Qualite Birdshead grip

[BlaiseNSaddles]

I am looking at the new Ruger Vaqueros but like to put birdshead grips on them.  I see Qualite sells some marked either old or new which I understand as old as the XR-3 frame and the new as the XR-3 Red frame.  The New Vaqueros are said on the Ruger site to have grip frames back to or at least near the XR-3 frame.

So would the old style grip fit the new Vaqueros with the XR-3 like grip?

[Pettifogger]

I just put a birdshead (off of an old Vaquero) on a new Vaquero and it was more work than it appeared.  The grip frames for the old model Rugers have different trigger spring set ups, so the Qualite for the old three screw Rugers won't work on a New or old Vaquero.  The Vaquero grip frame is interchangable with the Single Six, so you can take the birdshead off a Vaquero or Single Six and they will fit pretty well if you are tying to interchange plow handle for birdshead grip frames on the old Vaquero.  The NEW Vaquero is different.  The grip itself is like the old XR-3.  However, it is not directly interchangable with an old model Vaquero.  So if you try to put a birdshead from and old Vaquero (or a Qualite for an old Vaquero) on a New Vaquero it is going to take a little work.  The frame on the New Vaquero is thinner.  The part of the frame on either side of the hammer is different (internally) than the old Vaquero, and the New Vaquero has a little groove milled in the frame so the free spin pawl will operate properly.  If you aren't familiar with Rugers and can't do a lot of file work and fitting, then you might want to take it to a gunsmith that knows how the New Vaqueros function.