Black Rubber Grips that fit Original (large frame) Ruger Vaquero?

Cossack · July 30, 2020, 12:47 PM

I've got a Ruger Vaquero .44 on the way, which is of course not the New Vaquero. I'm figuring out the grip terminology, and based on this chart, I'll have the XRN-3RED grip: https://gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

I'd like to get a set of Black checkered rubber grips for it, mostly just because I like the look on a SAA type revolver. I know a lot of older blackhawks and some New Vaqueros had these, but I'm getting the impression that they won't fit my frame.

Ideally, I'd love some with the Ruger logo, but I'd take aftermarket grips too.

Do you know if Ruger ever made Black Checkered rubber - or even black plastic - grips that will fir the original Vaqueros? If not, has anyone seen aftermarket grips?

I'm looking for something like this:

or this:

44caliberkid · July 30, 2020, 01:12 PM

Enter black checkered grips Ruger Vaquero in the search box on eBay. Lots of choices. Most grip makers sell their stuff on eBay.

Cossack · July 30, 2020, 01:25 PM

Good advice about ebay. That's where I started. However, no luck there. Not many black checkered grips for any Vaqueros, and none that I can find are for the original large frame Vaquero - they are for the New Vaquero, Bisley, birdshead...

Cossack · July 30, 2020, 01:34 PM

Actually, I think I figured it out. I've been looking for Vaquero and New Model Blackhawk grips with no luck, but it looks like the New Model Single Six was offered in Black Checkered Rubber/plastic grips, and according to the chart, they should also fit the Vaquero. If I'm wrong, somebody please let me know, 'cause I'm off to look for some.

44caliberkid · July 30, 2020, 02:50 PM

https://www.eaglegrips.com/tradition...ture-checkered

Checkering is an option.

Cossack · July 30, 2020, 03:23 PM

Cool - thanks!
If I can't track down some Ruger logo grips that fit, I'll give those serious thought.

Hawg · July 30, 2020, 06:38 PM

The Old Vaquero, Blackhawk(NOT Super Blackhawk), Wrangler, Single Six and Ruger Old Army all interchange. Altamont makes some nice wood grips. https://www.altamontco.com/pistol-gr...ger/blackhawk/

Bob Wright · August 2, 2020, 03:48 PM

The original Vaquero had grips that were identical to the New Model Blackhawks. So the black plastic grips furnished on New Model Blackhawks (not the Flat Tops) will fit. They are of the XR3-RED grip frame style. These are current styles on NM Blackhawks. Be aware that your Vaquero has the bosses at the top of the frame where the two lugs fit into the cylinder frame. Current New Models lack this so your grips will have to be modified to fit.

Bob Wright

Cossack · August 19, 2020, 12:58 PM

I picked up a set of black checkered grips that were sold to me as being from a New Model Single Six, which, like the original Vaqueros, has the XR3-Red grips, as I understand it.

I have reaffirmed that I'm not especially bright, because it didn't occur to me to pull off my old grips and check the markings on my grip frame before I bought the grips. My grip frame is marked "XR-3."

Anyway, the grips I bought fit, but not well. There is a gap of over 1/16" between the grips and the revolver frame right behind the trigger. They also stick out a little at the bottom of the grip frame.

From what I have read, I thought (as you have posted here) that my gun should have an XR3-RED frame. Does that seem right? Would XR3-RED grips fit an XR-3 frame, but with gaps?

Cossack · August 19, 2020, 01:18 PM

Here's my grip frame:

Here's how the new grips (supposedly from a New Model Single Six) fit:

I just came across this from Brownell's:

According to the diagram, IF my grip frame is actually XR3, and IF my grips are actually XR3-RED, then the problem shouldn't be a gap like I have (grips are too small for frame), but rather the grips shouldn't fit at all, because they'd be to big for the frame. So at this point I'm not sure what to get.

Cossack · August 19, 2020, 01:47 PM

After doing a little more reading, some of which says to simply ignore what the grip frame says altogether, I think I've just got XR3-RED grips and an XR3-RED grip frame and just have a bad fit. C'est la vie.

July 30, 2020, 12:47 PM	#1
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	Black Rubber Grips that fit Original (large frame) Ruger Vaquero? I've got a Ruger Vaquero .44 on the way, which is of course not the New Vaquero. I'm figuring out the grip terminology, and based on this chart, I'll have the XRN-3RED grip: https://gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm I'd like to get a set of Black checkered rubber grips for it, mostly just because I like the look on a SAA type revolver. I know a lot of older blackhawks and some New Vaqueros had these, but I'm getting the impression that they won't fit my frame. Ideally, I'd love some with the Ruger logo, but I'd take aftermarket grips too. Do you know if Ruger ever made Black Checkered rubber - or even black plastic - grips that will fir the original Vaqueros? If not, has anyone seen aftermarket grips? I'm looking for something like this: or this: Last edited by Cossack; July 30, 2020 at 01:03 PM.

August 2, 2020, 03:48 PM	#8
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	The original Vaquero had grips that were identical to the New Model Blackhawks. So the black plastic grips furnished on New Model Blackhawks (not the Flat Tops) will fit. They are of the XR3-RED grip frame style. These are current styles on NM Blackhawks. Be aware that your Vaquero has the bosses at the top of the frame where the two lugs fit into the cylinder frame. Current New Models lack this so your grips will have to be modified to fit. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

August 19, 2020, 01:18 PM	#10
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	Here's my grip frame: Here's how the new grips (supposedly from a New Model Single Six) fit: I just came across this from Brownell's: According to the diagram, IF my grip frame is actually XR3, and IF my grips are actually XR3-RED, then the problem shouldn't be a gap like I have (grips are too small for frame), but rather the grips shouldn't fit at all, because they'd be to big for the frame. So at this point I'm not sure what to get. Last edited by Cossack; August 19, 2020 at 01:24 PM.

July 30, 2020, 01:12 PM	#2
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Enter black checkered grips Ruger Vaquero in the search box on eBay. Lots of choices. Most grip makers sell their stuff on eBay.

July 30, 2020, 01:25 PM	#3
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	Good advice about ebay. That's where I started. However, no luck there. Not many black checkered grips for any Vaqueros, and none that I can find are for the original large frame Vaquero - they are for the New Vaquero, Bisley, birdshead...

July 30, 2020, 01:34 PM	#4
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	Actually, I think I figured it out. I've been looking for Vaquero and New Model Blackhawk grips with no luck, but it looks like the New Model Single Six was offered in Black Checkered Rubber/plastic grips, and according to the chart, they should also fit the Vaquero. If I'm wrong, somebody please let me know, 'cause I'm off to look for some.

July 30, 2020, 02:50 PM	#5
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	https://www.eaglegrips.com/tradition...ture-checkered Checkering is an option.

July 30, 2020, 03:23 PM	#6
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	Cool - thanks! If I can't track down some Ruger logo grips that fit, I'll give those serious thought.

July 30, 2020, 06:38 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	The Old Vaquero, Blackhawk(NOT Super Blackhawk), Wrangler, Single Six and Ruger Old Army all interchange. Altamont makes some nice wood grips. https://www.altamontco.com/pistol-gr...ger/blackhawk/

August 19, 2020, 12:58 PM	#9
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	I picked up a set of black checkered grips that were sold to me as being from a New Model Single Six, which, like the original Vaqueros, has the XR3-Red grips, as I understand it. I have reaffirmed that I'm not especially bright, because it didn't occur to me to pull off my old grips and check the markings on my grip frame before I bought the grips. My grip frame is marked "XR-3." Anyway, the grips I bought fit, but not well. There is a gap of over 1/16" between the grips and the revolver frame right behind the trigger. They also stick out a little at the bottom of the grip frame. From what I have read, I thought (as you have posted here) that my gun should have an XR3-RED frame. Does that seem right? Would XR3-RED grips fit an XR-3 frame, but with gaps?

August 19, 2020, 01:47 PM	#11
Cossack Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Posts: 260	After doing a little more reading, some of which says to simply ignore what the grip frame says altogether, I think I've just got XR3-RED grips and an XR3-RED grip frame and just have a bad fit. C'est la vie.