Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt, 4.62 in Barrel, Blued with Aftermarket Color Case-Hardened Frame, 1996 Large-Frame Single-Action Revolver
This 1996 Ruger Vaquero is an original large-frame (pre-2005) .45 Colt single-action with the desirable 4.62 in barrel. It features a blued finish with an aftermarket color case-hardened steel frame, fixed sights, and a fluted six-shot cylinder. Custom stag/antler-style grip panels are installed, giving this early-production example a distinctive look while retaining the classic Vaquero configuration.
Condition
Overall Condition: Excellent condition, showing only faint signs of any prior use or handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: This revolver is in great shape with mild wear.
What’s Included
- Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt revolver with 4.62 in barrel
- Aftermarket stag/antler-style grip panels (installed)
The Vaquero shown here is from 1996 and follows the original large-frame pattern, built on a steel frame and configured for .45 Colt. It uses a single-action mechanism with a textured hammer spur and a fluted six-shot cylinder. The under-barrel ejector rod features a round housing, and the base-pin uses Ruger’s standard spring-loaded latch.
Its finish pairs a blued barrel and cylinder with an aftermarket color case-hardened frame. Both the barrel and cylinder are carbon steel, and the cylinder is finished in blue to match the barrel. The frame is steel with the aftermarket color case-hardened treatment noted above.
Sighting is traditional and rugged: a squared blade front sight and a fixed rear topstrap notch. The revolver also incorporates Ruger’s transfer-bar safety and a loading gate interlock.
This example includes aftermarket stag/antler-style grip panels without Ruger medallions. A shield-with-"T" hallmark on the left side of the frame ahead of the trigger guard indicates aftermarket color case hardening by Tyler Gun Works. The revolver was made in the USA and retains the 4.62 in (4-5/8 in) barrel length favored on this model.