is the bright stainless Ajax used to make a set of imitation ivory grips. Try to find a set and check out how well it sets off the Vaquero. I have a set on mine and she is a beauty with them on.

Oh come on now, you can't tell us that and now show us the grips on your revolver...

 

[royal barnes]

Any Ruger Vaquero that has been turned a couple of times will have a ring around the cylinder because the bolt never drops completely. Shoot it and enjoy it. They have no real collector value but loads of "shooter value".

 

[Black Knight]

ArchAngel: I'm now working on getting a digital camera so I can post photos. When I do I will deffinately will post it.

 

[Saragosa]

Black Knight.... Found them at Midway!

Thanks for the tip! I pulled the grips off a New Model Single Six and compared them with the ones on the Vaquero. They're exact duplicates, so grips should be easy to find.