Stainless Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt/ACP 4 5/8” Single Action Revolver, 1999

SOLD FOR: $1,501.00

LSB#: LSB260617NO012

Make: Sturm, Ruger and Co.

Model: Vaquero (#00518)

Serial Number: 57-45390

Year of Manufacture: 1999 / Modern

Caliber: .45 Colt / .45 ACP

Action Type: Single Action, 6 Shot Fluted Cylinder Revolver w/ Ejector Rod. 

Markings: The left side of the frame is marked, “RUGER VAQUERO .45 CAL.”. The right side of the frame is marked, “57-45390”. The barrel is marked with the Ruger Southport address.

 Barrel Length: 4 5/8”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter moon blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch cut into the top strap. The front sight is moderately canted to the left.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece smooth wood panels with silver Ruger medallions. There is no notable handling wear throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall these grips are in Excellent + condition.

Cylinder Quantity & Condition: 1x 6 round fluted cylinder for .45 Colt and 1x 6 round fluted cylinder for .45 ACP.

Type of Finish: Stainless Steel

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is some light stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 99% of its finish. There are faint handling marks and operational wear throughout. The cylinder has a thin crisp turn line. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are undamaged. The markings are clear. Overall this revolver is in Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions as intended. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Original Ruger hard case, paperwork, lock, spare .45 ACP cylinder,

Our Assessment: The original Ruger Vaquero was introduced in 1993 as a fixed-sight, traditional-style single-action revolver aimed squarely at the growing cowboy-action market. Built on Ruger’s larger Blackhawk-size frame, the Vaquero combined classic western styling with the company’s modern transfer-bar safety system and robust New Model lockwork. Ruger offered the original Vaquero in several centerfire chamberings, including .45 Colt, and in both blued and stainless finishes. This example is a stainless 4 5/8″ .45-caliber revolver equipped with both .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders, giving it useful dual-cartridge versatility while retaining the fixed-sight profile, smooth wood stocks, and traditional side-loading configuration associated with the early Vaquero line. This revolver remains in Excellent condition, retaining approximately 99% of its original stainless finish. The exterior shows only faint handling and operational wear, along with a thin, crisp cylinder turn line. The screw heads remain sharp, the pins are undamaged, and the markings are clear. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, though light stubborn fouling remains present, rating 9.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. The two-piece smooth wood grips with silver Ruger medallions show no notable handling wear, remain free of chips or cracks, and rate in Excellent Plus condition. Both the .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders are present. The only notable configuration issue is the front sight, which is moderately canted to the left. Mechanically, the action functions as intended.

For collectors and shooters interested in Ruger’s original Vaquero series, this stainless 4 5/8″ example offers an appealing blend of classic single-action styling and practical cartridge flexibility. The original Vaquero predates the smaller-frame New Vaquero introduced in late 2004, giving it the heavier, more substantial proportions associated with Ruger’s earlier large-frame single actions. The dual-cylinder setup, excellent bore, high remaining finish, clean grips, original hard case, paperwork, and lock make this a particularly complete package. The canted front sight is the principal defect, but otherwise this is a very clean and versatile example of Ruger’s original stainless Vaquero platform. -R.E.