Guns of the West

God did not make all men equal," Westerners were fond of saying, "Colonel Colt did. When it came to the use of shooting irons, however, some men were more equal than others, a fact gunfighters knew well. So, to improve the odds of landing on the right side of this equation, they exercised meticulous care in selecting their firearms from among the weapons available. Wild West Podcast proudly presents Gunfighters and Guns in the Old West, including excerpts from "Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshall" by Stuart N. Lake.

The law of the West comes in the form of a pistol more often than a badge. As a result, those who know how to use it typically ruled the day. As a result, the gunslinger is one of the most feared individuals in the Wild West. Whether lightning fasts with a six-shooter or possessing deadly accuracy with a rifle, a gunslinger knows his craft and is a deadly adversary.
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July 21, according to American history books, is the anniversary of the first Western gunfight. On this date in 1865, James B. Hickok faced Davis Tutt in Springfield, Missouri. Following an argument over loaned money and a pocket watch, the two men faced each other across the city square. Both men reached for their weapons. Hickok's shot hit Tutt in the chest. The man had enough life left to exclaim, "Boys, I'm killed!" and stagger to the courthouse steps before collapsing. 

Grit & Gunpowder: A Deep Dive into Wild West Gunfighters and Their Deadly Iron

When we think about the Wild West, images of dusty streets, saloons, and legendary gunfights come to mind. In this podcast episode, we journey back in time to explore the world of Wild West gunfighters and their deadly iron. We take a gritty, deep dive into the lives of these iconic figures, uncovering the truth behind the myths and legends.

The Wild West was a time of lawlessness and danger, where the fastest gun often ruled the day. We explore how the law of the West often came in the form of a pistol and how gunslingers had to practice their craft diligently to maintain their reputation and expertise. We dissect the myth of the high-noon gunfight, revealing that these deadly encounters usually happened in the heat of the moment, often at close quarters, and involved a lot more skill and strategy than just quick-draw shooting.

We examine the level of proficiency and skill needed to be a successful gunfighter in the Wild West. A common misconception is that gunfighters relied on quick-draw shooting and rapid-fire. However, the truth is, these gunslingers emphasized the importance of steady aim and calculated moves. We look at examples from Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, two legendary figures known for their deadly accuracy and strategic approach to gunfighting.

One fascinating aspect of Wild West gunfighting is the controversial practice of gun fanning. This technique involved fanning the hammer of a revolver to fire multiple shots rapidly. While it might seem impressive, our exploration reveals that gun fanning was less effective in real gunfights, where accuracy and timing were far more critical.

Another intriguing topic we delve into is the legend of the Buntline Special, a supposedly customized revolver with a 12-inch barrel. According to legend, Ned Buntline commissioned these guns and presented them to famous lawmen like Wyatt Earp. However, historical evidence to confirm this tale is sparse, leading many to consider the Buntline Special more myth than reality.

We also debunk some other myths, such as the practice of notching a gun to keep count of the number of men killed. While this makes for a dramatic tale, our investigation reveals that notching guns was more a fanciful story than a widespread practice among actual gunfighters.

In the world of Wild West gunfighting, there was no room for bluffing or showmanship. When a gunfighter reached for his gun, it was with a deadly serious purpose. The podcast explores this aspect in detail, giving listeners a glimpse into the high-stakes world of Wild West gunfights.

From the skills and strategies of legendary gunslingers to the myths and realities of infamous gunfights, this podcast episode offers a captivating exploration of Wild West gunfighting. So saddle up, listeners, as we take you on a wild ride into the world of Wild West gunfighters and guns.
Are you ready to kick up the dust and step into the world of Wild West gunfighters and their iron? Brace yourself as we take you on a gritty journey back in time to explore the deadly skills of the gunslingers who won the West, often at the end of a pistol barrel. We promise you'll be riveted as we unravel tales of legendary figures like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, dissecting the truth behind the myths of infamous gunfights. We don't just stop at the stories, but we also delve deeper into their preferred weapons and techniques, so you can understand the art of gunfighting in all its deadly glory. 

​Flintlock Musket

Flintlock muskets were the mainstay of European armies between 1660 and 1840. A musket was a muzzle-loading smoothbore long gun loaded with a round lead ball, but it could also be loaded with shot for hunting.

​For military purposes, the weapon was loaded with ball, a mixture of the ball with several large shots (called buck and ball), and an effective range of about 75 to 100 meters. Smoothbore weapons that were designed for hunting birds were called "fowlers." Flintlock muskets tended to be of large caliber and usually had no choke, allowing them to fire full-caliber balls.
Military flintlock muskets tended to weigh approximately ten pounds, as more massive weapons were found to be too cumbersome, and lighter weapons were not rugged or heavy enough to be used in hand-to-hand combat.
They were usually designed to be fitted with a bayonet. The bayonet played a much more significant role on flintlocks, often accounting for a third or more of all battlefield casualties[citation needed]. This is a somewhat controversial topic in history, though, given that casualties list from several battles in the 18th century showed that bayonets caused less than 2% of wounds. The Royal Infantry and Continental Army used paper cartridges to load their weapons. The powder charge and ball were instantly available to the soldier inside this small paper envelope.

​To load a flintlock weapon using a paper cartridge, a soldier would move the cock to the half-cock position; tear the cartridge open with his teeth; fill the flashpan half-full with powder, directing it toward the vent; close the frizzen to keep the priming charge in the pan; pour the rest of the powder down the muzzle and stuff the cartridge in after it; take out the ramrod and ram the ball and cartridge to the breech; replace the ramrod; shoulder the weapon. The weapon can then be cocked and fired.

Sharps Buffalo Gun

Sharps made sporting versions from the late 1840s until the late 1880s. After the American Civil War, converted Army surplus rifles were made into custom firearms, and the Sharps factory produced Models 1869 and 1874 in large numbers for commercial buffalo hunters and frontiersmen. These large-bore rifles were manufactured with some of the most powerful black powder cartridges ever made.

Sharps also fabricated unique long-range target versions for the then-popular Creedmoor style of 1,000-yard (910 m) target shooting. Many modern black powder cartridge silhouette shooters use original and replica Sharps rifles to target metallic silhouettes cut in animals' shapes at ranges up to 500 meters. Shiloh Rifle Manufacturing Company, and C Sharps Arms of Big Timber, Montana, have been manufacturing reproductions of the Sharps Rifle since 1983 and 1979, respectively.
The best known of the buffalo cartridges used on the western frontier was the illustrious .45-70 Government. The .45-70 was introduced in 1873 and was the U.S. Army's standard service cartridge from that time until the .30-40 Krag officially replaced it in 1892. The .45-70 continued in military service with reserve and militia units well into the early 1900s.

​Like all U.S. service cartridges, the .45-70 became a popular sporting cartridge with American civilian hunters of the time. It was probably the most popular all-around big game rifle cartridge of its era and was widely regarded as suitable for all North American game, including bison. Remington Arms specifically recommended the .45-70 as the top buffalo cartridge for their famous Rolling Block rifles.
Christian Sharps got his start in the gun making business by working at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal. The first Sharps firearm was patented in 1848, and by 1850, the first models of Sharps Sporting Rifles were being made in Mill Creek, Pennsylvania, by the firm of A. S. Nippes. In 1851, a new breechloader was being made in Windsor, Vermont, by Robbins & Lawrence. Rifle production continued in Vermont while an original Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company was formed in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1855, manufacturing was moved to Hartford and continued until 1876. Operations were then transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut, until 1880. Although the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company bore his name, Christian Sharps was not the principal owner. In 1854 he began his own C. Sharps & Company to make his own handguns. He formed a partnership with William Hankins in 1862. Sharps & Hankins manufactured four-barrel pepperboxes and single-shot breech-loading rifles and carbines. That partnership ended in 1866. Christain C. Sharps & Company ceased operations with Sharps' death in 1874.

​Winchester Rifle

​The Winchester Rifle held in the hands of limitless cowboys in countless Westerns is often acclaimed as one of the guns that "Won the West."

Winchester rifle is an all-inclusive term describing a series of lever-action repeating rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The model 1873 was advanced from the 1860 Henry rifle and was one of the most common Winchester rifles of its day. The standard 24-inch barrel rifle-length was the barrel of choice in the 19th century. In all, over 720,000 Model 1873s produced up until 1923. 

 The Winchester Repeating Arms Company marketed the 1873 rifle as "The Gun that Won the West." The 1873 Winchester remains today as an icon in modern-day notoriety. The Winchester manufactured between 1873 and 1923 initially chambered the .44-40 cartridge. The .44-40 was the first center-fire design with the primer located in the center of the cartridge. The 1873 lever-action rifle later produced in .38-40 and .32-20, all of which later became popular handgun cartridges of the day, allowing users to carry just one type of ammunition. 
The Winchester is one of the iconic weapons of 19th century America. It portrays a young nation's burgeoning industrial might and its unstoppable march Westwards. Its firepower was unmatched in its day. Like other Western guns, the Winchester grabbed the public's imagination in films like Winchester '73 starring Jimmy Stewart.

Colt 1873 Single Action Revolver

In July 1873, the Army adopted the Colt and ordered 8,000 revolvers, along with a substantial run of 3,000 Smith & Wesson Model 3s, to replace its obsolete Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolvers. For many years these two revolvers served side-by-side. The Army eventually favored the more accurate and easier-to-maintain Colt. Lawmen and outlaws alike were quick to adopt the handy new 6-shooter, which earned the nickname "Peacemaker." The single-action Army was most widely produced with a case-hardened color frame and blued barrel. Meanwhile, a nickel-plated version was issued to Indian scouts. And a bright charcoal blue finish was available from the factory.
The Colt Single Action Army held many names over the years. First came its clunky official title, the New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol. But soon, it became known as the Frontier, the Equalizer, the Model P, and most famously, the Peacemaker.
The early models required the barrel to be removed before the pistol's cylinder could be reloaded. During the late 1840s, Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Walker improved this design, making it robust and reliable enough for field use. A flood of firearms followed, including the Colt Dragoon, Colt 1851 Navy, Colt Army Model 1860, and Colt M1861 Navy. Although Samuel Colt died in January 1862, his company found its future by selling tens of thousands of percussion revolvers to the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The Army's Colts cost $13 each, had 7.5-inch barrels, wooden grips, and weighed two-and-a-half pounds. Over the next 20 years, the government purchased 30,000 more, which were found mostly in the holsters of Cavalry, infantry, and artillery. Between 1895 and 1903 the Army refurbished 17,000 Single Action Army revolvers by cutting down their barrels to 5.5 inches. Troops then used these shorter pistols during the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and the Moro Rebellion.

The Army's Colts saw hard service was on the Western frontier. On June 25, 1876, 200 troopers of George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry were overrun and killed at the Little Bighorn's Battle. As the Cavalry were usually one of the first branches to receive new firearms, Custer's men were all equipped with the new 1873 Springfield carbine and a Colt Single Action Army. The revolvers were taken as prizes by the victors.
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