Ruger Vaquero- are my eyes playing tricks on me

[3t-]

Toying with getting a older vaquero in 7.5 and ran across this listing. Did Ruger make left side loading vaqueros or are my eyes going bad...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/847333535

[JimT]

Since the writing on the barrel is backwards I would say that the photo got reversed.

[3t-]

Thanks Jim, I figured it must be some optical thing, just caught me by surprise.

[gamekeeper]

Could be Billy the Kids gun. . . . . .

[AJMD429]

Hmmmmmm..... interesting thought though - did ANYBODY ever make a left-side-loading single-action (or for that matter a swing-out that opens on the right side)...???

[JimT]

Hmmmmmm..... interesting thought though - did ANYBODY ever make a left-side-loading single-action (or for that matter a swing-out that opens on the right side)...???

Left side Single Actions were made by Texas Longhorn Arms ... Absolutely beautiful, perfectly fitted firearms. Bill Grover was a real artist.

Here's a couple ..
West Texas Target Flattop

West Texas Target Flattop.jpg

This was my gun. I sold it before I moved to Africa.


Grover's Improved #5

Grover's Improved #5.jpg

ADDED: A good friend .. Stephen Webb .. has written a book about Texas Longhorn Arms ... It and other information is listed on; http://www.tlabook.com/
If you look close you will see a photo of me with the TLA sixgun.

[AJMD429]

That's interesting. Makes sense though, and in these days of manufacturing, mirror-imaging parts isn't all that difficult.

[Pisgah]

I remember when the Texas Longhorn guns were first getting some press. Seems Bill Grover figured Sam Colt must have been a lefty, thus designed his gun to be loaded without shifting it from his shooting hand. Grover decided it was time to make one for right-handers!

I've always wanted a No. 5.

[JimT]

I've always wanted a No. 5.

They are nice! Last one I saw sold .. some years back ... went for over 3 grand!

[piller]

Beautiful guns. I wonder if someone could manufacture them with current methods and have them at a reasonable cost and still make enough money to stay in business. A single action with the loading gate on the left would have my interest. My little CHEAP-APPA Chiappa in .17 HMR is a fun little six shooter when it decides to work. The cylinder pin likes to work itself backward and block the hammer. I keep it for just messing around. It is surprisingly accurate, but it likes to lock up and must be messed with to un-jam it. It was less than $150 on sale, and that was probably too much for that level of quality. My Rugers are all totally reliable and the Super Redhawk was the most expensive. For the price level of a Ruger or a Smith & Wesson it would probably sell fast.

[JimT]

Beautiful guns. I wonder if someone could manufacture them with current methods and have them at a reasonable cost and still make enough money to stay in business.

I rather doubt it.
The hammer and trigger screws are all "Blind" screws ... don't come through on the opposite side.
On the guns I have handled all the screw slots lined up in the same direction and fit perfectly.
Tolerances were extremely tight and consistent.
The grips were very well finished and fitted.
Polishing and blueing were amazing as was the color case hardening on the guns that had it.
It all points to a lot of hand-fitting.

Ruger could tool up and make theirs left-handed and do it a lot cheaper of course. And it would be a good gun. But not the quality of the hand-fitted gun. And that's one reason extra fine quality guns are not much around any more. Most folks cannot afford them.