Ruger 44-40 value?

[45Frank]

I have an opportunity to buy a Ruger Old Vaquero revolver in 44-40 with a six inch barrel. Not the exact gun I was looking for but I am kind of tired of looking for the perfect 44-40 which I have been looking for for about a year. My first choice would be any Ruger single action but in SS.
Anyway the asking price is $720.00 but i think it's a little high, any thoughts?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

My only thought is that with the early 44-40 Vaqueros Ruger had a problem getting the chamber throat diameter correct. The early ones had chamber throats that were too narrow, squeezing bullets down a bit before they entered the barrel.

I seem to recall Ruger was using the same .429 barrels for their 44-40 Vaqueros that they were for their 44 Mag Vaqueros. That's not a problem, but the chamber throat diameters were down somewhere around .425 or so if I remember correctly. This made the guns inaccurate. Opening up the chamber throats to .429 or so corrected the problem.

Later on, Ruger got it right.

No comment on the price, the days of used Rugers going for $250 are long gone.