Case Color Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt 4 5/8″ Single Action Revolver, MFD 1996
SOLD FOR: $1,232.00
LSB#: LSB260702WO006
Make: Sturm, Ruger and Co.
Model: Vaquero (00573)
Serial Number: 56-11959
Year of Manufacture: 1996 / Modern
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action, 6 Shot Fluted Cylinder Revolver.
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked, “RUGER VAQUERO .45 CAL.”. The right side of the frame is marked, “56-11959”. 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.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece smooth wood panels with silver ruger medallions on either side. There is light handling wear throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall these grips are in Very Good to Excellent condition.
Cylinder Quantity & Condition: 1x 6 round fluted cylinder for .45 Colt
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.75/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 99% of its finish. There is light handling and operational wear. The cylinder has a 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: None.
Our Assessment: The original Ruger Vaquero was introduced in the 1990s as a fixed-sight single-action revolver styled after traditional Western sixguns while retaining Ruger’s modern transfer-bar safety system and robust New Model lockwork. Unlike the later, smaller New Vaquero, the original Vaquero was built on Ruger’s larger Blackhawk-size frame, giving it the strength and substantial feel that became a hallmark of the model. This 1996 example is chambered in .45 Colt and features the desirable 4 5/8″ barrel, fixed sights, smooth wood grips, blued finish, and factory case-colored frame. This revolver remains in Excellent condition, retaining approximately 99% of its original finish. The exterior shows only light handling and operational wear, while the cylinder exhibits a crisp turn line. The screw heads remain sharp, the pins are undamaged, and the markings are clear. The two-piece smooth wood grips show light handling wear but remain free of chips or cracks and rate in Very Good to Excellent condition. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, rating 9.75/10 in this writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the action functions correctly.
For Ruger collectors and shooters who favor traditional single-action revolvers, the early original Vaquero has strong appeal because of its large-frame construction, classic fixed-sight profile, and period factory case-colored finish. The .45 Colt chambering and 4 5/8″ barrel give this example especially traditional proportions, while its excellent finish, strong bore, and clean wood grips make it a notably well-preserved 1996 Vaquero. -R.E.