Vaquero 4inch

[EDELWEISS]

I saw a pistol on consignment in a local shop.  Its a stainless 4 inch (old model) Vaquero, with white Ruger grips in 45Colt.  They are asking $500.oo, which seems pricey to me, BUT Im quick to admit I dont know much about SAA type guns.   I had to have the dealer tell me about OLD and NEW versions.

I had never seen a 4inch model with a ejector rod and I got to thinking (dangerous), that it would make a nice field gun and even be somewhat concealable with a cross draw holster under a vest on hikes.  Ive heard about "storekeepers" and "sheriffs" models without ejectors and 3 inch barrels, but never this version.  Im starting to get the "have to haves" for this one, but maybe Ive been watching Val Kilmer's Doc Holiday too often....

Ive seen custom smiths do "round butt" conversions that look interesting.  If I do anything, Id like to put a Bisley grip on it if possible.  The dealer says all new frames require major fitting work, but an employee thought Ruger parts were interchangeable. 

Is $500 a fair price?  I like this dealer but he doesnt "loose" money, even on a consignment where hes sure to sell other items on the same sale.  Is this a regular model?  Since the NEW models are now being made, are OLD model parts, accessories, and holsters still going to be available?

[sureshot2040]

ruger offered two variations of the vaquero with a 3 7/8 inch barrel
one with a regular grip frame like the other vaqueros and one with a rounded "birdhead" grip
they offered these both in blue and stainless
these were the old original sized vaquero frames
and personally although they no longer offer them and they are getting harder to find
i feel like 500 bucks is kinda high for a used one im thinking more around 400 for blued 450 for stainless
now something to ponder
ruger has just came out with a stainless short barreled shooter on the new vaquero frame
called the montero
it looks like a nice one but the ones i have seen are around 550-600 bucks range
im gonna wait awhile and see if i can pick up a used one in a year or so and have the grip on it rounded to the birdhead configuration
now that would be a nice carry piece IMHO
i guess it just boils down to how bad you got to have it
being a ruger im  sure it would be a great gun and would give a lifetime+ of service
sureshot

[EDELWEISS]

Honestly I never seriously considered a SAA for a Trail gun, although Im not sure I have a good answer why.  Until recently I was an "AUTO" only guy.  Following that if it had to be a revolver, it had to be DA.  I always liked the looks of a SAA but never considered carrying one.

In addition to the "Birds Head" grip, Ive also seen custom shops round off the rear flare of the SAA grip sort of like a round but DA revolver.  I really like the Bisley looks on some of the Big $$$ SAAs Ive seen.  I think that might be just about perfect on this gun.

Are frames and other parts still likely to be available for the OLD model gun? 

[huntswithdogs]

Midway offers gripframes and such for them(BH and Vaq). Kinda pricey though,to me. A buddy of mine has one of these birdgrip Vaq(old style) in 45LC. Short barrel and all. He shoots some warm 265gr loads out of it. He calls it his "bear gun" and carries it when cruising the woods or on canoe trips.

HWD

[Dusty Wheeler]

I have a .45 birdshead 3 7/8" vaquero and a .45 sheriff's 3 7/8" vaquero that are my favorite trail guns!  Parts will be available for a long time and the "old" vaqueros handle heavy loads very nicely.  I slicked them up a bit and they shoot very well within the limitations of shorter sight radius and fixed sights...  They are my go-to guns!  The birdshead now wears a bisley hammer to make it even more distinctive.  There are some on GunBroker that go for far less than $500 each!
Tim

carsongunsmithing.com