Old vaquero vs New vaquero holster

[Irish Pat]

I have a couple of holsters for the newer smaller Vaquero. I was asked if the old vaqueros will fit in them. I have never had the old model. can someone answer this for me? Irish ☘️ Pat

[Bison Bud]

The older, original VQ's were indeed a bit bigger.  So, I guess the answer would be that "it depends."  However, the difference isn't a lot and the older model could fit in a newer model holster, but it would probably be pretty snug.  It would mostly depend on how snug the holsters are with the newer VQ's and if tight, using them with the old models may stretch them out a bit making the new models fit a bit looser as well.  Anyway, I have a set of holsters that I use with both old model VQ's and my USFA-SAA's (which should be about the same size as the new model VQ's) and have found them to be serviceable with both.  Sorry I don't have a more definitive answer for you.  Good luck and good shooting to all.   

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Irish Pat,

 

The simple answer is No.  To use the NV Holsters with the original Vaquero would require some serious "Re-Blocking" and that would make the holsters extremely loose for the smaller guns.  That is "IF" the holsters can be successfully re-blocked.  I personally would not risk ruining a perfectly good pair of holsters.

[Sedalia Dave]

Depends on how you like your holsters to fit. 

 

If you like them form fitted to the gun then the answer is no. 

 

If you like a loose fit then the answer is yes they'll work. Although the OMV will be a little tighter than the NMV.

 

I like a loose fitting holster for CAS use the same holsters for my OMV, NMV, SAA, ROA, and my open tops.  The 1860s and 1871/2s are a pretty loose fit and I'm looking as adding a removeable leather stop to the inside of the holster to keep them from sitting too low. 

[TN Mongo, SASS #61450]

It does depend on each individual set of holsters, but in general, a holster that fits a NMV well will be too tight for and OMV.

 

As others have already mentioned, you could chance "re-wet-fitting" the holsters to accommodate the larger revolvers, but I would be leery of doing this to a quality rig. If you have a set of inexpensive holsters you're not really attached to, it would be worth the try to have a set that will fit a pair of OMVs.

 

If you decide to wet fit them, run the holsters (inside and out) under the faucet (cool water) and shake off the extra water. You can open up the bottom of the holsters a little wider, if necessary, with a wooden hammer handle that has been rubbed with bee's wax.  To enlarge the upper part of the holster, where the cylinder rests, a small bottle (like a small plastic bottle of rubber cement) can be pushed in and slowly rotated. 

 

After any adjustments you make, stainless guns can be inserted into the wet holsters with no problems.  With a blued gun, I like to use a single layer of plastic wrap. Let them set for a few hours and then you can remove the revolvers. When they dry, I would apply a coat of Tandy Satin Shene or Fiebing's bag kote.

[Kid Rich]

I use my Mernickle Holsters made for NM Vaqueros for my old my OMVs and they work fine. They are lined holsters and can be easily shaped to fit OMVs. If I find they are a little tight I will put the OMVs in them for a few days and let them sit. I also use the product that makes it easy to draw and reholster the revolvers. I believe it is a sliicone based product. You do NOT need to wet the holsters to obtain a good fit.

kR

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

Irish Pat, the rig I just bought from you fits both my pairs of NMVs and OMVs.  The OMVs are just a little snug but not so snug that it matters one iota to me.

[Ya Big Tree]

I use my NMV holsters with my OMV or NMV without issue.

The NMV are a bit looser and the the OMV may need KG9 lube every once and awhile, usually on hot humid days.

[Lassy LaRock]

6 hours ago, Ya Big Tree said:

I use my NMV holsters with my OMV or NMV without issue.

+1