Henry Rifle Forums

Several days ago out running errands, I had several hours to waste and stopped in at my local sporting goods store.
There in the used handguns case sat a VERY shiny single action revolver.
I asked to see it and I looked it over carefully.

It checked out mechanically, timing, end shake, and barrel cylinder gap. Great trigger pull, no creep.
I decided to go home and do some research.
It's a Ruger New Vaquero, 5.5" barrel, high gloss stainless steel finish. Oh, and it's chambered in .44 Remington Magnum.

Think Cadillac bumper chrome shiny.

I input the serial number into the Ruger website, the Vaquero shipped in 2024.
The Ruger serial number lookup also got me an official Ruger Model number.
Then I researched the Model number, and another surprise. It's a Talo Distributors special edition.

The next day, I went back and bought it. I haven't shot it yet. That's on my list of things to do soon.
A serious inspection at home, and I will guess it's been fired less than 100 rounds.

This will make a nice BBQ revolver for social events at the cabin.
But now I need to find a fancy BBQ holster for it. Floral carved leather, dyed background, or perhaps high relief basketweave.
Send me a PM if you have a proper BBQ holster this revolver would look good in.

Talo_Vaquero by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260114_174512114 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260114_174628264 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260114_174530283 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260114_174655154 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260114_174715008 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Several features on this TALO New Vaquero Model are different from standard production Ruger Vaquero's.

1.) This has a Super Blackhawk hammer installed at the factory. (the hammer spur is lower and it can be operated easily with one hand)
2.) Black Micarta grips.
3.) The front sight is a nice sharp cornered serrated blade instead of the traditional half moon.
4.) The quality of the polishing is better than a standard production Model.

I do like it. If it shoots as good as it looks, I will be happy!

I love Single Actions, I have one or two. That one is a beauty. Only negative for me is the 44 mag caliber, but I could shoot 44 specials in it. Old arthritic hands. But.. I have a few 44s. Nice find, will look forward to the range reports....

I have worked up a .44 Magnum reload that does 99.99% of what I need a .44 Magnum to do.
.44 Magnum cases.
200 Grain Hornady XTP projectile.
Max charge of Hodgdon CFE pistol powder. (reloading data directly from Hodgdon)
Hodgdon CFE pistol powder is similar in performance to Unique, but MUCH cleaner burning.
My reload is similar in performance to a "Warm" .44 Special factory load.
You can shoot them all day without feeling punished.

Good find. Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

Congratulations on having a weak impulse control. Sometimes it pays off big time.

That's a really nice looking revolver. Love the micarta grips, they are perfect for it.
I noticed the hammer and front sight in the pics, very nice upgrades, and definitely add to the utility.
Great purchase!

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 17, 2026 9:07 am

Congratulations on having a weak impulse control. Sometimes it pays off big time.

Well stated, bravo!

Congrats on a new beauty cee_Kamp. Sometimes self control is overrated.

Very nice looking revolver. I hope you find some very nice leather to put it in.

VERY NICE Ruger 6 shooter! I have the old larger framed Vaquero Bisley in 44 mag and it is a nice shooter companion to my Uberti 1873 Winchester 44 Mag carbine. I roll my own and a really nice mid 44 Mag load is 9 gr. Unique or 9.5 BE-86 with a 240 gr. Missouri Bullets Hi Tec coated bullet in Magnum brass. Another good one is the Xtreme plated 200 gr. bullet over same load of Unique or BE-86. Great for a day of plinking! Works great and easy on the hand in Revolver and the carbine! Enjoy and will be looking for your Range review!

Over on another Forum, I had a WTB ad for a BBQ holster for the new-to-me Ruger Vaquero.
A Member over there offered me a complete rig (Western cartridge belt & holster) if I could use it, for only the cost of shipping.
I know that a fancy carved leather full rig from one of the famous leather makers can exceed one thousand dollars.
You will also wait a year or more before the rig shows up at your door. Maybe two years.

The Member sent me some photos and measurements and it was perfectly sized, both cartridge belt and the holster.

I figured the rig would be made in Mexico for the price, it isn't made by one of the famous makers, but it is stamped made in El Paso Texas.

So I told the Gentleman that I would take the belt/holster rig and then told him that I would mail him a check.
That night, he sent me tracking info, he had shipped out the rig before I had even written the check.
The rig arrived in the mail today. Yes, it has a few scuffs in the leather dye, the buckles need to be shined up, and the cartridge loops need to be soaked with water and then expanded from .357 up to .44, but for $22.95 it is perfect for summer BBQ events at the recreational property/cabin.

I also took the Vaquero to the indoor range this afternoon and shot it for the first time. No surprises, it shoots where the sights look and
operated as designed with perfect function. I'm a happy guy!

PXL_20260125_020913003 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260125_020924905 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260125_020931995 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260125_020955385 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260125_021002490 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260125_021113939 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

PXL_20260125_021052241 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Very nice. I paid around $150 for my Mernickle holster only and it has very minimal stamping. His fully stamped double rigs are around $1500.

https://mernickleholsters.com/products/ ... 9587776830

That's nice. It is just broken in a bit.

It was very nice of that fellow and a nice break for you. The revolver looks pretty nice in that rig.

That’s a good looking rig and any scuffs or patina is just more character.

Very nice setup. Glad the Ruger shoots as good as it looks. They usually do.

Hatchdog wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 17, 2026 9:43 am

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 17, 2026 9:07 am

Congratulations on having a weak impulse control. Sometimes it pays off big time.

Well stated, bravo!

Congrats on a new beauty cee_Kamp. Sometimes self control is overrated.

This right here. Beauty Ruger - great find.

Nice score on the pistol and the holster! That's a purdy rig.

Some years back I got bamboozled by a custom leather maker.
I wanted a new custom leather revolver holster and the quoted wait time was six months.
It was a large famous maker with many workers.
I'm no dummy, I know that employees call in sick and they have family emergencies.
The completed holster arrived at about the one year mark.
But double the quoted wait time, I'm calling BS on that. Fraudulent advertising!

It irritated me enough that now, every single time that I need a "new" holster, I ALWAYS try and find something gently used.
First, virtually no waiting period.
Second, better pricing than new in most cases.
This Vaquero pictured above is no exception for my holster acquisition policy now.

Over on another Forum, I found someone selling a Texas Jack "Sweetwater" western holster like new at a great price.
El Paso Saddlery is the actual maker. With plain leather and no stamping, $138 plus a wait of over a year.
I want something for general woods usage/belt carry at my remote recreational property, that isn't the full "Barbecue Rig" pictured above.
I already have a gun show pickup holster, something made in Mexico, but it's pretty rough and somewhat generic.
So I figured the Texas Jack "Sweetwater" holster was someplace in the middle between the two extremes.

But the used holster seller was showing photos of a mid sized frame New Model Vaquero inserted in the holster for sale. (.38 Special/.357 Mag)
With nothing to lose, I messaged the seller and asked if they also owned a Ruger Super Blackhawk 4-5/8" barrel in .44 Mag,
and a original frame sized (large frame) Ruger Vaquero 5.500" barrel in .44 Mag.

The holster seller actually had those two revolvers personally, and within an hour, I had pictures of the sellers used holster with both of the
revolvers inserted that I am interested in using the used holster for.

The seller wanted a check or money order, and wasn't equipped for electronic funds transfer.
So I mailed a check across the USA, the check has to clear at the sellers bank, and then the holster should get shipped back across the USA.
It might be two or three weeks before I actually have that new to me holster in my hands.
That two or three weeks is just a drop in the bucket compared to ordering something brand new from any of the western type custom holster makers!

Edit: Another new-to-me holster arrived!

PXL_20260227_180312293 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

^^^
New-to-me holster arrived!