Jay Redfeather and His Open Road Cowboy Retail Store, Ubertis Winchester 1873 Rifle Reproductions, 1875 Single-Action Army Outlaw, Frontier & Police Replicas by Uberti, The Enduring Legend of the Colt Single Action Revolvers, Colt Peacemaker The Revolver that Won the West, Cimarron Bisley Single Action Revolver .45 LC Model, Taylors & Co. In the old west, cowboys carried their guns in a variety of ways. He's apparently also an ideal American for anti-gun control groups: gun shows and gun advertising promote from a distinctive Old West flavor. The American cowboy is part history and part legend, with the scales, tipped slightly to the legendary side. While there were many other firearms that left their mark on this time, these were among the most important. Rather, their hands became as tough as leather from the work that they did. The first holsters werent products of the Old West but, rather, military inventions. But when you came into town, you had to either check your guns if you were a visitor or keep your guns at home if you were a resident.. Dodge City, Kansas, formed a municipal government in 1878. The belt was not buckled about his waist, it was worn loose and hung low on the hip. He literally lived out of his bug-out-bag. It wasnt until after the Civil War when cartridge revolvers replaced cap-and-ball pistols, that leather workers began stitching loops into belts for shooters to store extra cartridges. The Cowboys were aligned with the county sheriff, John Behan. She currently resides in rural North Carolina with her children, non-hunting husband, and a well-stocked chest freezer. Their only tool was a knife. In much of the West, where water is scarce, laying claim to land with a spring or creek on it gave ranchers access not only to much-needed hydration, but an easy way of keeping their cattle home where they belonged. Wild West pistoleers, like folk hero Wild Bill Hickok, carried their six-shooters with the butts facing forward. Though pistols exert much power at close quarters, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters away. Promoters gussied up performers attire, including their holsters, which were often embellished with silver-colored conchos to catch the audiences eye. The cowboy's slicker was usually carried rolled up and tied behind their saddle. Im looking for holster left hand holds bullets around back of belt 45 colt pistol. The gun most popular during the time of the cowboy and the old west has to be the Colt Peace Maker, and the rifles of Winchester. GOOD GEAR Taste the Balance Between Bold and Smooth With BRCCs Just Black Roast. Few had a honing stone, but the cowboys would often sharpen their knives on whatever stones they could find. Another historian, Rick Shenkman, found Tombstone's (1880 pop: 3,423) most violent year was 1881, in which also only five people were killed; three were the cowboys shot by Earp's men at the OK Corral. The canteen was an essential piece of equipment, especially in terrain where water was scarce. Before the great migration westward, gun holsters were already employed by defense forces around the world. Although the traditional cowboy figure can be pictured riding away into the sunset, it wasnt the case for all men working in the tradition around the country. Cowboys didnt change their clothes and bathe every day, like we do today. The skirt was slashed through the middle several times to form straps, and the pouch was pushed through the straps to form a more tight-fitting holster. #4. Old West cinema peaked from the 1940s through the 1960s. It was a time and place where rugged individualism reigned and the only law in the West that mattered was the law on your hip a gun. 2. Cook Set. And it vastly outgunned the majority of repeaters of the day, shooting some of the most powerful big-game cartridges around (and well) .45-70, .45-90 and .50-110. It was a vast arsenal of different revolvers and rifles and shotguns of every conceivable design, make and model that carved this nation from coastline to coastline. Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers, who stood and fought, were killed by the lawmen, all of whom walked away. They were drawn to the West for a variety of reasons, and many gave up a life of wealth and position for the opportunity to travel. This meant that most had long guns, even if they didnt have a pistol. My question, did people in the old west really carry their 6-shooters loaded with . These carbine-length rifles were perfect for shooting from horseback and were often stored in a saddle scabbard for easy access on the range. But there were times when cattle operations needed more hands than the few semi-permanent staff. Why did some cowboys have their guns backwards? The average rancher had few permanent employees. In reality, no one gun can make the claim. The belt had loops for about 50 cartridges and, with the gun, weighed several pounds. That was at roundup time and for a cattle drive. Many cowboys carried some line and a hook, so that they could catch fish when they camped by the water. Why did cowboys carry guns? The popular styles of the period were: Designed by gun leather artisans during the California Gold Rush, this holster style came to be known as the California Pattern and was considered the first true Western holster. Twenty-four shots can thus be exhausted before reloading, and, with a little practice, the magazine of the gun may be refilled without checking the horse.. As the West developed, towns pushed this mythos of the West as their founding ideology. It would be covered with layers of scrap fabric, usually hand-sewn by the owner. Though pistols exert much power at close quarters, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters away. The gun most popular during the time of the cowboy and the old west has to be the Colt Peace Maker, and the rifles of Winchester. A slit would be cut in the mittens, allowing the index finger to slide out when they needed to do something that required some dexterity. This holster style is filmdoms favorite rig for their cowboy heroes. You have entered an incorrect email address! The old west and loading 5 vs 6 rounds. It didnt matter if he was only going to town, hed stop at the water trough and fill his canteen, often dumping out the old water to replace it with fresh water. I punched cows from '71 on, and I never yet saw a cowboy with two guns. It seems to be much more of a 20th-century attitude than one associated with the Wild West.. While the trusty ol' lever-action shooting iron more than earned its stripes in military conflicts, range wars and protecting the Back 40, it far from single-handedly tamed the vast American frontier. But the bandana served many other purposes, as well, including protecting the neck from the sun, being a handy washcloth and serving as an emergency bandage. Elwood Shelton is an online content developer for Gun Digest. Not all cowboys ride horses. ATF Drops New Pistol Brace Rule: Its Not Good, Jonathon Blanks Epic Mountain Goat Hunt on Kodiak Island, Live With Courage, Keep Your Word: The Code of the West, 357 Magnum: The OG Magnum Revolver Round Is Still Relevant. The most common method was to simply tuck the gun into their belt, with the handle facing to the rear. While the modern figure of the cowboy is all about conflict and morality, the real figure was focused on other parts of life. The single-shot rifle, however, was among the most plentiful firearms out West. Cattle, of course, need water, and few will wander beyond a days walk from that water, unless being driven by men or predators. But . Winchesters famous flat-sided, lever-action repeaters, and others like them, played a considerable role in taming the West. Both shoulder and hip holsters have developed better versions over the years, since the start of the 20th century. Storms could come up suddenly in the West, especially for those who were in the mountains. In it, he would store bits of tinder that he gathered along the trail, always ensuring that he had some with him. The one-man law seen of TV and film Westerns is how we remember the West today. 1946) Ty Murray (b. Surviving Extreme Heat Without Air Conditioning, The Best (And Safest) Way To Stockpile Gasoline, Wildcrafting And Foraging Means Fabulous Food And Family Fun. And the first "holsters" were nothing more than a piece of leather rolled and stitched into a socket shape through which to thrust the single-shot pistol for carrying on a belt. It makes your weapon close at hand for easy (and quick) access. In turn, an hombre could easily keep this peace of mind at hand out of the saddle. Its 15 rounds of .44 Henry rimfire not only proved adequate for protecting a homestead or scaring off cattle rustlers, but also bagging the odd deer. The character is a myth. Being the first to feature intricate handcrafted detailing, as well as silver and brass ornamentations, the Slim Jim laid the groundwork for all the future western gun holsters. While they didnt have an extensive wardrobe, most had a couple of changes of clothes, including one nice suit. The rounds they used had a "one shot stop" rating of 98.9%. The western gun holsters that we know today, however, had their first appearance in the early 1800s. So it was important to have a good one. These duds were inexpensive and provided freedom of movement for riding horses, roping calves, and that characteristic masculine cowboy saunter. Consultation with the various movies and television shows I've watched over time indicates the average cowboy carried between 2oo and 400 rounds, which they expended at least daily. It was too cumbersome and got in the way of handling cattle. With that in mind, here are the 10 guns you have to know from the Old West. If you believe that is a Model 4, most likely it is a DA32, 4th model. And they made a lot of sense as a tool to tame the land, given their flexibility. Cowboy style and gear varied widely, and an individuals style was influenced more by what was practical, affordable, and available rather than what was fashionable. Gun belt styles became larger and more cumbersome by the early 1870s. After a couple of months looking at the wrong end of a cow, a cowboy hit town wanting a lot of things, and an expensive gun that would cost his whole pay was not high on his list. The first thing that any cowboy had was a good knife. So far, your real life cowboy might not be as heroic as you had thought, but thats only one small thing, right? Those Wild West guns, the firearms of the old west really were an essential for numerous reasons. The practice was started in Southern states, which were among the first to enact laws against concealed carry of guns and knives, in the early 1800s. Due to a hot summer, many ranchers chose to keep their cattle at home to protect their health and as a result, fewer people needed horses for travel. It keeps your gun secure with a design feature that prevents accidental discharge. This took a load of burden off a buckaroo during a period when logistics were not at the top of their game. In the case of a stampede, that gun might be the only thing to save your life. A cowboy never left the bunkhouse without taking some food with him. "Tombstone had much more restrictive laws on carrying guns in public in the 1880s than it has today, says Adam Winkler, a professor and specialist in American constitutional law at UCLA School of Law. This low-riding rig is still associated with the fast-draw, gunslinging, shoot . While it wasnt uncommon to simply slide a pistol into a pocket or tuck one into waist overalls, the elements on the frontier could be rough on a firearm. This wasnt a given, but it wasnt uncommon, either. then the evolution of gunleather continued on with Cartridge Belts, Holsters, Gunbelts, Hip Pocket and Shoulder Holsters. Winchester Model 1873 Rifle, .44 caliber, serial number 6745, date: 1875. The Cowboys liked their guns. Though today, many cowboys carry six-shooters made by Ruger. Certainly, in popular history, the Winchester Model 1873 is given this distinction. More commonly, a cowboy would be kitted out in a bowler hat and a pair of jeans, the kinds of clothing that allowed the men ultimate freedom in their movements. Marshall Virgil Earp, having deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun control problem. New 4-Ounce Solar Survival Lantern Never Needs Batteries! There were, of course, real two-gun men on the frontierbut of an altogether different stripe than the blazing figure depicted on pulp-magazine covers. Its flapless open top feature allowed fast access to the weapon. Slow on the reload and only able to be safely loaded with five rounds (unless an hombre wanted to lose a pinky toe), the gun could quickly be out of the fight and slow to reenter. Although these wildly entertaining depictions were the only source of information for some, the producers leaned heavily on exaggeration for theatrical purposes. Certainly, the 1873 Winchester Rifle and Colt Single Action Army were as abundant as tumbleweeds out West; but they most likely paled in numbers to the simple double-barreled shotgun. Due to this, shoulder and hip pocket holsters were created. Usually they own something with multiple blades that can be as versatile as the tasks they need to master. They are all similar items. As well as this, many cowboys had strong superstitions, practicing strange activities in order to muster up a little luck. This feature was designed to protect the guns firing mechanism from dirt and moisture. Collectors of Western gear are willing to spend much more than the average American's monthly salary. Frontiersmen often paired a rifle with a pair of revolvers, like the Colt Single Action Army, usually chambered for the same ammo as their rifles. A cowboys holster rarely matched his belt. The other half of the leather swatch was folded behind the pocket to create a skirt. Did Cowboys carry guns? If they killed one, it was highly unlikely that they could preserve the meat, so much of it would be lost. It also has a deep form-fitting pouch that followed the outline of the guns trigger guard and loading lever. The settlements that came closest to unchecked carry were the railroad and mining boom towns that tended to lack effective law enforcement, a functioning judicial system, and firearm law, says Aron, and it reflected in higher levels of violence. The Gatling Gun was hardly used, but boy was it effective. A long rope (also called "lasso" or "reata"), of braided rawhide, hemp, or today of polyester or nylon. The belt was designed to carry his gun holster. The rider may then draw his holster revolvers in succession and after using them, have left a carbine reserve for any emergency. The revolver was well balanced, provided a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics. Though on the surface it doesnt appear so, what made the gun so desirable, aside from its smooth handling and potency, was its portability. But as the classicThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valancetells us, This is the West, sir. This could include: Range eating usually wasnt all that good. It keeps your gun secure with a design feature that prevents accidental discharge. Most buffalo hunters and frontier travelers could handle these compact weapons from the saddle with surprising proficiency. You could even sort of say that Contents show Guns Helped to "Win the Wild West" GOOD GEAR Wear This Star-Spangled Beauty With This BRCC Pastrana #199 Pullover Hoodie. Every single western shows this. If you were a Civil War era soldier, and you had a pistol in a holster at your hip, that pistol was (supposed to be) a backup weapon. Some pistols had a slender L-shaped hook on the left side of them to hook over the top of the pants or belt for carrying the gun. Specifically, when people picture a drifter from the Old West, they most likely imagine a gritty figure wielding a distinct long-barreled revolver. Did Old West towns require cowboys to check their guns? It was a mainstay for both sides of the intermittent conflict known as the Indian Wars and a fairly solid rifle once the bugs were worked out. In addition to its ease of use and low maintenance, what made the 1873 a success was Winchester chambering it for a number of its proprietary pistol ammunition .44-40, .38-40 and .32-20. bugout bag cowboy featured survival survival kit. 8. Learn how your comment data is processed. He never knew what the day would bring or even whether hed make it back to the bunkhouse that night. Accurately, too. A few hands to check the herds and ride the range to look for dangers that might hurt or kill the cattle were all he needed. The original design covered most of the pistol grip, which made accessing the firearm tricky. No other gun sums up the Wild West like this Colt. Note the different style hondas in the photo. Even the beloved Colt Single Action Army couldn't beat out the Model 3 since it had to be reloaded one cartridge at a time. Follow Alice Jones Webb: David had a pouch (a shepherds bag) on his waist to carry the stones that slew Goliath. Filmmakers borrowed heavily from the cowboy image made famous by traveling Wild West shows, and silver-spotted holster rigs were one significant carryover. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. He found a combined 45 murders from 1870-1885 in Kansas' five largest cattle towns by the 1880 census: Wichita (population: 4,911), Abilene (2,360) Caldwell (1,005), Ellsworth (929), and Dodge City (996). The handkerchief that old western cowboys wear around their necks is a bandana. 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