New or Old

[Bar Stool Billy]

 I got a stupid question. How do you tell a New Vaquero from an Old one. I can tell if they are side by side but do the New Vaqueros say New Vaquero on them or is there a serial number that the new ones start with?

Confused! BSB

[Mustang Gregg]

Heck, that ain't a stupid question, BS Billy.
There is a sequence of numbers that will determine which frame size you have.
In fact, with the S/N sequence you can determine the model of ANY Ruger, either long gun or handgun.
It is on one of the Ruger websites, if you wanna see where ALL Ruger S/N's.
If'n you can't get it searched... 
I'll look it up & get back to you.

MG

[Silver Creek Slim]

I found the above picture in Gunblasts review of the new Vaquero.
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-NewVaquero.htm

Below is the link to the list of all models Ruger revolvers ever made. Click on a model and it will show you the serial number range and year of manufacture.
http://ruger.com/Firearms/PS-SerialNumberHistory-RE.html

Slim

[Mustang Gregg]

Thanks much, Slim.
We have had a death in the family  & I ain't gottten around to lookin' for that link.
In fact, I oughta post somethin' to that effect.
Much obliged,
MG

[Silver Creek Slim]

Yer very welcome, pard.

Slim

[Bar Stool Billy]

 Wow I posted this so long ago I fogot all about it.  Thanks for all of your responses. I just picked up my second OM Vaquero in 357. Wow are they scareser than hens teeth to find latley. I almost setteled on a used blued one for 375 at the gun show this weekend. I rounded the corner and there was a 4 5/8 stainless 357 new in the box. Some one won it as a door prize somewhere and never fired it. I paid 400 plus tax and feel darn good about it compared to what I paid for the first one and it was used a little.
Here is a new question. The two guns have some different features and I think it is typical growing pains that we see in all production items. The newer manufactured one has a smaller hammer. They also have different model #'s. One is 581 and the newer one is 577. Is there anything else that is different about these models that I have not noticed yet?

BSB

[Sacramento Johnson]

Howdy Billy!
I have a number of old Ruger Vaqueros in 44-40 and saw the same hammer change on the newer serial number ones vs the older ones.  As far as I can tell, there's no significant other difference between them.  FWIW, I like the newer hammer better...
(I also like the older RV better than the new edition, and not just because the new one isn't made in 44-40 or 38-40!)