What we know now about cowboys was informed by tales passed down from the time but how much of the information we have today reflects what life was really like back then? It wasnt until after the Civil War when cartridge revolvers replaced cap-and-ball pistols, that leather workers began stitching loops into belts for shooters to store extra cartridges. Though on the surface it doesnt appear so, what made the gun so desirable, aside from its smooth handling and potency, was its portability. By soaking that fabric in water, when he filled his canteen, the cowboy could keep his water cool. Did Cowboys carry guns? Honestly, no self-respecting lawman, rancher or outlaw would be caught without one. At that time, tobacco was the ultimate trade good. Why did Cowboys wear their guns backwards? The cowboy's slicker was usually carried rolled up and tied behind their saddle. These holsters have circular spring-metal straps sewn inside the holster to hold the top open. They were drawn to the West for a variety of reasons, and many gave up a life of wealth and position for the opportunity to travel. Its 15 rounds of .44 Henry rimfire not only proved adequate for protecting a homestead or scaring off cattle rustlers, but also bagging the odd deer. The bandana was a useful part of any cowboys kit. Did Old West towns require cowboys to check their guns? In the early 1840s fight, 50 or so Texas Rangers, led by legendary Captain John Jack Hays, routed a vastly superior force of Comanche, thanks in large part to their five-shot Colt Patersons. While the military may have invented the gun holster, cowboys and other frontier travelers invented everyday carry, and everyone knows you need a dependable holster for EDC. Chaps Even during the opening of the west, this was more the reason a cowboy would carry a gun. The most common method was to simply tuck the gun into their belt, with the handle facing to the rear. Designed as a sidearm, the 1851 Navy was much lighter than similar revolvers the Walker Colt and Colt Dragoon. The blanket might be left in the chuck wagon as part of their bedroll. It's October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, and Arizona is not yet a state. When you compare this list to our modern bug-out-bag, there seems to be a lot missing. When it comes to cowboys, the first thing that might come to mind is the shootout. Maybe if we lived our lives on the back of a horse, instead of sitting in front of a computer, wed be, too. Jay Redfeather makes the terrific custom holsters. But the cowboys of the past could stay alive with the things in this list. Though limited in use, the 1860 Henry proved itself a wicked weapon in the Civil War. Though today, many cowboys carry six-shooters made by Ruger. Although the traditional cowboy figure can be pictured riding away into the sunset, it wasnt the case for all men working in the tradition around the country. 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. Be Prepared: Get The Ultimate In Portable Backup Power! When the Earps and Holliday met the cowboys on Fremont Street in the early afternoon, Virgil once again called on them to disarm. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. So, he kept a little bit of food in his saddlebags at all time. Though pistols exert much power at close quarters, they become ineffective against any target over 30 meters away. When the West was still wild, a man wouldnt dream of riding the range without a gun. The Buscadero differs in style than those that came before it. 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. This feature was designed to protect the guns firing mechanism from dirt and moisture. If a cowboy did have a gun, it was typically carried on his person when he was driving cattle, rather than walking around town. A long rope (also called "lasso" or "reata"), of braided rawhide, hemp, or today of polyester or nylon. Powder flask was the common method of carrying powder, stuffed in a pocket or a belt pouch. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne, who were unarmed, ran at the start of the fight and survived. Opening from the top to expose all six cylinders, a gunslinger could quickly get the single action back into a fight. Guns were obviously widespread on the frontier. 5 became known as the Texas Patterson for its use by the Rangers. Winchester 1873 $1,199.97 Cabelas.com Taylor's & Co. 1873 $1,570.98 PalmettoArmory.com. 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. He's used to sell everything from soap to hats. Though today, many cowboys carry six-shooters made by Ruger. The Old West conjures up all sorts of imagery, but broadly, the term is used to evoke life among the crusty prospectors, threadbare gold panners, madams of brothels, and six-shooter-packing cowboys in small frontier towns such as Tombstone, Deadwood, Dodge City, or Abilene, to name a few. Few carried more, as their horses would tire too quickly if they were overloaded. Learn how your comment data is processed. A typical cowboy kept a few pieces of piggin string in their pockets, along with a ball in their saddlebags. Many would try to pick terrain to settle on, which would naturally mitigate against the cattle wandering. 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. The handkerchief that old western cowboys wear around their necks is a bandana. New 4-Ounce Solar Survival Lantern Never Needs Batteries! Of course, they were a much hardier breed than we are today. Winchesters famous flat-sided, lever-action repeaters, and others like them, played a considerable role in taming the West. The cowboys would roll up in the bedroll at night and pack their personal items in it by day. 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. Offering someone a smoke was often the start of many a conversation, especially out on the trail. Theyd keep their rain slicker tied behind their saddle, either in a small blanket roll or alone, where it was ready at hand. However, they became the cowboys equivalent of paracord, using it wherever they needed cordage. The worst years were Ellsworth, 1873, and Dodge City, 1876, with five killings each; because of their small populations, their FBI homicide rates would be high. The first thing that a cowboy did when he stopped at water was to fill his canteen, even before drinking. Even cowboys who didnt smoke tended to carry tobacco. While a few citizens challenged the bans in court, most lost. 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. This is a black mark against the rifle today, with commercial hunting typically blamed for pushing the prairie behemoth to the brink of extinction. The belt was not buckled about his waist, it was worn loose and hung low on the hip. 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. In the case of a stampede, that gun might be the only thing to save your life. This took a load of burden off a buckaroo during a period when logistics were not at the top of their game. But no matter what, a cowboy would have a couple of blankets tied behind their saddle. Few cowboys could afford work gloves. Winchester Model 1873 Rifle, .44 caliber, serial number 6745, date: 1875. Fire-starting A tinder box was an essential piece of every cowboy's kit. What While the revolver came in many calibers, the .36-caliber No. The belt had loops for about 50 cartridges and, with the gun, weighed several pounds. The pistol was more convenient, but the rifle was better for hunting game or fighting Indians. When hunting or firing at targets that . Terms of Use She currently resides in rural North Carolina with her children, non-hunting husband, and a well-stocked chest freezer. You have entered an incorrect email address! Few had a honing stone, but the cowboys would often sharpen their knives on whatever stones they could find. Nothing much have changed in their form and style since then. Accurately, too. The average rancher had few permanent employees. What would you add to our list? At the home ranch, those possessions were in the bunkhouse. As well as this, many cowboys had strong superstitions, practicing strange activities in order to muster up a little luck. Of course, they didnt call it that back then. 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. Bob Dalton of the notorious bank and train robbing Dalton Gang is reported to have carried the lever action. Nobody knows who fired first. Most working Cowboys didn't carry a "Belt Pistol" day to day while working. But now you know why cowboys only loaded 5 rounds in their revolvers. West Virginia law currently allows public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on their campuses. 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. In fact, real cowboys didnt usually equip themselves with guns or other weapons to be used at a moments notice. In the mid-1800s, leather pommel holsters moved across the frontier with American westward expansion. READ NEXT The Gun That Killed Billy the Kid Sold for $6 Million at Auction. This video was also made on the basis of these guidelines. It was a vast arsenal of different revolvers and rifles and shotguns of every conceivable design, make and model that carved this nation from coastline to coastline. 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