RugerSociety.com

I got an original Vaquero at the gun show. It is a former working man's gun as it definitely shows the wear. But the bore and all 6 chambers look clean and clear with a light and eyeball. It functions properly, as far as my (very) limited knowledge can tell. I'll post photos later or tomorrow, depending on when I recover from the walking etc. And surprisingly enough, the S/N comes up on the Ruger site and says it is indeed a .357 and shipped in 1997. I'm going to put the Altamont rosewood trips on it. No plans for anything else unless I learn here of things I should do. I probably paid too much but I got the gun I wanted, so there's that.

And what it looks like. Don't know why they rotate when posted.
.

Your Vaquero is beautiful as is. It's used but not abused and is a working man's gun as you said. As long as it hasn't been used to drive wanted poster nails or bust drunks heads like the old cowboy movies or TV shows I think you have a keeper.

If it had marble grips JAYDAWG would be interested. I sold him a bridge but when he saw the shipping costs he refused delivery. I kept his money though and plan on using it in a crap game in the near future.

Yeah, I like it except not crazy about those grips. I have a nice Altamont rosewood set I wanted to put on but the screw is about 1/64" out of line and won't connect on the offside panel. Haven't figured out how to fix that yet. But I like it. It's an honest gun.

So if you put the screw in from the back side it will catch. Definitely better looking than what was on it. Photo with its cousin, also now improved with rosewood.

I was going to suggest just what you did to make the grips fit. You have a great working and carry revolver there.
Now you need some good leather to carry it in.
Simply Rugged makes about the best leather out there and they advertise with the ROCS Digest.
A Cattleman or 120 or if you like a flap holster their Outdoorsman are perfect. You can go plain or have them make it fancy with basket weave or floral or even Celtic decorations.