Whether they were farmers, ranchers, prospectors or shepherds, their first job was to survive. Their only tool was a knife. Its not that cowboys had anything against beef, but rather that those cattle were worth money. It got in the way. Certainly, in popular history, the Winchester Model 1873 is given this distinction. The worst years were Ellsworth, 1873, and Dodge City, 1876, with five killings each; because of their small populations, their FBI homicide rates would be high. But its devastating effect was perhaps best demonstrated in another heralded American battle the Little Bighorn. Gunsmoke and Saddle Leather notes that the Sharp rifle was the one against which other rifles were measured in the Old West. So the orthodox positions in America's ongoing gun debate oscillate between Any gun law is a retreat away from the lack of government interference that made this country great and If we don't regulate firearms, we'll end up like the Wild West, robbing both sides of a historical bedrock of how and why gun law developed as America expanded Westward. When visitors left their weapons with a law officer upon entering town, they'd receive a token, like a coat check, which they'd exchange for their guns when leaving town. 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? Hot weather could thin it into uselessness. Winkler, in his bookGunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America,points to an 1840 Alabama court that, in upholding its state ban, ruled it was a state's right to regulate where and how a citizen could carry, and that the state constitution's allowance of personal firearms is not to bear arms upon all occasions and in all places.. 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. Corral is quiet, and it's had an unremarkable existence for the two years it's been standingalthough it's about to become famous. So, they were limited in what they could carry by their lifestyle. Those of us who are fascinated with life in the WildWest, beyond what Hollywood shows us, realize that our pioneering forefathers had it hard. A large number were much more highly educated than youd expect, having come from the East and being products of eastern schools, even universities. What Accurately, too. Most were adopted by municipal governments exercising self-control and self-determination. Carrying any kind of weapon, guns or knives, was not allowed other than outside town borders and inside the home. How Did Cowboys Carry Their Guns? These carbine-length rifles were perfect for shooting from horseback and were often stored in a saddle scabbard for easy access on the range. The shootout at the O.K. Contrary to the popular imagination, bearing arms on the frontier was a heavily regulated business. Powder flask was the common method of carrying powder, stuffed in a pocket or a belt pouch. Why did cowboys carry guns? RELATED Vudoo Gun Works Introduces Its First Pistol: A High-end 1911. The average rancher had few permanent employees. Because a loop rig left cartridges open to the elements and potential damage and corrosion, most frontiersmen chose to carry extra cartridges in a leather belt pouch. 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. Here are five famous weapons from TV's "Golden Age" that most of us of a certain age still can't forget. 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. Shooting practice and, eventually, competitions became a more regular part of training, preparing soldiers to use the rifle with crack-shot accuracy on the open prairie. 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. Of course, they didnt call it that back then. 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. This low-riding rig is still associated with the fast-draw, gunslinging, shoot . Its flapless open top feature allowed fast access to the weapon. Elwood Shelton is an online content developer for Gun Digest. One other thing these cities had in common: strict gun control laws. Saddlemakers fashioned these holsters from a single piece of leather, often from salvaged saddle fenders. In the old west, cowboys carried their guns in a variety of ways. The revolver was well balanced, provided a fast rate of fire and superior ergonomics. That was too big to carry while riding the range. Call it the predecessor to the sleeping bag. Chaps Eventually, buscadero holsters evolved into the fast-draw holsters that make regular appearances in cowboy action shooting competitions. On top of that, the Colt SAA packed a wallop, particularly in its most prominent chamberings .44-40 WCF and .45 Colt. The reason for its popularity was that it was small and easily concealable. By 1840, millions of Americans were able to became prosperous after securing frontier lands during The Westward Expansion. He literally lived out of his bug-out-bag. 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. 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. The resulting shootout left 3 dead cowboys. If a cowboy did have a gun, it was typically carried on his person when he was driving cattle, rather than walking around town. Cultivating a reputation of peace and stability was necessary, even in boisterous towns, if it were to become anything more transient than a one-industry boom town. But they rarely carried that with them. 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. In fact, real cowboys didn't usually equip themselves with guns or other weapons to be used at a moment's notice. Cookie Settings, Dried Lake Reveals New Statue on Easter Island. Named for the Republic of Texas Navy, ironically, this gun saw little action on the high sea. It was too cumbersome and got in the way of handling cattle. Collecting the timeless gunfighting pistols: The Luger, the 1911A1 and Single Action Army. Terms of Use 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). Though pistols exert much power at close quarters, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters away. Cowboys didnt change their clothes and bathe every day, like we do today. Other factors like the California Gold Rush, the passage of the Homestead Act, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad all contributed to the move to the west. 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. Pocket holsters (then referred to as hip holsters) were used by businessmen and bankers to hide Derringers and other small guns. 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. Though today, many cowboys carry six-shooters made by Ruger. But even above speed and accuracy, a "cool head" took precedence and was the single most valuable asset for a gunman. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne,. In this way, they were able to experience a wide variety of reading material while not having to carry much with them. Required fields are marked *. Household names like Rawhide, The Lone Ranger, and Roy Rogers wore the Buscadero with their belt in all their adventures. READ NEXT The Gun That Killed Billy the Kid Sold for $6 Million at Auction. Also, they developed devices which enabled their Single Action Army revolvers to fire an average of . 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. RELATED New Springfield Hellcat OSP Comes With Shield SMSc Red Dot. Specifically, when people picture a drifter from the Old West, they most likely imagine a gritty figure wielding a distinct long-barreled revolver. 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. Follow Alice Jones Webb: Of course, they were a much hardier breed than we are today. That way, if he had to leave in a hurry, he had a full canteen to take with him. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Facebook A gun holster was originally created to protect guns from dust and the elements. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine During the hide-hunting era of the American frontier, the powerful single-shot rifle felled more buffalo than perhaps any other firearm. 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. They are all similar items. Saddlemakers began crafting leather holsters that allowed wranglers and ranchers to hang their hardware on the hip. That reduced the labor they needed to hire an important factor in a land where cash money was hard to come by. From lawmen like Pat Garrett to outlaws such as John King Fisher, the Model 3 delivered the goods. 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. 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