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!
Unforgiven—
Kurt Russell classic with every raw undertone to a great western movie. One you can watch over and over and get the sensation of dust settling everytime!
True Grit /John Wayne
Have Gun-Will Travel
The Rifleman
The Rifleman is a series that I enjoy watching with my sons. Ok, maybe sometimes I watch it when they aren’t home. Lol
death valley days
Westworld!! Boh original and new serier!!!
Waiting for the sale .
Blazing Saddles.!!! Without any question
BONANZA!!!
My favorite western is Tombstone! I love that movie!
Unforgiven
SHANE is one of the best
One of my favorites is Open Range! Great actors and story.
Rooster Cogburn John Wayne hands down the best cowboy actor ever oh we can’t forget Sam Elliott and Tom Sellick
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is my favorite!
Deadwood, you can’t beat the unpredictable Swearenger.
Tombstone – I’ll be your huckleberry!
Enjoy many of the western films especially ones that cast Eastwood. Best Western book, The Searchers, which was also a good film.
Winchester 73!!!! Love that movie. Tombstone a close second!!
Hello,
My favorite westerns has to be the man with no name trilogy starring Clint Eastwood. There are many westerns from my childhood that are very dear to me, but I think these three films stand above the rest. Awesome time in the history of the American Wild West.
I have to say it is by far all of the old Clint Eastwood movies!
“I tried being reasonable, but I didn’t like it!”
Clint Eastwood
The Hateful Eight
Unforgiven is my favorite. Nothing like a big bounty to bring a couple old gunslingers out of retirement! It was really well done, too, and ushered in the era of “modern” westerns (at least in the 90’s).
My favorite memory of mine is watching “GunSmoke” with my dad on TVLand. He was a sucker for those Westerns and I was happy to play along.
Lonesome Dove all the way!!
True Grit The Duke Is there any other
The Wild Wild West with Robert Conrad. 1965-1969
BONANZA, ALL THE WAY!!! LIL JOE WAS THE FAST ONE AND LEFT HANDED AS WELL.
I agree, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” with Clint was one of the best!
Winchester ’73