Author Topic: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W  (Read 19807 times)

Offline Doc Jethro

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Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« on: February 17, 2013, 11:49:38 PM »
How do you find a Vaquero 38-40 when only 1500 were made for Davidson's. I have been trying to trade a 1880 black powder frame Colt SAA for one and have had no luck at all.

I got excited a couple of days ago because I found one that was up for auction. Finally got on the auction page and the thing had sold back in 2007. Any advice would be appreciated, I really want a Ruger. I may have to order a Uberti Cattleman in the 38-40.  :'(
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Offline Mustang Gregg

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2013, 11:16:32 AM »
Check the SASS Wire Classifieds too.  And Gunbroker, Guns America, etc, etc. 
I have some old Davidson's fliers (2007 & 2008) that have .45 ACP/.45 Colt convertible Vaqueros too. 
Those were great times and lots of Ruger choices.

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Offline rbertalotto

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2013, 02:10:57 PM »
On GunBroker you can do a notify where you input what you are looking for and you get an email anytime that item shows up.

I have it searching for 38-40 as I'll buy just about anything with a reasonable price tag in 38-40

In near two years I've never seen a Ruger 38-40 posted! They are rare!
Roy B
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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #3 on: Today at 12:35:24 AM »

Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2013, 04:17:16 PM »
Not the cheapest way to get there, but any gunsmith worth the title should be able to convert a 357 to 38-40.Simply bore out the cylinder and either replace or line the barrel.
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Offline rbertalotto

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2013, 04:21:35 PM »
Since the 38-40 is really a .401 diameter, you could have the barrel bored and rifled.

I wanted a 38-40 SAA so bad, I converted a Uberti in 45LC to 38-40.

Bought a cylinder and barrel from www.gunparts.com..........and swapped them out.

You can find an article I wrote about it on my web site

www.rvbprecision.com
Roy B
South of Boston
www.rvbprecision.com
SASS #93544

Offline Trailrider

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2013, 11:15:58 PM »
Better yet...find one in .357 Magnum and two cylinders and have the barrel bored out to .401-.403 and have one cylinder chambered for .38-40 and one for .40 S&W! I wouldn't want one...got enough .44-40's to load for, not to mention the conversion cylinders for .44 Extra Long Russian (aka .44 Mangle-em)!  ;D
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Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2013, 07:58:57 AM »
Since the 38-40 is really a .401 diameter, you could have the barrel bored and rifled.

I wanted a 38-40 SAA so bad, I converted a Uberti in 45LC to 38-40.

Bought a cylinder and barrel from www.gunparts.com..........and swapped them out.

You can find an article I wrote about it on my web site

www.rvbprecision.com
??? That's almost a dumb thing to do, if a person wanted a Uberti 38-40 , then why not just keep it simple and buy one of the dozens of them floating around that left the factory as a properly timed,tuned and marked 38-40 ???
Eat more beef the west wasn't won on a salad.

Offline Old Top

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2013, 11:15:31 AM »
Ranch 13

I beleive that rbertalotto lives in Mass. which is a bear to get any pistol in, unless it was bought before their silly gun law state you could not import it into the state.

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Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2013, 11:58:26 AM »
Oldtop, where one has the misfortune of living does not excuse them for their misquidances..
 OP wants to know about a Ruger 38-40, wazzhizbuket ::) pops up about converting a Uberti 45 colt to 38-40, when it is in fact quicker and easier to have simply bought a Uberti already built, IF a person were wanting a Uberti gun, which has nothing to do with getting a RUGER in 38-40. ;)
Eat more beef the west wasn't won on a salad.

Offline rbertalotto

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2013, 07:29:40 PM »
Quote
I beleive that rbertalotto lives in Mass. which is a bear to get any pistol in, unless it was bought before their silly gun law state you could not import it into the state.

Correct!

We can not buy any handgun that is not on an approved list unless it was already in the state before 1998.

"misquidances..".........nice word, I'm really impressed!...... ;D
Roy B
South of Boston
www.rvbprecision.com
SASS #93544

Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2013, 08:48:42 PM »
Correct!

We can not buy any handgun that is not on an approved list unless it was already in the state before 1998.

"misquidances..".........nice word, I'm really impressed!...... ;D

 So when you said
Quote
[On GunBroker you can do a notify where you input what you are looking for and you get an email anytime that item shows up.

I have it searching for 38-40 as I'll buy just about anything with a reasonable price tag in 38-40

In near two years I've never seen a Ruger 38-40 posted! They are rare!/quote]
 The only ones you could buy are already in your state? Son that is going to be looking for the preverbial needle in the haystack, If you are telling us straight story.. ::)
Eat more beef the west wasn't won on a salad.

Offline rbertalotto

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2013, 05:52:16 AM »
Yup....I found a few rifles which are not banned.......but yet to find a "Mass Legal" 38-40 SAA except for a pair of Colts that a fellow has been trying to sell for over a year at $1700 each.

Gotta move out of this state! It's maddning because I go to New Hampshire, Maine, VT or RI and I see all kinds of CAS handguns I'd like to add to the collection but there is no way to import them legally into Massachusetts.
Roy B
South of Boston
www.rvbprecision.com
SASS #93544

Offline Doc Jethro

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2013, 07:18:36 PM »
Everything is legal after dark............ ::)

Just kidding. I think that I would take up residence in a differrent state too.
"Never argue with a fool in a crowd because after a couple of minutes, the crowd can't remember who the original fool was."

Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2013, 10:34:58 PM »
Googled up Mass. approoved gun list, there are no Uberti's, and no 38-40's of any manufacture on the list...
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Offline gimmearose

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2013, 05:54:52 AM »
 i have the Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W in stainless 5.5 inch barrel I am thinking of selling

Offline Hondo44

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #15 on: October 01, 2013, 04:02:12 AM »
Absolute best place to find a Ruger 38-40/40 S&W is on the Ruger Forum classifieds. Post a want ad here:
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=41

However, there were none produced before 1999.

Made in 4 5/8" blue or stainless and 5 1/2" stainless only. Later another 500 to 100 were made in 40 S&W only. but that would be a simple ream to make one a 38-40.

Offline Slamfire

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #16 on: November 30, 2013, 10:50:01 PM »
  Hey ,Gimmie,,,,I think I might like to get a 38/40-40,but only if its been shot & tried,,,i'm not a wall collector I "shoots em". Sooo,,if you still have your'n,,,how much or trade???







   Hootnix.

Offline cpt dan blodgett

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Re: Ruger Vaquero in 38-40 / 40 S&W
« Reply #17 on: December 09, 2013, 05:04:12 PM »
It is truly sad that the state where the "Shot that was heard around the world" was fired is doing so much to prevent private ownership of firearms.  Had today's politicians ran the colony the shot could not have been fired.
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