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!
Shanghai noon
The Shootist by John Wane
Wild West with will smith!
El Dorado, is also my dad’s favorite
“Get three coffins ready.”
“My mistake, four coffins.”
-Fistful of Dollars, -Clint Eastwood
I really like Westworld.
Dr Quinn Medicine Woman is my fav.
Back to the Future Part III
Shanghai Noon. Wild west, comedy and Jackie Chan!
I’m your huckleberry.
Tombstone is a classic so is True Grit. A lot of great westerns out their.
Yoo-hoo, I’ll make you famous! Young Guns II was a great flick.
Cat Ballou is a classic Wild West comedy! Lee Marvin at his all-time best. Nat King Cole and Stubby Kay add great soundtrack, too.
These are beautifully crafted i hope i win my birthday is the 31 this month 😉
I also love Westworld, both the new series and the old movies from the 1970s.
The War Wagon with John Wayne and Dirk Douglas. Nothing like an armored stage couch with a big gun in it.
El Dorado with John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. Good story, funny lines, lots of action. I’ve seen it over 10 times-I can practically deliver every line in movie.
An American Tail, Fievel Goes West, came out when I was a kid, cant wait to watch it with my kids
When I was lost I watched blazing saddles. Does that count?
I really like the original West World movie and the new West World TV show. I also like FireFly, it’s like a western but in space and in the future.
Back to the Future 3, because time machine, sci-fi, a gunfight, and an exploding steam engine…
West World is definitely a fun modern take on the Wild West, and a captivating show in general!
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a timeless classic, Tombstone might fall into that category as well
Anything with Roy Roger. My favorite has to be billy the kid returns. Great action and no horrible death. Roger had the best on screen animals and he helped trained his on screen horses.
I’ve always been inspired by the wild west era. To me it represents freedom and strength. If I were to pick a timeline to live it would definitely be the mid 1800’s
I love bananza. I would rush home to watch it after school when i was younger.
My favorite Western was one I saw on TV, I think it’s called Fistful of Dollars. The most notable part I remember is when the hero gets shot in his right arm, so he retreats to a cave for weeks to teach himself how to shoot left handed. At the end, he comes back and defeats the enemy.
True Grit with John Wayne. Some great memories here as this was my late Grandfathers favorite movie.
Deadwood would be my choice… Even though it never really ended… Seemed authentic and great dialog..
Lonesome Dove is my top. Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall were gold together. Pun intended.