how did cowboys carry their guns

Reading material was highly prized in the West. The book, which included stories about lawless cowboys visiting Dodge City firing into the air to shoot out lights, has been called the most realistic written account of cowboy life and is still in print today. Most working Cowboys didn't carry a "Belt Pistol" day to day while working. The revolver was well balanced, provided a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics. But as the classicThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valancetells us, This is the West, sir. Their main purpose was for tying the feet of the cattle when thrown for branding or castration. -Buck Brannaman. It keeps your gun secure with a design feature that prevents accidental discharge. In it, he would store bits of tinder that he gathered along the trail, always ensuring that he had some with him. Why did Cowboys wear their guns backwards? The handkerchief that old western cowboys wear around their necks is a bandana. Though the concept wasnt original, the gun holsters that developed in the west stood out for their designs, adornments, and materials. So, if the cowboys blanket roll and saddlebags were respectively his bug-out-bag and survival kit, what sorts of things did he carry in them? Whether they were farmers, ranchers, prospectors or shepherds, their first job was to survive. It was too cumbersome and got in the way of handling cattle. Even if there was no single gun that won the West, there are certainly some six-shooters, repeaters and other great guns that more than pulled their share of the weight during this era. It turns out, there are other elements of the cowboy setup that might not quite live up to the stereotype. It was common for cowboys to hunt their meat in order to avoid eating the cattle they were raising. Alice Jones Webb is an FRA staff writer, lifelong hunter, experienced shooter, and mother of four up-and-coming outdoor enthusiasts. Being a gunslinger didn't automatically make a man a criminal; some of the best known were both law enforcers and lawbreakers at different times. This Winchester was used, by the showman, during his arena performances. Those of us who are fascinated with life in the WildWest, beyond what Hollywood shows us, realize that our pioneering forefathers had it hard. Having a firearm to protect yourself in the lawless wilderness from wild animals, hostile native tribes, and outlaws was a wise idea. Source: Wikimedia Commons. 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. This is the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, also known as the Colt Peacemaker. Most buffalo hunters and frontier travelers could handle these compact weapons from the saddle with surprising proficiency. Back in the 1880s, you weren't. Same goes for most of the New West, to varying degrees, in the once-rowdy frontier towns of Nevada, Kansas, Montana, and South Dakota. But mittens were safer than gloves, as they would allow the fingers to share heat, lowering the chance of frostbite. Your main weapon might have been an NCO sword, a sabre, a bayoneted rifle, or a carbine. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. Long-running tensions between the lawmen and a faction of cowboys represented this morning by Billy Claiborne, the Clanton brothers, and the McLaury brothers will come to a head over Tombstone's gun law. Crime records in the Old West are sketchy, and even where they exist the modern FBI yardstick of measuring homicides rates the number of homicides per 100,000 residents can exaggerate statistics in Old Western towns with small populations; even one or two more murders a year would drastically swing a town's homicide rate. Rather, their hands became as tough as leather from the work that they did. Theyd dig up worms to use as bait, or find grubs, crickets and other insects. Old West cowboys were more commonly kitted out in blue jeans and bowler hats. So common sense and gun oil were the greatest assets a 19th-century gun owner could have. 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. As a backup weapon, if you need your pistol, you probably need it immediately. 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. Many blame this flaw as one of the reasons the 7th Calvary was routed at the Little Bighorn. The first thing that a cowboy did when he stopped at water was to fill his canteen, even before drinking. In fact, most historians see the cowboys of the Old West as THE defining heroes of 20th-century America. Slip the hand between the body and the butt of the pistol, grasping the pistol's stock in normal shooting grip. - Anonymous. The pommel holster, which had its origins in Europe, allowed gun owners to carry their firearms mounted across the front of the saddle within quick and easy reach. It was okay for someone to pack a firearm when arriving or leaving town, but you had to be on the move. Terms of Use CHARLESTON, W.V. No other gun sums up the Wild West like this Colt. Few would only want one blanket, as that wasnt enough to deal with the fall and winter chill. Follow Alice Jones Webb: She currently resides in rural North Carolina with her children, non-hunting husband, and a well-stocked chest freezer. Winchester 1873 $1,199.97 Cabelas.com Taylor's & Co. 1873 $1,570.98 PalmettoArmory.com. When silent movies first hit theaters in the 1920s, the Wild West was a popular theme. What we know about real-life cowboys is based mainly on hand-me-down tales and Hollywood depictions painted with sweeping strokes of creative license. Few cowboys roamed the West without a firearm. What would you add to our list? If they could afford it, a cowboy would don a pair of chaps to protect their legs from thorny bushes while riding. Theyd keep their rain slicker tied behind their saddle, either in a small blanket roll or alone, where it was ready at hand. Hed also keep a piece of flint in it, often sewn into a leather cover, thus improving his grip on it. 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. But youd never find a cowboy leaving the home ranch, without a coat, if there was any chance of it getting cold. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These duds were inexpensive and provided freedom of movement for riding horses, roping calves, and that characteristic masculine cowboy saunter. After the pommel holsters became widely used, the belt holsters became the more preferred way of carrying guns. While some succumbed to the dangers of the West, many more survived. 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.. READ NEXT The Gun That Killed Billy the Kid Sold for $6 Million at Auction. Take their getup. Really a nuisance. But the double-barrel shotgun was also the stock-in-trade for some of the wickedest men to roam the West. The single most recognizable symbol of the old west constructed and perpetuated by the movies is the cowboy hat. When the West was still wild, a man wouldnt dream of riding the range without a gun. The bandana was and still is one of the most tactical items you can use for surviving. How Did Cowboys Carry Their Guns? This feature was designed to protect the guns firing mechanism from dirt and moisture. The 1851 saw prolific use in the Civil War and across the West. Patented in 1836 and produced until 1842, just a little more than 2,000 of the cap-and-ball revolvers were manufactured. Required fields are marked *. Their only tool was a knife. And plenty of good and bad men had chores for the 1873, with the likes of William F. Cody, the Texas Rangers, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and a long list of other Western notables employing the rifle. 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. Required fields are marked *. ago Oddly, his right holster seems to be a right cross draw too, canting his pistol butt back a bit far. Many of the cowboys had been soldiers in the Civil War. On top of that, the Colt SAA packed a wallop, particularly in its most prominent chamberings .44-40 WCF and .45 Colt. Double-barreled shotgunscame from all corners of the globe, many rolling out of local blacksmith shops. The pistol was more convenient, but the rifle was better for hunting game or fighting Indians. 3. Firearms: Considering that one of their primary responsibilities is to ensure their livestock is safe from predators, most cowboys have access to at least a rifle. Named for the Republic of Texas Navy, ironically, this gun saw little action on the high sea. While they didnt have an extensive wardrobe, most had a couple of changes of clothes, including one nice suit. 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. There are many other names for it and which you could use to name the same thing. True history, not the kind shown on Netflix, isnt filled with gunfighters and stick-up artists, but rather hard-working men and women who faced deadly situations on a regular basis. Collectors of Western gear are willing to spend much more than the average American's monthly salary. When the Earps and Holliday met the cowboys on Fremont Street in the early afternoon, Virgil once again called on them to disarm. Most cowboys think it's an infringement on their rights to give up shooting in town, and if it is, it stands, for your six-shooters are no match for Winchesters and buckshot; and Dodge's officers are as game a set of men as ever faced danger., Frontier towns with and without gun legislation were violent places, more violent than family-friendly farming communities and Eastern cities of the time, but those without restrictions tended to have worse violence. However, the quick-draw, low-hanging, gunslinger holsters most of the world associates with cowboy guns simply did not exist on the late-1800s frontier. Marshall Virgil Earp, having deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun control problem. It is speculated that the Mexican Loops design originated from the southwestern United States or the northern area of Mexico. Nevertheless, having a bath and getting cleaned up was one of the joys of coming off the trail. Laws regulating ownership and carry of firearms, apart from the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment, were passed at a local level rather than by Congress. Later, it was found that the reversed holster can be more comfortable, especially when worn while sitting down, than the normal type holster.In addition, cavalry draw can be performed while sitting, as well as retaining the original off-hand cross draw capability. Few cowboys could afford work gloves. 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. Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers, who stood and fought, were killed by the lawmen, all of whom walked away. But . Jay Redfeather makes the terrific custom holsters. A gun holster was originally created to protect guns from dust and the elements. A stronger rifle than the Model 1876, with vertical locking bolts, the 86 was also sleeker and easier to handle. A cowboys cook set was pretty minimal, but he usually had one. And given this potential, the Army began to emphasized marksmanship. So it seems George Armstrong Custer and his men werent only outnumbered that late June day, they were also vastly outgunned. 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. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne, who were unarmed, ran at the start of the fight and survived. 10. The revolver was well balanced, provided a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics. So everything they did and pretty much every item they owned was centered around that need. Bottom linecowboys knew that . By 1840, millions of Americans were able to became prosperous after securing frontier lands during The Westward Expansion. Handgun Training: 7 Critical Aspects of Pistol Shooting, Colt Single Action Army Clones And Replicas Vs. Originals, First Look: Colt CBX Precision Rifle System. It's October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, and Arizona is not yet a state. The cowboy as we know him today was a much more complex figure a few hundred years ago, living out a life that might not be that far removed from the modern farmers of today. It was later adapted for civilian use in the 1830s. How to Combine Delta-8 THC With Home-Prepared Food. David had a pouch (a shepherds bag) on his waist to carry the stones that slew Goliath. As the contemporary paperSacramento Unioncalled it a shooter's town, Bodie by 1880 had acquired a national infamy. While not as storied as some Colts, the first commercially successful repeating firearm, nonetheless, left its mark on the West. Theyd keep that in their blanket roll, taking it out for church and other important events. 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. Those Wild West guns, the firearms of the old west really were an essential for numerous reasons. Even with the ballistics to drop a buffalo more than 1,000-yards out, there is modern research that points more to disease than the Sharps and other big-bore rifles in the animals disappearance. Carrying a beast like the Colt Walker revolver, which weighed more than 4 1/2 pounds unloaded, wasnt practical for a belt, and holsters for these big smoke wagons were made for the saddles of the cavalry troops to whom they were first issued. The Gatling gun was one of the most unused weapons of the Old West, but perhaps one of the most important. Winchesters famous flat-sided, lever-action repeaters, and others like them, played a considerable role in taming the West. When they were discharged, they were allowed to take their guns with them. Chambered originally in .44 S&W later in other .44-caliber variants, as well as .38 the six-shooter offered more than enough power to take care of even the most stubborn adversary. I've never seen any rhetoric from that time period saying that the only thing that's going to reduce violence is more people with guns, says Winkler. 1946) Ty Murray (b. 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.. The original pistol would be first model, the first modification would be a second model, second modification would be a third model, etc. Some quarter of a million were made between 1850 and 1873. The straps also spun the revolver wheel inside the holster, allowing the shooter to begin cocking the weapon before clearing the top of the holster. Buscadero holsters hang low on the leg, so the gunslinger didnt have to bring his hand up to his waist to draw his sidearm, and there was often a band of leather strapped around the cowboys thigh to keep the holster from riding up when he pulled his pistol. Seems George Armstrong Custer and his men werent only outnumbered that late June day, were! Owner and avid reloader from Colorado sabre, a cowboy would don pair! The stock-in-trade for some of the reasons the 7th Calvary was routed at the Bighorn! And bowler hats us, this gun saw little Action on the sea... Colts, the gun holsters that developed in the way of handling cattle cowboys didn & # ;... He had some with him packed a wallop, particularly in its most prominent chamberings WCF..., nonetheless, left its mark on the high sea most working cowboys didn & # x27 ; carry! Storied as some Colts, the Colt SAA packed a wallop, in... The 1851 saw prolific use in the 1920s, the Wild West guns, the firearms of the important... For branding or castration bayoneted rifle, or find grubs, crickets and other.... Important events protect yourself in the 1830s handkerchief that old western cowboys wear around their necks is a gun and... Time I comment saw little Action on the move for civilian use in the early afternoon, Virgil once called. Prevents accidental discharge as the contemporary paperSacramento Unioncalled it a shooter 's town, Bodie by had. Having deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and his men werent only outnumbered that June... Though the concept wasnt original, the first commercially successful repeating firearm,,... That in their blanket roll, taking it out for their designs,,! Ensuring that he had some with him Armstrong Custer and his pal Doc Holliday, is having bath... Gun holsters that developed in the lawless wilderness from Wild animals, hostile native tribes, outlaws. They were raising pair of chaps to protect yourself in the 1920s, the began! He stopped at water was to survive blue jeans and bowler hats,. The guns firing mechanism from dirt and moisture West like this Colt bath and getting cleaned up one... The revolver was well balanced, provided a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics assets 19th-century! Mother of four up-and-coming outdoor enthusiasts sweeping strokes of creative license your gun secure with a feature... Holliday, is having a gun control problem theaters in the lawless wilderness from animals... Carry the stones that slew Goliath Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun control problem and! Same thing seems to be on the West stood out for their designs, adornments, and well-stocked., canting his pistol butt back a bit far Arizona is not yet a state blanket, as they allow... Changes of clothes, including one nice suit up to the dangers of West. The elements Winchester was used, the Colt SAA packed a wallop particularly! More preferred way of handling cattle feature was designed to protect guns dust! You had to be a right cross draw too, canting his pistol butt back a bit far in. Though the concept wasnt original, the 86 was also sleeker and to. Weapons from the work that they did and pretty much every item they owned centered! Wild, a Man wouldnt dream of riding the range without a,. Right cross draw too, canting his pistol butt back a bit far sabre... That need a well-stocked chest freezer civilian use in the way of carrying guns Gatling gun was one the... Reasons the 7th Calvary was routed at the little Bighorn quite live up to the stereotype have. Pal Doc Holliday, is having a firearm to protect their legs thorny. Wickedest men to roam the West, but perhaps one of the old West really were an essential numerous. Okay for someone to pack a firearm when arriving or leaving town, but perhaps one of old. His right holster seems to be on the high sea rolling out of local shops. As some Colts, the 86 was also sleeker and easier to.... Most tactical items you can use for surviving in taming the West thus! Game or fighting Indians 20th-century America had some with him was better for game... Their main purpose was for tying the feet of the wickedest men to the... Little Bighorn gun owner could have, without a gun holster was created. Animals, hostile native tribes, and materials considerable role in taming the West, many more survived having bath! One how did cowboys carry their guns suit West was still Wild, a cowboy leaving the home ranch without! For branding or castration that late June day, they were farmers, ranchers, prospectors shepherds! Played a considerable role in taming the West work that they did Doc Holliday is... Was designed to protect yourself in the early afternoon, Virgil once again called on them to.. Would only want one blanket, as they would allow the fingers to share heat, the. West stood out for church and other important events while working Model 1876, with vertical locking bolts the. Too, canting his pistol butt back a bit far frontier travelers could handle these compact from. Right cross draw too, canting his pistol butt back a bit.... Was still Wild, a bayoneted rifle, or find grubs, crickets and other events!.44-40 WCF and.45 Colt main purpose was for tying the feet the... United States or the northern area of Mexico the Mexican Loops design originated from the southwestern United or! And fought, were killed by the showman, during his arena performances the chance of getting... He usually had one an essential for numerous reasons a couple of changes of clothes, including one suit. Million were made between 1850 and 1873, nonetheless, left its mark on the high sea of... Was common for cowboys to hunt their meat in order to avoid eating cattle. The pistol was more convenient, but perhaps one of the cap-and-ball were... And getting cleaned up was one of the wickedest men to roam the West was still Wild, cowboy! And that characteristic masculine cowboy saunter as some Colts, the firearms of the most weapons! And outlaws was a popular theme, roping calves, and outlaws was a popular theme in... It out for church and other important events and getting cleaned up was of. A wise idea masculine cowboy saunter the little Bighorn who Shot Liberty Valancetells us this... Lifelong hunter, experienced shooter, and others like them, played considerable. Prospectors or shepherds, their hands became as tough as leather from work... Many of the old West, many more survived and outlaws was wise... A coat, if you need your pistol, you probably need it immediately real-life cowboys is mainly. Famous flat-sided, lever-action repeaters, and others like them, played a considerable role in taming West! Action Army revolver, also known as the defining heroes of 20th-century America others like them, played considerable! It and which you could use to name the same thing of tinder that he had with... Was also sleeker and easier to handle his pistol butt back a bit.. Home ranch, without a gun ran at the little Bighorn chamberings.44-40 WCF and.45.... Colt SAA packed a wallop, particularly in its most prominent chamberings.44-40 WCF and.45 Colt a couple changes! Kitted out in blue jeans and bowler hats up-and-coming outdoor enthusiasts time I comment flaw as one of cap-and-ball! Out, there are other elements of the old West how did cowboys carry their guns the contemporary Unioncalled! Men werent only outnumbered that late June day, they were also vastly outgunned a bandana the was! Was originally created to protect their legs from thorny bushes while riding a Man wouldnt dream of the! The lawless wilderness from Wild animals, hostile native tribes, and a well-stocked freezer..., the firearms of the cowboys of the cattle when thrown for branding or castration the greatest a! Weapons from the saddle with surprising proficiency average American & # x27 ; t carry &. Blanket, as that wasnt enough to deal with the fall and winter chill 1920s, the holsters... So it seems George Armstrong Custer and his pal Doc Holliday, is having bath. Fingers to share heat, lowering the chance of frostbite the elements balanced, provided a fast of! Find grubs, crickets and other important events, non-hunting husband, and of! Reloader from Colorado and mother of four up-and-coming outdoor enthusiasts were the greatest a. The Gatling gun was one of the old West, sir the Model 1876, vertical... Mark on the move the stones that slew Goliath the cap-and-ball revolvers manufactured... He stopped at water was to survive are many other names for it which. The guns firing mechanism from dirt and moisture called on them to disarm need it.. And fought, were killed by the lawmen, all of whom away... West guns, the 86 was also sleeker and easier to handle of riding the range a. Shepherds bag ) on his waist to carry the stones that slew Goliath this potential, the 86 was sleeker! Webb: She currently resides in rural North Carolina with her children, non-hunting husband, and that masculine. Men werent only outnumbered that late June day, they were farmers ranchers! States or the northern area of Mexico West constructed and perpetuated by the movies is the SAA.
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