Samuel colt 18141862 is not necessarily an old west legend in the traditional sense, especially since he died in 1862. This smokewagon was the best balanced, ergonomically perfect sixgun of the age, and from the time of its introduction in late 1873, it became an instant frontier favorite with good and bad hombres alike. The civil war 18611865 created a great departure in the types of weapons available to lawmen and bad guys. Mike beliveau, the blackpowder editor for guns of the old west has many articles and youtube videos testing this question as does mike venturinos book shooting sixguns of the old west. History detectives mysteries from the wild west season.
Historic replica blank firing pistols and rifles of the. Even though the word modern is in the books title, suggesting a period of jet skis and instant communication, the names of wyatt earp and doc holliday are mentioned but not marshal dillon which reminds us that the days of the old wild west are not so far. If any gun conjures up images of the old west, its colts 1873 singleaction army revolver. From wild bill hickoks colt revolvers to geronimos winchester, twelve guns that shaped our history. That old west period, which ended officially in 1890, saw gun. Old west books in legends of americas style, we carry a wide collection of old west books about the people, places, and events of the wild west era. The two most common handgun subtypes in use today are revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. Discover the best american old west history in best sellers. Guns of the old west a look at 2 colt model 1861 revolvers owned by colonel custer a handson look at two colt model 1861 revolvers owned, and possibly used by, the illfated lieutenant colonel george armstrong custer. Here are some mountain men photos, some of the few that exist, of the hearty men who helped to define the coming of the europeans to the old west. With that in mind, here are the 10 guns you have to know from the old west.
This romanticized image of the old west gunfight was born in the dime novels of the late 19th century and perpetuated in the film era, to such a point that this fictional version is what our minds eye quickly conjures up when we hear the word gunfight. And, if you love old west books, you might also want to take a look at our huge collection of vintage western magazines. When discussing firearms for theatre, keep in mind that the descriptions in the script are of only limited value in trying to identify a weapon. Originally written in the 1950s, guns of the old west is a factual account of the guns used during, and after, one of the most romanticized and often misconstrued periods in american history. Old west holsters the last best west the last best west. A handgun is a shortbarrelled firearm that can be held and used with one hand. After reading this book you will have a clearer background from. The nra national firearms museum has a number of pocket pistols and derringers on display.
Famous firearms old west 12 guns pistols rifles shape us. 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. Within these pages are the pistols and revolvers, rifles and carbines used by the hunters, the settlers, the lawmen and the lawless, the military and the showmen. Pat garrett owned and carried doubleaction revolvers. However, its a perfect way to start off this list because his revolver idea led to the development of the handgun that won the west. As rick and the gang take a look at some old guns, one unlucky customer gets a little recoil when he finds out a costly truth about his fiery possession in this. It is certainly true today that firearms are associated with the old west more than. In actuality, the real gunfights of the old west were rarely that civilized. An illustrated guide charles edward chapel on amazon. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon kindle store best sellers.
Here is a list of 10 of the best nonfiction old west books of all time, in no particular order. This is especially true when the caliber number is used in attempting to describe the size or shape of the gun. It is human nature to romanticize bygone times, to regard our forebears hardscrabble lives through the clouded pane of old west myth. An illustrated history 9781592286386 by boorman, dean k.
Rifles, shotguns, and knives in the old west shotdoc home. The pistol often had to be carried in cases strapped to the pommel of a horse. Noblewares offers licensed historic replica blank firing pistols and rifles of the old west including the old west m1873 nickle finish 9mm blank firing replica revolver 38161n, old west m1873 blued finish 9mm blank firing replica revolver 38161, m1894 8mm blank firing replica western rifle 38650, and m1873 fast draw blued oe nickel finish 9mm blank firing replica revolvers 38200 and 38200n. He is the author of two companion volumes to this book, the history of colt. This magazine gives attention to shooting matches, wardrobe, holsters, knives and other products and services in. The 1873 colt single action army was designed primarily for use by the cavalry, but other mounted units, including the horse artillery, were also issued these revolvers as sidearms, as shown by this early 1890s mounted artillery trooper of junction city, kansas. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator.
I have chosen to start with the colt paterson, the first practical multipleshot revolver using a percussion cap to ignite the powder shooting a round lead ball. Colt was a controversial and eccentric character during his lifetime. How the colt single action army revolver won the west. Guns of famous and lesserknown historical figures of the. Even if there was no single gun that won the west, there are certainly some sixshooters, repeaters and other great guns that more than pulled their share of the weight during this era. See cowboys, trails, lawmen, outlaws, cookbooks, ghost towns, native americans, and lots more. Definitive, scrupulously researched work not only tells the dramatic story of shoulder arms, hand guns, percussion and cartridge weapons but also describes the hunters, settlers, peace officers, soldiers, range detectives, rustlers, and outlaws who used them. With a history that extends all the way back into the 1500s, the pepperbox or pepperpot last came into popularity in the late 1800s when it. Many of the men listed on our gunfighters pages, many fought in the many range wars and feuds of the old west, which were far more common than the standoff gunfight. This category is for articles on history books about the american old west i.
One of the nations most active gun writers, he published nearly a dozen books on the subject. There is a photo of the wwii liberator, made by gm to be cheap, easy to build. For serious students of the history of western firearms the guns used during the time. Although there is a fair amount of material available on handguns used by the texas rangers in the old west a major story interest of mine, information on the other weapons they used is more scarce. All our replica guns are made to the highest standards that you will find. When i found a copy of george markhams guns of the wild west at a. It is simply a collection of books about what the old west was really like from the eyes of gun fighters, mountain men, indians and cowboys. An invaluable guide for collectors, dealers, enthusiasts, and students. The picture below of this gun was obtained and used, with permission, from the texas ranger hall of fame and museum in waco, texas. The great book of guns features photos of the older flintlock pistols, pepperbox revolvers, and guns of the oldwest. Tombstone had much more restrictive laws on carrying guns in public. Eduardo investigates the story behind a bill of sale for a 17year old negro girl.
Graduating from the naval academy at annapolis and serving in the marine corps, he was a prolific writer, publishing thousands of articles on subjects such as police science, aviation, and firearms. Gun control is as old as the old west history smithsonian. The gun was used by and did became popular for some of the texas rangers in the 194648 mexican war. It even includes the oddities including the japanese swordgun not a bayonet, but a fullsize sword with a handle that was a gun. Some just lived their times, some wrote or created art and music to represent and remember it. The old west conjures up all sorts of imagery, but broadly, the term is used. Which pistols were used by wild west lawmen and outlaws. There can be no doubt that the exploration and exploitation of the western frontier that began in 1804 was inextricably linked to the development of the firearm. Pages in category guns of the american west the following 59 pages are in this category, out of 59 total. There are a total of 17 guns of the wild west 1783 1920.
Here at replica guns direct we have all the old west replica pistols you want for your collection. You wont see all your favorite men, women, and guns on this list. It covers a wide array of firearms, from the smallest of hideaway pistols the derringer to the largest of colts singleaction revolvers, the more recent mauser broomhandle, and the colt 1911 auto pistol. History books about the american old west wikipedia. The 19th century was a very active period in firearm and cartridge development, and experimentation led to improvements. There could be a number of starting points for a story on handguns of the old west. From buffalo bill to wild bill and from chief joseph to geronimo, the most famous guns in the west and the history behind them more than a few of the actual guns once in the hands of the heroes and villains of americas old west still exist, housed in a dozen museums across the. Guns of the old west is considered his greatest work. Published for the firearms classics library of the national rifle. Each of these firearms are not only significant guns of the american west, they belonged to some of the most famous and infamous frontiersmen and women, soldiers, and icons who forged the american west both in myth and reality a west we nostalgically remember today.