The Ruger Vaquero was introduced in 1993 and significantly changed in 2005 with the intro of the New Model Vaquero.
These custom New Models are a matched set the author had made for himself and a friend by Tyler Gun Works.
There are certain things in life you will only screw up one time: calling someone an “ex-marine,” telling your wife or girlfriend the truth when she asks if her pants make her look fat, and making reference to an “Old Model” Ruger Vaquero at the range.
While the first two are universally considered “fighting words,” using the incorrect terminology to distinguish the two major iterations of the Vaquero will certainly incur the wrath and scorn of the firearms grammar police. Ask me how I know!
The differences between the New Model and the original version are easily seen when side-by-side.
The New Model (left) is smaller but has a larger hammer spur, along with several other changes both mechanical and cosmetic.
Photo: Alan Garbers
The Cowboy Gun Built for a New Era
When Ruger introduced the original Vaquero in 1993, they weren’t simply nodding to Old West nostalgia. Instead, they were catering to the rapidly growing sport of Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS). The CAS competitors wanted guns that looked period-correct but didn’t possess the metallurgical fragility — or cost — of genuine 19th-century Colts.
Ruger delivered in typical Ruger fashion: they built the Vaquero on the same robust frame as the Blackhawk. It strongly resembled the popular archetype of a six-shooter and was strong enough to handle heavy “Ruger-only” .45 Colt loads that would grenade any antique Colt Single Action Army.
The size difference—and strength—of the different cylinder models is striking. The larger original cylinder is on top, the New Model is on the bottom. Photo: Alan Garbers
The original Vaquero cylinder (right) is longer, stronger and sharper on the forward end,
something which shooters soon noticed due to holster wear. Photo: John Taffin
The original Vaquero was a substantial chunk of steel — more working ranch hand than Hollywood gunfighter. Slightly oversized proportions compared to the SAA, thicker cylinder walls and a tank-like presence made it a favorite among those who wanted a gun they could not break, even when they tried.
Most importantly, it featured Ruger’s transfer-bar safety system, allowing shooters to safely carry all six chambers loaded. For CAS shooters and horsemen negotiating rough country who wanted a traditional-looking single action, it was a genuine game-changer.
The Vaquero went merrily along for years, but there were rumors and innuendos floating out in the sagebrush.
The original model was a great gun but lacking in several areas: it had an ugly barrel roll stamp safety warning on the barrel, the cylinder tended to wear on holsters because the forward edge wasn’t beveled, the ejector rod head wasn’t the traditional crescent shape, and overall, the gun was visibly larger than the “proper” SAA.
By the early 2000s, a subset of shooters — particularly those who prized historical accuracy — wanted something closer in size and feel to the Colt Single Action Army. Ruger listened.
Focus on Authenticity
In 2005, they introduced the New Model Vaquero, a thorough redesign scaled down to Colt-like dimensions, with sleeker lines and improved ergonomics.
And here’s where you should tread carefully: some aficionados get downright unhinged if you refer to the original Vaquero as an “Old Model.” These self-appointed keepers of True and Holy much prefer “original,” “first-generation,” or “large-frame” Vaquero. Use the wrong term and you’ll hear about it faster than you can say “four-click hammer.”
The New Model Vaquero is modeled on the Colt Single Action Army and provides a great canvas for customization, such as Brent’s New Model done by Tyler Gun Works in Texas.
Key Differences
Frame
Original Vaquero: Built on the Blackhawk frame. Overbuilt. Handles heavy “Ruger-only” .45 Colt handloads with ease. It’s been said whatever you can stuff into a cartridge, the original Vaquero can handle it.
New Model Vaquero: Scaled to near-Colt dimensions with intentions of becoming a lookalike twin of the ubiquitous Single Action Army. It is strong but is definitely intended for standard-pressure loads only. The late John Taffin noted in the pages of GUNS Magazine: “I see no reason to exceed 1,000-1,100 fps muzzle velocity with a 260-grain bullet in the New Vaquero. This load shoots comfortably, is very accurate, and, short of really big game, will handle any sixgun chore most of us will ever have.”
Handling & Feel
Original: It is heavier, beefier, and slightly bulkier in the hand. Side-by-side with a New Model (or SAA), the visual difference is obvious.
New Model: Has a better balance and many feel a more natural pointability due to the refined grip shape. The hammer spur is noticeably taller on the New Vaquero (except for Bisley variants), giving quicker, more sure thumb engagement. Many love it, but some hate it.
Mechanical
The New Model uses a shorter cylinder pin than the original and several other redesigns, including a new, larger ejector rod head.
Aesthetic
Original: Wears the lawyer-friendly safety warning right on the barrel where everyone could see it.
New Model: The warning was discreetly relocated — finally giving the gun the clean, period-correct look it always deserved.
It’s been said the New Vaquero is essentially the revolver Ruger might have built back in 1953 during the last major pop culture cowboy craze if Cowboy Action Shooting had existed.
The New Model Vaquero is visually similar to the legendary Colt Single Action Army but at a better price and, some argue, with better quality. It also provides a great canvas for customization.
To P or Not to +P
One thing Ruger didn’t do well was to consider the follow-on effects from significantly changing the pressure-handling capabilities without giving the gun a whole new name. The original and New Model Vaquero are very similar but not the same in terms of what they can handle in terms of pressure.
As I noted, the original model was built on essentially a .44 Magnum frame and can handle virtually anything you can throw at it. Meanwhile, the New Model is mechanically on par with the Colt Single Action, which was designed during the black powder cartridge era and thus can’t handle pressures the original model could easily laugh off. There have been instances of New Model Vaqueros doing an impression of a hand grenade with hot ammo.
This difference is why some reloading manuals will list “Ruger Only” loads, which are intended to be used only in the original Vaquero. Furthering the confusion are .45 Colt +P and even +P+ loads available from some manufacturers.
There are various claims on the internet that Ruger says the New Model can handle +P loads, but to make it clear, I can’t find any credible evidence of this aside from claims on internet forums.
Interesting side note: there is no SAAMI specification for .45 Colt +P and +P+ loads, so essentially you’re outside any official guardrails of case pressure, which is another reason not to fire the high-pressure loads in your relatively weaker New Model.
Fortunately, most respectable manufacturers like Buffalo Bore make it clear you should only fire their hottest .45 Colt loads in the original Vaquero.
Good guns need — not want — good leather. This is Brent’s custom Gunsite-themed rig by Rob Leahy’s Simply Rugged Leather for his custom New Model Vaquero.
Why the Vaquero Endures
More than 650,000 Vaqueros have been built, and demand remains strong to this day. CAS competitors love them, collectors chase rare variants while hunters and outdoorsmen — those with a bit of romantic frontier spirit left, such as Very Truly Yours, keep carrying them because they offer something polymer pistols simply don’t: a mechanical soul.
The original, large-frame Vaquero (if you can find one) appeals to shooters who want brute strength, big loads and a gun that feels hewn from bedrock.
The New Model Vaquero appeals to those who want authenticity, elegance and the kind of natural handling that made the 1873 Colt a legend.
In my book, there’s no winner — just two distinct philosophies. Pick your poison; just don’t ever choose an “Old Model” Vaquero!