Ruger Vaquero

The Ruger Vaquero is a six-shot single-action revolver made by Sturm, Ruger and Company on the frame of the New Model Ruger Blackhawk and introduced in 1993. It arose from the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting, which created demand for a single-action revolver that looked more traditional than the Blackhawk. The first version had a 7.5 inch barrel, was chambered in .45 Colt and carried a simulated color case-hardened frame with a blued barrel, grip frame and cylinder. Shorter barrel lengths followed, based on the common barrel lengths of the Colt Single Action Army, and the revolver was offered in stainless steel and in further chamberings including .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum and .44-40 Winchester. A transfer bar mechanism lets all six chambers be loaded safely. Two major variants exist, the original Vaquero sold from 1993 until 2005 and the slightly smaller New Vaquero made from 2005 onward. The source treats it as a commercial sporting and collecting revolver rather than an issue military weapon.