These initial Vaqueros have only two hammer positions: fully down, and fully cocked. Unlike original Single Action Army revolvers, both versions are safe to load all six cylinders, having a transfer bar design additionally, both variants permit reloading by simply opening the loading gate, thereby freeing the cylinder to rotate freely, without pulling the hammer into the half-cock notch. The New Vaquero, produced from 2005 to the present is closer to the dimensions of the Colt Single Action Army. The original Vaquero was marketed from 1993 until 2005, and was slightly larger than the Colt Single Action Army. Ruger placed the safety warning which used to appear on the left-side of the barrel beneath the barrel on these models to make the gun more aesthetically pleasing. The 'New Model Vaquero' comes with checkered black plastic grips, which look similar to the checkered black rubber grips Colt used in the late 19th century. Like the New Model Blackhawk the Vaquero does not require the hammer to be half-cocked for loading and unloading, and uses a transfer bar mechanism which prevents the cartridge under the hammer from being fired without the trigger being pulled. In 1998 some models began shipping with a faux-ivory grip and limited runs with gold inlay and engraving were offered. Originally all Ruger Vaqueros were shipped with walnut grips incorporating a Ruger logo in a medallion. The three versions were offered in stainless steel and other calibers including.

This was followed by models with a 5 + 1⁄ 2 in (140 mm) barrel and a 4 + 5⁄ 8 in (120 mm) barrel based on the other common barrel lengths of the Colt SAA. 45 Colt with a simulated color case-hardened frame and a blue barrel, grip frame, and cylinder. The first version was a 7 + 1⁄ 2 in (190 mm) barrelled revolver chambered in.

The Ruger Vaquero is a New Model Blackhawk with fixed sights consisting of a front blade and a notch milled into the frame at the rear. It arose with the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting from which came demand for a single-action revolver that was more traditional in appearance. It comes in blued steel, case colored, and a gloss stainless finish (the latter gloss stainless finish is intended to resemble closely a 19th-century nickel-plated finish), all of which are available with wood, hard rubber, simulated ivory or black micarta grips and fixed sights.

based on the New Model Ruger Blackhawk frame and was introduced in 1993. The Ruger Vaquero is a six-shot single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Ruger vaquero vs colt saa