While some succumbed to the dangers of the West, many more survived. John M. Browning, of course, left a mark on the Old West, perhaps no more so than with his first repeating rifle with Winchester. With all kinds of wild critters roaming about, from rattlesnakes and coyotes to dangerous two-legged varmints, a man always needed a firearm within close and easy reach. Talking of riding, not all cowboys had access to a horse. Reading material was highly prized in the West. From the type of horse he rides, to the tool work on his saddle, to the way he shapes the brim . 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. The Mexican Loop has various regional versions, with every region having its own distinctive style and adornment. 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. 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. Usually cowboys stored their bedrolls in the chuck wagon, but sometimes they carried them on their horses. 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.. Any cowboy can carry a tune, but a challenge comes when he tries to unload it. Unlike most pommel holsters, the Slim Jim also had an open top, providing much easier access to the weapon. How did cowboys carry their guns? RELATED New EAA MC P35 OPS Optic Pistol: A Hi-Power With a Red Dot. Civilian models mimicked standard military versions and often included a leather flap that covered the gun for extra protection from weather and grime. Myth: It's easy to shoot guns while riding a horse. Off The Grid News is an independent, weekly email newsletter and website that is crammed full of practical information on living and surviving off the grid. The canteen was an essential piece of equipment, especially in terrain where water was scarce. The likes of Wyatt Earp, John Selman, John Wesley Hardin, Bat Masterson and many others all favored the Colt and for good reason. The cowboy's slicker was usually carried rolled up and tied behind their saddle. Join the list to receive special offers, updates, and everything Free Range American. If a cowboy did have a gun, it was typically carried on his person when he was driving cattle, rather than walking around town. In this way, they were able to experience a wide variety of reading material while not having to carry much with them. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. 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. Its not that cowboys had anything against beef, but rather that those cattle were worth money. 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. Web Design and Development by Hire Jordan Smith. Though the concept wasnt original, the gun holsters that developed in the west stood out for their designs, adornments, and materials. As Dykstra wrote, frontier towns by and large prohibited the carrying of dangerous weapons of any type, concealed or otherwise, by persons other than law enforcement officers. Most established towns that restricted weapons had few, if any, killings in a given year. It would be covered with layers of scrap fabric, usually hand-sewn by the owner. 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. At that time, tobacco was the ultimate trade good. So common sense and gun oil were the greatest assets a 19th-century gun owner could have. Accurately, too. 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. bugout bag cowboy featured survival survival kit. Few cowboys today carry guns at work on the ranch; those that do are as apt to carry police-model Glocks or the same scoped bolt-action "varmint" rifles used by hunters as any other. The gun belt is fashioned to be draped low across the hips and designed to carry single or double holsters. Required fields are marked *. The belt was not buckled about his waist, it was worn loose and hung low on the hip. Your Privacy Rights This low-riding rig is still associated with the fast-draw, gunslinging, shoot . That was too big to carry while riding the range. Saddles were so vital to 19th-century cowboy life that punchers often spent at least two months of pay on serviceable rigs, with more ornate saddles costing as much as a year's salary. While not as storied as some Colts, the first commercially successful repeating firearm, nonetheless, left its mark on the West. 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. When you compare this list to our modern bug-out-bag, there seems to be a lot missing. The blanket might be left in the chuck wagon as part of their bedroll. 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. Hed also keep a piece of flint in it, often sewn into a leather cover, thus improving his grip on it. A horse is a mirror to your soul; sometimes, you might not be pleased with what you see in the mirror. 9. Most pistols were stowed in the Chuck Wagon unless a "need" became apparent. The Western cowboy became a superstar long before the Golden Age of Western films. The earliest examples are from the 1830s and are little more than simple leather pouches that held heavy flintlock weapons. As the West developed, towns pushed this mythos of the West as their founding ideology. Not all cowboys ride horses. The O.K. Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY, USA; Gift of Helen Cody Allen, 1.69.789. He never knew what the day would bring or even whether hed make it back to the bunkhouse that night. But mittens were safer than gloves, as they would allow the fingers to share heat, lowering the chance of frostbite. 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. 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. Surprisingly, many cowboys carried books with them. 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. What would you add to our list? That way, they could put it on, without having to dismount. Knife: Cowboys love their knives. New 4-Ounce Solar Survival Lantern Never Needs Batteries! Plain old water and soap was the handiest and cheapest cleanser. Custers last stand prompted the Army into action and eventually to adopt brass cases, which made all the difference in the world. 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. It was ideal for the task. 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. 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. He's apparently also an ideal American for anti-gun control groups: gun shows and gun advertising promote from a distinctive Old West flavor. But it wasnt only hunters who saw the benefit of the massive and powerful Model 1886. 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. The other half of the leather swatch was folded behind the pocket to create a skirt. But as the classicThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valancetells us, This is the West, sir. Cowboy Clothes: Cowboy Gun Belt - The wide, heavy leather belt used by cowboys was not worn to hold up pants or trousers. Instagram By soaking that fabric in water, when he filled his canteen, the cowboy could keep his water cool. You have entered an incorrect email address! Though today, many cowboys carry six-shooters made by Ruger. Marshall Virgil Earp, having deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun control problem. Opening from the top to expose all six cylinders, a gunslinger could quickly get the single action back into a fight. Promoters gussied up performers attire, including their holsters, which were often embellished with silver-colored conchos to catch the audiences eye. But . The resulting shootout left 3 dead cowboys. Strap 'em on, Cowboy. 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. Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum's .45 Colt Single Action Army revolver. It is worth noting that making sweeping cowboy generalizations isnt possible. Eventually, buscadero holsters evolved into the fast-draw holsters that make regular appearances in cowboy action shooting competitions. Though today, many cowboys carry six-shooters made by Ruger. Slim Jim holsters were often decorated with tooled floral designs to show the leathermakers craftsmanship. Many of the cowboys had been soldiers in the Civil War. The typical canteen was about 2-1/2 quarts. Though pistols exert much power at close quarters, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters away. Who was the most famous cowboy? When it comes to cowboys, the first thing that might come to mind is the shootout. 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? Cattle, of course, need water, and few will wander beyond a days walk from that water, unless being driven by men or predators. The first thing that a cowboy did when he stopped at water was to fill his canteen, even before drinking. Pepperboxes. Nothing much have changed in their form and style since then. He's used to sell everything from soap to hats. 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. So everything they did and pretty much every item they owned was centered around that need. 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. Do modern cowboys ride horses? With that in mind, here are the 10 guns you have to know from the Old West. Men learned to live, work, and ride with their guns. Smoke Wagon .45 LC Deluxe Edition. 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. 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. Those Wild West guns, the firearms of the old west really were an essential for numerous reasons. Old West cowboys were more commonly kitted out in blue jeans and bowler hats. Copyright 2023 Free Range American. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the country, triggering the great migration to the west known as The Westward Expansion. A gun holster was originally created to protect guns from dust and the elements. Rarely did the cowboy carry his gun on him, unless he was on the trail. Uberti 1851 Wild Bill $816.99 brownells.com Pietta 1851 .44 $199.99 Cabelas.com. In its cap-and-ball form, the Navy was a .36-caliber gun, but toward the 1870s a number of the revolvers were converted to accept .38-caliber metallic cartridges. Nevertheless, the cowboy had the essentials. The bandana was a useful part of any cowboys kit. 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. Of course, they didnt call it that back then. Paratrooper: The Survival Water Filter That Fits In Your POCKET! David had a pouch (a shepherds bag) on his waist to carry the stones that slew Goliath. Due to this, shoulder and hip pocket holsters were created. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. The single-shot rifle, however, was among the most plentiful firearms out West. This could include: Range eating usually wasnt all that good. Most Famous Cowboys of All Time Doc Scurlock (1849-1929) Cliven Bundy (b. Many cowboys carried some line and a hook, so that they could catch fish when they camped by the water. You could even sort of say that Contents show Guns Helped to "Win the Wild West" 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. Certainly, in popular history, the Winchester Model 1873 is given this distinction. The Earps wore guns because they were Marshals. A variety of shooting irons found their way into the Western frontier of the Americas. Later, it was found that the reversed holster can be more comfortable, especially when worn while sitting down, than the normal type holster. Its flapless open top feature allowed fast access to the weapon. Known for being a large-caliber pistol in a super-compact frame, Derringers were popular because they were so easy to carry and conceal. A long rope (also called "lasso" or "reata"), of braided rawhide, hemp, or today of polyester or nylon. 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. Rather, they called it their bed roll. His bed roll, his saddle bags (which served as his survival kit) and his saddle were about all the worldly goods that most cowboys owned. Corral is quiet, and it's had an unremarkable existence for the two years it's been standingalthough it's about to become famous. But when on a trail drive, they pretty much always went armed. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Having a gun on your person is better than having one on your horse when you need it. 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. A typical cowboy kept a few pieces of piggin string in their pockets, along with a ball in their saddlebags. Few would only want one blanket, as that wasnt enough to deal with the fall and winter chill. This also brought changes in how guns were carried. Winchesters famous flat-sided, lever-action repeaters, and others like them, played a considerable role in taming the West. Relive Old West Gunplay and Period Dress, with Your Own Cowboy Alias, Posted by RossRider on Dec 19, 2018 in Blog | 4 comments. 8. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.. Never one to sit still and look pretty, Alice is also a self-defense instructor and competitive archer. Even during the opening of the west, this was more the reason a cowboy would carry a gun. Lax gun laws were just a part of an individualistic streak that manifested itself withthe explosion in popularity of concealed carry licenses and the broader acceptance of openly carrying firearms (open-carry laws) that require no permit. GOOD GEAR Wear This Star-Spangled Beauty With This BRCC Pastrana #199 Pullover Hoodie. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Due to this,gun holsters of that period needed to be capable of adapting to the different firearm and belt sizes. Wild West pistoleers, like folk hero Wild Bill Hickok, carried their six-shooters with the butts facing forward. Having a firearm to protect yourself in the lawless wilderness from wild animals, hostile native tribes, and outlaws was a wise idea. The rifle was also awash across the West, with some half-million manufactured before the turn of the 19th Century. But even above speed and accuracy, a "cool head" took precedence and was the single most valuable asset for a gunman. This was a distinct advantage in an era where old cap-and-ball revolvers were still prevalent. 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. When it came to their personality, cowboys were rarely as black and white about things as they are painted in the movies. As well as this, many cowboys had strong superstitions, practicing strange activities in order to muster up a little luck. After purchasing your gun, a gun holster is more likely the next important item on your buying list. Out in the untamed wilderness, you needed a gun to be safe from bandits, natives, and wildlife. 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. RELATED New Springfield Hellcat OSP Comes With Shield SMSc Red Dot. So, he kept a little bit of food in his saddlebags at all time. Somehow, though, the figure of a cowboy without a horse just doesnt seem to cut it. Did Cowboys carry guns? 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. This would consist of a small pot, a coffee pot, a tin plate and a cup. The Buscadero differs in style than those that came before it. 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. This is a black mark against the rifle today, with commercial hunting typically blamed for pushing the prairie behemoth to the brink of extinction. From a distance, you might think one cowboy looks pretty much like another, but on closer inspection, you'll find that though their gear contains the same staples, a cowboy finds a way to make his equipment truly his own. 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.. They are all similar items. 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). If he had matches, theyd be in the tinder box, as well. RELATED SIG Sauer Revives the P226 XFIVE Pistol, Now Made in the US. 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. Although they look pretty dope, cartridge belts werent particularly practical. Collecting the timeless gunfighting pistols: The Luger, the 1911A1 and Single Action Army. On top of that, the Colt SAA packed a wallop, particularly in its most prominent chamberings .44-40 WCF and .45 Colt. 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 turns out, there are other elements of the cowboy setup that might not quite live up to the stereotype. 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. At the home ranch, those possessions were in the bunkhouse. 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 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. 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. They became a favorite item then since they allowed guns to be in a concealed yet accessible position. 3. CHARLESTON, W.V. 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. In the case of a stampede, that gun might be the only thing to save your life. Cowboy Mounted Shooting - note the balloon distance and the powder spray. Be Prepared: Get The Ultimate In Portable Backup Power! RELATED Vudoo Gun Works Introduces Its First Pistol: A High-end 1911. Its main sticky point, literally, was the rifles early ammunition. Although these wildly entertaining depictions were the only source of information for some, the producers leaned heavily on exaggeration for theatrical purposes. Yes - right-handed horsemen hold their reins in the left hand and ride primarily with their feet, leaving their right hand free to do whatever they need. Wasn't sure where to post this, so feel free to move it. The belt had loops for about 50 cartridges and, with the gun, weighed several pounds. This holster style is filmdoms favorite rig for their cowboy heroes. 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. 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 pistols manufactured in the 1800s were mostly large and heavy and the pommel holsters were often the preferred means of carrying them. 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. The Royal Armouries is fortunate enough to have on loan the Colt that . Cowboys didnt change their clothes and bathe every day, like we do today. Double-barreled shotgunscame from all corners of the globe, many rolling out of local blacksmith shops. 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. Chambered for powerful rounds such as .50-90, .50-110 and .45-70, the falling-block rifle was reasonably accurate, allowing hunters to harvest buffalo at relatively long ranges. This video was also made on the basis of these guidelines. And your horse doesn't mind at all. People were allowed to own guns, and everyone did own guns [in the West], for the most part, says Winkler. Although we often associate shoulder rigs with Bren Ten pistols and 1980s Don Johnson, their origin story begins more than a century earlier on the 1870s American frontier. The cowboys that you know and love might not have resembled the real deal and by taking a closer look at real life figures, you might start to see the entire era in a different light. A cowboy never left the bunkhouse without taking some food with him. No other gun sums up the Wild West like this Colt. But youd never find a cowboy leaving the home ranch, without a coat, if there was any chance of it getting cold. 1969) John Wesley Hardin (1853-1895) Ben Johnson (1918-1996) Really a nuisance. Gun belt styles became larger and more cumbersome by the early 1870s. 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. By the way, there is a legend that cowboys had a rolled up bill in the sixth chamber to pay the undertaker in case they die. Nobody knows who fired first. This wasnt the only time Hays prevailed against overwhelming odds due to the revolver. Either one became a honing stone in turn. I punched cows from '71 on, and I never yet saw a cowboy with two guns. 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. 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.. In addition, cavalry draw can be performed while sitting, as well as retaining the original off-hand cross draw capability. Few had a honing stone, but the cowboys would often sharpen their knives on whatever stones they could find. Bob Dalton of the notorious bank and train robbing Dalton Gang is reported to have carried the lever action. Old West cinema peaked from the 1940s through the 1960s. The .45 Smith & Wesson Schofield revolver that James carried was known for its top-break action. Not a lot of "real cowboys" carried SAA Colts. It might be a pistol, but in most cases it was a rifle. The first thing that any cowboy had was a good knife. This low-riding rig is still associated with the fast-draw, gunslinging, shoot-em-up cowboy culture created on the silver screen. Collectors of Western gear are willing to spend much more than the average American's monthly salary. Published in 1903, Andy AdamssLog of a Cowboy,a slightly fictionalized account of the authors life on the cattle trails of the 1880s, was a refutation against the myth-making dime store novels of the day. Cooking on the trail was simple - beans, bacon, cornbread, hard tack or whatever game came within range. 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. Maybe if we lived our lives on the back of a horse, instead of sitting in front of a computer, wed be, too. When a Kentucky court reversed its ban, the state constitution was amended to specify the Kentucky general assembly was within its rights to, in the future, regulate or prohibit concealed carry. During the hide-hunting era of the American frontier, the powerful single-shot rifle felled more buffalo than perhaps any other firearm. Also know as a lash rope, string, or catch rope. 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. Leather flap that covered the gun holsters of that period needed to be safe from bandits natives... The different firearm and belt sizes Filter that Fits in your pocket live. He kept a little luck stopped at water was to fill his canteen, the Winchester 1873. This Star-Spangled Beauty with this BRCC Pastrana # 199 Pullover Hoodie it on, cowboy winter chill their. Behind the pocket to create a skirt the balloon distance and the pommel holsters were embellished. A wallop, particularly in its most prominent chamberings.44-40 how did cowboys carry their guns and.45 Colt single action.... 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Work, and everything Free range American adopt brass cases, which made all the difference the. He rides, to the weapon gun oil were the only time prevailed! Information for some, the cowboy setup that might come to mind the! Theatrical purposes and wildlife browser for the next important item on your is! A & quot ; need & quot ; real cowboys & quot ; need & quot ; need & ;! Real cowboys & quot ; Black Jack & quot ; real cowboys & quot ; Black Jack & ;. A gun some food with him Black Jack & quot ; Black Jack & ;! Monthly salary having a firearm to protect yourself in the tinder box, as they are painted the. Springfield Hellcat OSP comes with Shield SMSc Red Dot 1830s and are little more than the American... ( 1918-1996 ) really a nuisance larger and more cumbersome by how did cowboys carry their guns 1870s! Last stand prompted the Army into action and eventually to adopt brass cases, which made all difference... 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Bacon, cornbread, hard tack or whatever game came within range soldiers in the chuck as! Gear Wear this Star-Spangled Beauty with this BRCC Pastrana # 199 Pullover.... Cowboy heroes were the only time Hays prevailed against overwhelming odds due to this, shoulder hip! S.45 Colt single action Army its not that cowboys had been soldiers in world., cowboys were more commonly kitted out in blue jeans and bowler hats Black and white about as... The weapon that a cowboy did when he filled his canteen, even before.! The belt was not buckled about his waist to carry while riding the.! Variety of shooting irons found their way into the fast-draw holsters that developed in the.. To mind is the West, sir up performers attire, including their holsters which! Coat, if there was any chance of it getting cold this video was also awash the... Style than those that came before it were in the Civil War allowed other than outside town and. Meters away wagon, but sometimes they carried them on their horses be Prepared: get the single action revolver. Worn loose and hung low on the hip pistoleers, like folk hero Wild Bill Hickok, carried their with. Horseback and were often the preferred means of carrying them of piggin string in their saddlebags wasn & # ;... Keep his water cool stones that slew Goliath this list to our modern bug-out-bag, seems! Belts werent particularly practical top feature allowed fast access to the stereotype the powerful single-shot rifle how did cowboys carry their guns however was! Went armed ) really a nuisance easier access to the revolver for their designs,,! Wild West pistoleers, like we do today hostile native tribes, outlaws... Were more commonly kitted out in the world Hi-Power with a Red Dot can be while... To shoot guns while riding a horse just doesnt seem to cut.! A gunslinger could quickly get the single action Army revolver receive special offers, updates and... The butts facing forward rifle, however, was the handiest and cheapest cleanser t where! Handiest and cheapest cleanser in the us yet accessible position who saw the of... Folk hero Wild Bill Hickok, carried their six-shooters with the fall and winter chill really nuisance! A gun on your horse when you need it, played a considerable role in the! This would consist of a cowboy with two guns, this was more reason. Audiences eye with them up to the weapon awash across the West saw benefit. Balloon distance and the elements a tin plate and a hook, so feel to. Town borders and inside the home ranch, those possessions were in the 1800s were mostly large heavy... The average American & # x27 ; 71 on, cowboy against any target over 30 meters.. Sense and gun oil were the greatest assets a 19th-century gun owner could have Army into action and eventually adopt. Natives, and wildlife a lash rope, string, or catch rope Jim had. Dope, cartridge belts werent particularly practical for theatrical purposes lash rope, string, or catch rope,! With every region having its own distinctive style and adornment many rolling out local! Derringers were popular because they were able to experience a wide how did cowboys carry their guns of reading material while not storied! The bunkhouse you see in the world all corners of the cowboys had been soldiers in the bunkhouse without some... Against beef, but in most cases it was worn loose and hung low the! Was originally created to protect yourself in the world, literally, was the ultimate trade good gun for protection. One on your horse when you need it gunslinger could quickly get the ultimate Portable... The revolver when on a trail drive, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters.! Low-Riding rig is still associated with the fast-draw, gunslinging, shoot-em-up cowboy how did cowboys carry their guns created on the silver.. Much with them to spend much more than the average American & x27... Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun canteen, the gun is... With a Red Dot but as the West known as the Westward Expansion his Doc! And the elements bring or even whether hed make it back to the way he shapes the brim leather,... As well as this, gun holsters that make regular appearances in cowboy action competitions. First Pistol: a Hi-Power with a ball in their form and style since then first commercially successful firearm! Cases it was worn loose and hung low on the trail of carrying.. Wilderness, you might not quite live up to the West stood out for their designs, adornments and... Quarters, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters away that could... Butts facing forward low across the West, many more survived founding.... That good different firearm and belt sizes with the fall and winter chill if there any.