Everyone knows the scene…a lone, rugged cowboy trudges across a dirt road with a pistol or two strapped into a beaten leather holster riding low at his waist. The image of a western gunslinger is popular in the media, but did you know that it was predominately created by the media? The Hollywood version of a gunslinger is vastly different from what we know to be historically correct.
During the 19th century, America was expanding and industry was growing along with it. It was a time of much chaos, since law enforcement couldn’t keep up. US marshals and county sheriffs faced the challenge of watching their territories expand beyond reason. There was too much ground to cover and not enough law enforcement officials for the job. Outlaws and bandits could easily outrun law enforcers by crossing state lines, and jails were often corrupt and easy to escape.
Authorities began offering rewards for those who brought in wanted outlaws, dead or alive. This created the rise of the hired gun, or bounty hunter. And because they would receive a reward on a “dead or alive” basis, many bounty hunters would kill their targets to minimize the danger involved. Then they would deliver the body and collect the reward.
Being a sheriff, marshal, or hired gun meant that you were skilled with a firearm and prepared to face hardened criminals. Not everyone was up for the job. This meant that many individuals who had been hired guns were hired as law enforcement officers due to their fearsome reputation. It was common for a town sheriff and a gunslinger to be one in the same, though perhaps at different times throughout their lives. These gunslingers were also hired by businesses and individuals to protect shipments, guard cattle, and any number of additional jobs that required their expertise.
This historic notion of a gunslinger paints a picture quite different from the quick-draw pistol duels you’re used to seeing in front of dusty saloons. In fact, anything resembling a European duel was extremely rare in the American west. The term gunslinger wasn’t even used back then; rather, it was a Hollywood creation that emerged in 1920. Hired guns of the time instead referred to themselves as gunmen, shootists, or pistoleers. And most of these men favored short-barreled shotguns or rifles over pistols, because the first two options offered more accuracy than handheld pistols. As outlaw Wyatt Earp said, “Fast is fine. Accurate is final.”
Tell us about your favorite film, book, or TV series depicting the Wild West. Commenting below will serve as your entry for our May giveaway. But remember to keep it classy; inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by May 20, 2018. One winner will be randomly selected on May 21, 2018 to receive a Gunslinger 1 oz silver round from our exclusive Prospector series.
Good luck and aim true!
One of my favorites is “For a few dollars more” The last scene where the good guy and the bad guy have to draw when the music stops is pure magic.
I’ll be a “Huckleberry”
Tombstone
I have loved buying your silver with great price and great service but due to medical bills have had to stop for now but hopefully will be back…I have the zombucks 2 sets silver and one copper and started the four horsemen but was unable to finish hope I can get things paid and if so Iwill be back thank you
Any Clint Eastwood western hit the spot but The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was my favorite.
Definitely Young Guns movies! A great cast and a nice mix of drama, adventure, and a little comedy.
I love the western movies and especially the morals that are taught in most of them. The wisdom and lessons that were the very essence of the culture and social environment that we are all part of were there in majority of the movies. Wish it was that time era again so those principles could still be applied. My favorite is 3:10 to Yuma, another great movie from that era. Although, I’m sure that I won’t win anything here (I never ever do), I am happy to talk about that golden era.
the shootist. john wayne was great in this film.
Hang ‘em High has been my favorite for years
The show Rifleman is a great show about the old western days and about cowboys. Written by Noah Boody.
City Slickers
John Wayne The cowboys
Billy The Kid & The Regulators !!
OH, I forgot to mention the legend JESSE JAMES !!
Has to be Unforgiven for me
Tombstone!! Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.. Does this not mean we are Friends anymore!! Great Show!!
John Wayne in “The Shootist” is a classic movie.
John Wayne Rooster Cogburn does it get any better than that my number one pick and The Lone Ranger can’t get any better Sheriff
My favorite film was 310 to Yuma, action packed, classic colt western guns and a good idea on how life was in those times. Being from west Texas the scenery is still the same in many places.
Open Range with Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner. Love that movie!
the wild wild west
Rider’s to Cibola, A classic western book.It is one of the best in my opinion, written by Norman Zollinger.
Gregory Peck in “The Gunfighter”. Peck’s female fans complained about the moustache he grew in that film however the best dialog was “All I have to do is squeeze”
My favorite western movie was “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” It starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It doesn’t get any better than that!
I’m living in the wild, wild west of California, I like provident round design.
Unforgiven 1992
HIGH NOON when real men had honor.
Everyone dies, Tracey. Someone’s carryin’ a bullet for you right now. Doesn’t even know it. The trick is to die of old age before it fines you.
Serenity – Western in space. Both a series and movie.
Clint Eastwood…..limited talking, maximum shooting. Any spaghetti western.
Big Jake and any other John Wayne Movie watched them all over and over.
The good the bad and the ugly
One of the best cowboy movies is “Open Range” with Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall. Lays it our pretty well how it was in those days.