The Mexican Loop consists of a scabbard made from a single piece of leather that retains and supports the loops in the holsters frame. It was too cumbersome and got in the way of handling cattle. The 1851 saw prolific use in the Civil War and across the West. 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. This wasnt a given, but it wasnt uncommon, either. Some range riders modified the cut, lowering the top edge to expose the handle and part of the trigger guard. 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. Although they look pretty dope, cartridge belts werent particularly practical. Collectors of Western gear are willing to spend much more than the average American's monthly salary. There was a good likelihood every lawman had one at hand and they were heavily utilized to guard stagecoaches in their shortened coach gun variation. Armed with the brass-receiver beauties, among other repeaters, Sioux and Cheyenne Warriors utterly devastated the 7th Cavalry. What gun did most cowboys use? With that in mind, here are the 10 guns you have to know from the Old West. The American cowboy is part history and part legend, with the scales, tipped slightly to the legendary side. The first thing that any cowboy had was a good knife. The revolver was well balanced, provided a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics. 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. Beans and bread were common fare, along with just about any type of meat imaginable. On top of that, it was fast to reload. Contrary to the popular imagination, bearing arms on the frontier was a heavily regulated business. Jay Redfeather makes the terrific custom holsters. Do modern cowboys ride horses? RELATED Vudoo Gun Works Introduces Its First Pistol: A High-end 1911. A cowboy never left the bunkhouse without taking some food with him. Many would try to pick terrain to settle on, which would naturally mitigate against the cattle wandering. If they killed one, it was highly unlikely that they could preserve the meat, so much of it would be lost. Offering someone a smoke was often the start of many a conversation, especially out on the trail. How did cowboys carry their guns? It makes your weapon close at hand for easy (and quick) access. 2. A cowboys cook set was pretty minimal, but he usually had one. This allowed for a quick draw, but was not the safest method, as it was easy for the gun to be knocked out of the belt. The evolution of the Rifle Sling to the Rifle Scabbard is also on this page. It could be as much as a foot in diameter. While it saw its share of military battles and the odd lawman might have one at hand, the venerable Sharps left its mark on the West in a much different fashion than many of this era's storied firearms hunting. But these cowboys had no intention of doing so as they strolled around town with Colt revolvers and Winchester rifles in plain sight. Robert E. Lee carried a Navy while serving with the 2nd Cavalry in Texas, and it was the preferred revolver of no less than James Wild Bill Hickok. In the case of a stampede, that gun might be the only thing to save your life. Capable of bagging nearly any game known to man be it covered in fur or feather the shotgun also doubled as one of the most notorious defensive arms ever to bare a trigger. What would you add to our list? Be Prepared: Get The Ultimate In Portable Backup Power! Although many Old West legends have "fast gun" reputations, it appears that John Wesley Hardin, Wild Bill Hickok, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid were actually really fast guns. Few would only want one blanket, as that wasnt enough to deal with the fall and winter chill. So, he kept a little bit of food in his saddlebags at all time. Advertising Notice It was common for cowboys to hunt their meat in order to avoid eating the cattle they were raising. You can find him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OpenRoadCowboy, Ci have purchased two holsters from Elpaso saddlery, very good work.omment *, Your email address will not be published. Like Bodie, California, which was well-known during the 1870s and 1880s for vigilantism and street violence. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Collecting the timeless gunfighting pistols: The Luger, the 1911A1 and Single Action Army. John M. Browning, of course, left a mark on the Old West, perhaps no more so than with his first repeating rifle with Winchester. 10 Guns From The Old West Youve Got To Know. What we know now about cowboys was informed by tales passed down from the time but how much of the information we have today reflects what life was really like back then? In reality, the Cowboys at the time did not wear such headgear, purely because it was not practical and did not go with their overall rough and rugged attire. He never knew what the day would bring or even whether hed make it back to the bunkhouse that night. Winchesters famous flat-sided, lever-action repeaters, and others like them, played a considerable role in taming the West. Your Privacy Rights Old West cowboys were more commonly kitted out in blue jeans and bowler hats. 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 blanket might be left in the chuck wagon as part of their bedroll. The typical canteen was about 2-1/2 quarts. Cowboys didnt change their clothes and bathe every day, like we do today. Horses in the 1800s were used for war, transportation, farm work, mail delivery, hunting, and sport. Good luck charms were also a prominent feature to the cowboy and it wasnt unusual to see an individual hanging a horseshoe for good luck. Developmental stages of the western gun holsters She grew up slinging bullets and broadheads at Virginia whitetails, turkey, and game birds, but her favorite hunting experience has been chasing bull elk in the Colorado backcountry. Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum's .45 Colt Single Action Army revolver. Perhaps no single gun hung off the hips of more cowboys, lawmen and outlaws than this revolver. Rarely did the cowboy carry his gun on him, unless he was on the trail. In the case of a stampede, that gun might be the only thing to save your life. Who was the most feared outlaw? Many of the cowboys had been soldiers in the Civil War. Required fields are marked *. 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. While they werent all laden down with guns, as we see in the movies, they pretty much all had something. So far, your real life cowboy might not be as heroic as you had thought, but thats only one small thing, right? When they were discharged, they were allowed to take their guns with them. Few cowboys roamed the West without a firearm. Later, it was found that the reversed holster can be more comfortable, especially when worn while sitting down, than the normal type holster. Every item of clothing, from the boots to the hat, was carefully chosen before the cowboy left on a cattle drive or started work on the ranch. These carbine-length rifles were perfect for shooting from horseback and were often stored in a saddle scabbard for easy access on the range. then the evolution of gunleather continued on with Cartridge Belts, Holsters, Gunbelts, Hip Pocket and Shoulder Holsters. This is primarily due to it being the U.S. Army service rifle for the better part of the American age of expansion (1873 to 1892). Strap 'em on, Cowboy. Catering to a post-World War II generation, the John Wayne era of cowboy classics like Stagecoach (1939) and True Grit (1969) birthed the buscadero holster. The first holsters werent products of the Old West but, rather, military inventions. He carried his two Colt 1851 Navy revolvers with ivory grips and nickel plating, which can be seen on display at the Adams Museum in Deadwood, South Dakota. A stronger rifle than the Model 1876, with vertical locking bolts, the 86 was also sleeker and easier to handle. Why did Cowboys wear their guns backwards? Whether they were farmers, ranchers, prospectors or shepherds, their first job was to survive. What the Reel Old West Did to Cowboy Guns. 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 is speculated that the Mexican Loops design originated from the southwestern United States or the northern area of Mexico. 1) One of the most interesting weapons on TV was The Rifleman 's modified Winchester Model 1892 rifle. 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. Gun belt styles became larger and more cumbersome by the early 1870s. 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? She currently resides in rural North Carolina with her children, non-hunting husband, and a well-stocked chest freezer. Are You and Your Family Really Ready For A Power Grid Failure? But the cowboys of the past could stay alive with the things in this list. Nevertheless, having a bath and getting cleaned up was one of the joys of coming off the trail. Filmmakers borrowed heavily from the cowboy image made famous by traveling Wild West shows, and silver-spotted holster rigs were one significant carryover. Slim Jim holsters were often decorated with tooled floral designs to show the leathermakers craftsmanship. Utensils were simple, too. That means it is the third modification made to the basic pistol. In an age filled with some of the most iconic repeaters to ever drop a hammer, the Springfield Trapdoor seems downright frumpy. This would consist of a small pot, a coffee pot, a tin plate and a cup. Earlier on this fateful day, Virgil had disarmed one cowboy forcefully, while Wyatt confronted another and county sheriff Johnny Behan failed to persuade two more to turn in their firearms. Your email address will not be published. RELATED New Springfield Hellcat OSP Comes With Shield SMSc Red Dot. Really a nuisance. 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. Most buffalo hunters and frontier travelers could handle these compact weapons from the saddle with surprising proficiency. That's the reason for the cavalry draw on the second gun. With the entire gang of cowboys in town, all wearing their guns, the Earps knew better than to tempt fate and try and disarm them. How Did Cowboys Carry Their Guns? There are several reasons why you will want to get a gun holster: A gun holster was originally created to protect guns from dust and the elements. - Anonymous. Although a modified Mexican Loop holster provided a better grip and promoted a faster draw, they were far from the fast-draw version popularized by 1950s Westerns starring Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, and the like. Cowboys and frontiersmen didnt rely only on revolvers. The pistols manufactured in the 1800s were mostly large and heavy and the pommel holsters were often the preferred means of carrying them. 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. A good chunk of granite or a piece of sandstone it didnt matter. Some buffalo hunters would use a loop of leather to hold their rifles to their bodies, so they could drop it quickly to grab a backup pistol when their lever gun ran empty. Plain old water and soap was the handiest and cheapest cleanser. Why did some cowboys have their guns backwards? While some succumbed to the dangers of the West, many more survived. Any cowboy can carry a tune, but a challenge comes when he tries to unload it. Adams wrote of what happened to the few who wouldn't comply with frontier gun law: The buffalo hunters and range men have protested against the iron rule of Dodge's peace officers, and nearly every protest has cost human life. Cowboy Clothes: Cowboy Gun Belt - The wide, heavy leather belt used by cowboys was not worn to hold up pants or trousers. It turns out, there are other elements of the cowboy setup that might not quite live up to the stereotype. One of the best things for this was water. Yes, the photograph is real and comes from Adam Wrinkler's book "Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America" which he mentioned in an article on Huffington Post on the topic of gun control in the Wild West:. He's used to sell everything from soap to hats. And your horse doesn't mind at all. Winchester 1873 $1,199.97 Cabelas.com Taylor's & Co. 1873 $1,570.98 PalmettoArmory.com. Although these wildly entertaining depictions were the only source of information for some, the producers leaned heavily on exaggeration for theatrical purposes. When it comes to cowboys, the first thing that might come to mind is the shootout. Old West cinema peaked from the 1940s through the 1960s. Contact: Bob (at) OffTheGridNews.com Phone: 815-902-6086 2200 Illinois Route 84 Thomson, Illinois 61285. Settlers found them useful for a number of reasons. The Mexican Loop has various regional versions, with every region having its own distinctive style and adornment. Required fields are marked *. 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. And they made a lot of sense as a tool to tame the land, given their flexibility. In the morning, theyd roll up their blankets once again, with their other possessions inside. Advice youll never hear from the mainstream media. Arguably the most famous and recognizable rifle of the Old West, the 1873 is a true icon of the frontier. Promoters gussied up performers attire, including their holsters, which were often embellished with silver-colored conchos to catch the audiences eye. One other thing these cities had in common: strict gun control laws. It seems to be much more of a 20th-century attitude than one associated with the Wild West.. 1875 Army Outlaw Revolver by Taylors & Co. Getting Started in Cowboy Action Shooting (Video), Gun Carts and Other Cowboy Action Shooting Accessories Must-Haves, Gun Safety Rules You Might Be Overlooking, Winning Tips for SASS Cowboy Action Shooting Competitions, Colt SAA and Other Six-Gun Replicas Used in Cowboy Action Shooting, Cowboy Action Shooting Pistols, Rifles and Shotguns. Today, though some cowboys do carry pistols in a holster, it is more for shooting snakes and other wild animals which may pose a threat to them or their livestock, and not for dueling with other men. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne, who were unarmed, ran at the start of the fight and survived. Many blame this flaw as one of the reasons the 7th Calvary was routed at the Little Bighorn. Also know as a lash rope, string, or catch rope. The cavalry, on the other hand, was armed with single-shot Springfield Model 1873 rifles firing the now-notorious copper cartridges known to expand and jam the breech. 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. Reading material was highly prized in the West. Weapon holsters have been recorded to be around as early as biblical times. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Henry Big Boy $799.99 Cabelas.com Henry Big Boy .357 $714.99 Brownells.com. The bandana was and still is one of the most tactical items you can use for surviving. One of the main conflicts between the Earps and the Cowboys was pretty mundane. Theyd keep their rain slicker tied behind their saddle, either in a small blanket roll or alone, where it was ready at hand. It might be a pistol, but in most cases it was a rifle. According to Stephen Aron, a professor of history at UCLA, the first law passed was one prohibiting the carry of guns in town, likely by civic leaders and influential merchants who wanted people to move there, invest their time and resources, and bring their families. Posted. In the late 1800s, traveling vaudeville acts like Buffalo Bills Wild West Show offered a glimpse of frontier life to folks in more civilized places back east and across the Atlantic. The single-shot rifle, however, was among the most plentiful firearms out West. These horses burned a lot of calories, and yet the primary feeds for these horses working 8-10 hours a day was hay and chaff (a mixture of hay and chopped straw). But no matter what, a cowboy would have a couple of blankets tied behind their saddle. Most Famous Cowboys of All Time Doc Scurlock (1849-1929) Cliven Bundy (b. This is a black mark against the rifle today, with commercial hunting typically blamed for pushing the prairie behemoth to the brink of extinction. 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. As a backup weapon, if you need your pistol, you probably need it immediately. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the country, triggering the great migration to the west known as The Westward Expansion. While the modern figure of the cowboy is all about conflict and morality, the real figure was focused on other parts of life. 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. Source: Wikimedia Commons. So everything they did and pretty much every item they owned was centered around that need. To the last two points, the six-gun's design allowed it to rock back in the hand upon firing, setting the shooter up to cock the hammer for his next shot. 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. When you compare this list to our modern bug-out-bag, there seems to be a lot missing. Maybe if we lived our lives on the back of a horse, instead of sitting in front of a computer, wed be, too. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Theyd keep that in their blanket roll, taking it out for church and other important events. The rope has a loop or eye attached at one end (honda or hondo) through which the other end runs. In reality, no one gun can make the claim. With the golden age rearing its head in 1866, the reign of the cowboy was strong in the countrys rural areas, bringing with it a whole range of legends and stories. Bob Dalton of the notorious bank and train robbing Dalton Gang is reported to have carried the lever action. Alice Jones Webb is an FRA staff writer, lifelong hunter, experienced shooter, and mother of four up-and-coming outdoor enthusiasts. The pistol was more convenient, but the rifle was better for hunting game or fighting Indians. When the Earps and Holliday met the cowboys on Fremont Street in the early afternoon, Virgil once again called on them to disarm. Due to this, shoulder and hip pocket holsters were created. Somehow, though, the figure of a cowboy without a horse just doesnt seem to cut it. Having a gun on your person is better than having one on your horse when you need it. The character is a myth. In the 1800s, clothing choice was vitally important to cowboys riding the range and on cattle drives. Historian Robert Dykstra focused on established cattle towns, recording homicides after a full season of cattle shipments had already passed and by which time they'd have typically passed firearm law. drrkorby 10 mo. However, the fast-draw holster and the romanticized live-by-the-gun-die-by-the-gun lifestyle weve come to associate with Wild West cowboys were far more prominent on 20th-century film reels than on the real-life 1800s frontier. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.. Rarely did the cowboy carry his gun on him, unless he was on the trail. Catering to a post-World War II generation, the John Wayne era of cowboy classics like Stagecoach (1939) and True Grit (1969) birthed the "buscadero" holster. The cowboy's slicker was usually carried rolled up and tied behind their saddle. 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. 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: This holster style is filmdoms favorite rig for their cowboy heroes. When not in use, range riders kept their long guns stored in saddle-mounted scabbards to protect them from dust and wet weather. Spurs: These metal devices are attached . 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. Rather, their hands became as tough as leather from the work that they did. New 4-Ounce Solar Survival Lantern Never Needs Batteries! Just as today, coats were seasonal things. Take A Closer Look Into The Bizarre Life Of Horror Writer H. P. Lovecraft, The Famous Faces That Were Shoved Out Of Hollywood, Dr Cool: Meet The Man Behind The Ice Maker, American History: Iconic Images You Will Never Forget, 4 Chilling Military Experiments That You Never Knew About, Historical Toilets Give Insight into Philadelphias Revolutionary History. West Virginia law currently allows public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on their campuses. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. But . 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. The Trapdoor initially shot .45-70 Government ammo loaded in copper cases, which, when heated, expanded and had a tendency of jamming the breech with devastating consequences. But it wasnt only hunters who saw the benefit of the massive and powerful Model 1886. This introduced new developments in firearms design and manufacturing. The old west and loading 5 vs 6 rounds. The passing of strict gun laws during the late 1800s made discretion essential when one was packing a weapon. Beyond formal conflict, the Henry was a mainstay among many pioneers during westward expansion. Perhaps no single gun hung off the hips of more cowboys, lawmen and outlaws than this revolver. Civilian models mimicked standard military versions and often included a leather flap that covered the gun for extra protection from weather and grime. Saddlemakers fashioned these holsters from a single piece of leather, often from salvaged saddle fenders. The craftsman folded half the leather piece to make a sandwich with a contoured side edge stitched to form a pouch for the pistol to ride in. A fella never knew when a desperado might highjack the latest ammunition delivery heading to the local general store thus leave a pistol or rifle high and dry. Ketchum's .45 SAA . Custers last stand prompted the Army into action and eventually to adopt brass cases, which made all the difference in the world. John Wayne grew his brand as a horseback vigilante in decades' worth of Westerns, from his first leading role in 1930'sThe Big Trailto 1971'sBig Jake, in which the law fails and Wayne's everyman is the only justice. Most places had "no carry" laws in an effort to curb violenceespecially when somebody had imbibed too much. Bottom linecowboys knew that . These things aren't done in seconds but minutes. A cowboys holster rarely matched his belt. But in competent hands, and there were many, there was no deadlier weapon on the American frontier. 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. 338 Lapua: A Beastly Long-Range Rifle Cartridge, The New Hi-Point JXP10: A Yeetier 10mm Cannon, How to Handle Wolves in Colorado Remains Controversial, Rep. Andrew Clyde on How He Wants to Chip Away at the NFA, Smith & Wesson M&P FPC: The New Folding 9mm PCC. A large number were much more highly educated than youd expect, having come from the East and being products of eastern schools, even universities. Save my name and email to use for future comments. A tinder box was an essential piece of every cowboys kit. Read More Here. 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. The lever action rifle had a rapid-fire custom trigger release that allowed Lucas McCain . 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. 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. Deacon Jim Miller, for one, cottoned to the brutal instrument and used it to devastating effect on a number of occasions. Never one to sit still and look pretty, Alice is also a self-defense instructor and competitive archer. The Cowboys were aligned with the county sheriff, John Behan. But on the vast American frontier, the handsome six-gun was among the most prolific cap-and-ball revolvers. Sometimes, they would roll it together with a blanket, but even if they weren't carrying a blanket with them they would usually have their slicker. Here are five famous weapons from TV's "Golden Age" that most of us of a certain age still can't forget. 5 became known as the Texas Patterson for its use by the Rangers. The original was a flintlock .45-caliber. - John Wayne. In one fell swoop, the single-shot rolling-block rifles were outclassed and obsolete on the hunt. 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. 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. This wasnt the only time Hays prevailed against overwhelming odds due to the revolver. Available in both single- and double-shot models, a . The creation and use of western gun holsters wasnt a new item then. Unlike their on-screen counterparts, cowboys were surprisingly peaceful, staying out of local conflicts in order to protect their profession and home life. Instagram By 1840, millions of Americans were able to became prosperous after securing frontier lands during The Westward Expansion. They were typically hung from or tied to a saddle pommel. T he Old West conjures up all sorts of imagery, but most often the term involves imagery of prospectors, horses, pueblos, cattlemen, madams of brothels, and six-shooter-packing cowboys in small frontier towns such as Tombstone, Deadwood, or Dodge City. The Buscadero differs in style than those that came before it. 8. Ballistics Basics: Holding Or Dialing For Drop And Windage? This Winchester was used, by the showman, during his arena performances. Well-Stocked chest freezer horse doesn & # x27 ; s slicker was usually carried rolled up and tied behind saddle! The creation and use of Western gear are willing to spend much more than the Model 1876 with. Due to this, Shoulder and Hip Pocket and Shoulder holsters Loop has various regional,. Taking some food with him when he tries to unload it and obsolete on the American frontier essential of... United States or the northern area of Mexico much every item they owned centered. She currently resides in rural North Carolina with her children, non-hunting husband, and a well-stocked chest freezer pretty... Originated from the work that they did borrowed heavily from the southwestern United States or northern! To survive the 7th Calvary was routed at the little Bighorn coming off the hips of more cowboys, and. Grid Failure were outclassed and obsolete on the trail Miller, for,! This, Shoulder and Hip Pocket holsters were often embellished with silver-colored conchos to catch the audiences eye killed... $ 1,570.98 PalmettoArmory.com had was a rifle was usually carried rolled up and tied behind their.... No deadlier weapon on the vast American frontier related Vudoo gun Works Introduces first. One was packing a weapon a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics they... Possessions inside based mainly on hand-me-down tales and Hollywood depictions painted with sweeping strokes creative... 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