Ruger Vaquero ain't the same no more!

I'm wondering if it's even possible to properly case-harden investment cast steel?
Click to expand...
Don't know about Sharps but Ruger cast frames are not to be hardened. Turnbull pioneered the process by which authentic case colors are applied to Ruger's cast frames without actually hardening the part. The result is the same and the colors are just as durable.
 
Looks like I got in on this one late but here go my thoughts. My comments are based on guns from my collection, which includes two Turnbull Cowboy Classic USFA guns, several Colts from all three generations and a Ruger .357 Blackhawk 50th Anniversary model re-finished by Trunbull to look like the one pictured above. I also have several Ubertis. Agreed, The "case-hardening" on the New Vaquero really looks bad but I have an original Vaquero that I bought because I thought that the case-hardening looked very nice, not unlike most Ubertis. I think Ruger changed the process on the New Vaquero. While not as vibrant as that on the Turnbull guns, I think the finish on most Ubertis is authentic looking. If you compare a Turnbull or USFA gun to any generation Colt, the USFA/Turnbull guns are almost too bright, a lot of orange that I don't see in the Colt. The Beretta Stampede which is a Uberti (owned by Beretta) started out with nice colors (I have one) but recent ones look like the New Vaqueros-flat awful! I don't know why they changed. All this of course, is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Kind of ironic this old thread came up. This is what Jim said over one year ago, right on the money.

(I know it's a topic veer from hell, but the BIG housing crisis hasn't shown up yet: the peak wave of adjustable rate mortgages are going to start in around 6 to 9 months and peak in late summer of '10. Obama and the Fed Bank and the rest have been trying to loosen credit ahead of that wave to give those folks some chance to re-fi and it's seriously not working. The numbers actually dwarf the first round of housing-related financial horror. Some are talking "great depression in a year" and that's not a good time to be sitting on thousands of dollars in luxury goods of any type. Good basic working guns (and ammo for same) would however be worth it's weight in at least silver....)
Click to expand...
 
I have three original Bisley Vaqueros that I use for CAS. Like all CAS guns, between practice and matches they get a lot of rounds put through them, they're in and out of the leather a lot, and they take a beating otherwise, often getting good and wet for extended periods. I don't take any great pains with them, just normal cleaning and oiling, and the faux case-hardening is holding up fine - no rust or unusual wear. It may not be real, but the case-hardening on my Uberti 1873 is, and there's really not all that much difference (which may say more about Uberti than it does about Ruger, but who cares anyway). YMMV, but that's been my experience.
 
If such a finish is so important to have, spend the money and have it done properly by Doug Turnbull.
Click to expand...

Why don't you just buy a U.S.F.A or Colt and save some money and have a better gun and not have to send it out ?:confused:
 
FYI, my case colored '94 .45 Colt Vaquero has never rusted. Not even a speck. I suspect up here where the humidity is low is the reason.... Oh, and I'll buck the trend .... I really don't think it looks that bad :) .
 
I disliked the “case hardened” so much that I bought a stainless steel Vaqueros,,,
And then put fake pearl grips on it.
AND YES JIM!! It looks like a pimp’s gun!:D
 
I recently bought a 1994 original Vaquero and the CCH finish is fine, no rust at all.

I'll admit it's colors are not as good though, compared to my Great Western II.
 
I have a pair of Vaqueros with the CCH and have had no problems with rust or discoloring. I used Renaissance Wax on the CCH and it seems to protect it adequately.

A_Pair_of_Vaqueros_small.jpg
 
Very nice. Similar to the CCH on my Vaquero. So why did they change the process on the New Vaquero, only to abandon it all together?
 
Original Vaquero

I have a Ruger Vaquero in 44 Magnum.The so-called "case hardened"finish hasn't attracted any rust,but it ain't the real thing.The revolver is fine however.I've had thise piece for about 12 years or so.
 
+1 sandbag. Neither my Vaquero or NV with fake case colors has been a problem, but then again I'm in Aridzona, so take with a grain...?. The NV's is the less convincing between the two, FWIW. Of the colors out there I've seen--real or fake--my 4th gen Colt is the most appealing. The USFA's stock CCH seems about right. Turnbull's aftermarket (non Ruger) finish appears excellent quality, but more vibrant than 95% of the Colts I've seen regardless of age/gen--someone mentioned the oranges? (Still, I'll take the Turnbull Ruger re-finish over the factory's of course!) I like mine a bit more subdued, and the 2nd gens' are just about where I expect my 4th (aka late 3rd...before the complaints) is heading in a decade or two, earlier with a lot of use.
 
Last edited:
Ruger vaquero aint the same no more

I am shocked to find the case hardening is fake ! I bought my Vaqureo in 1994 new, 4 5/8 45lc. The hardening looks real to me (not like the one in the photo), and i have taken care of it -but nothing special. Today it looks as good as when new, and never any rust problem. I have fired more than 500
rounds thru it. MY favorite load is a 230gr fmj, with IMR4756 powder,--no lead problems. I also use 185gr hollow-points with Schofield cases they are
sweet and fast !
 
As has been noted, here is my solution:

101_0009.jpg


But, ya'll are a little hard on the original Vaquero. This gun is over ten years old, with about 5,000 rounds down the bore.

100_84571.jpg



Bob Wright
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top