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When was the 'Old West'?

The era known as the Old West began with the movement of settlers into Texas in the 1830s, was at its height when the last spike was hammered into the transcontinental railroad in 1869, and ended with the Spanish American War at the turn of the century.

Familiar incidents of this era include:
The siege of the Alamo, in early March, 1836
The shootout at Adobe Walls, on June 27th, 1874
The gunfight at the OK Corral, on October 26th, 1881

For many more dates of interest, see the Significant events in the Old West page.

When was the 'cowboy era'?

The cowboy era ran from the end of the Civil War, through the settling of the West, to the turn of the 20th century. This covers, roughly, the 25 years from the invention of the Colt Model 'P' revolver in 1873 to the charge of the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War of 1898.

What was a 'cowboy gun'?

The classic Old West revolver was the Colt Model 'P' of 1873, commonly chambered for six shots of .45 caliber. As carried by John Wayne and other movie heroes, however, it often seemed to have unlimited ammunition. It came in 4.75, 5.50, and 7.00 inch barrels {though probably never in the famed Buntline 12 inch version supposedly used by Wyatt Earp} and many other calibers.

Other revolvers common in the Old West were the Colt 1851 Navy {a favorite of 'Wild Bill' Hickok}, the Colt 1860 Army, the Colt 1877 Lightning, the Remington 1863 Army, the Remington 1875 Army, the Smith & Wesson Russian model, the Smith & Wesson No. 3, and the Merwin Hulbert 1876 Army.

Pocket pistols were commonly the Smith & Wesson Nos. 1 and 11/2, the Colt Deringer No. 3, or various Remington double-barreled deringers.

Long arms ranged from .22 rifles used for bagging small game to the .50-90 and larger caliber buffalo rifles. There were also shotguns a-plenty in the Old West, typically in 12 gauge and double-barrelled; a double twelve was Doc Holliday's favorite weapon.

Rifles in the Old West were Spencers from the Civil War era, Henry lever actions, Remington rolling block single shots, Winchesters lever action models from the 1873 to the 1894, Colt pump-actions, Sharps buffalo rifles,

Shotguns in the Old West were Winchester model 1887 lever actions, double-barrels made by makers in Europe and the East including Colt, and the Winchester 1898 pump-action.

What really happened at the Alamo?

Probably nothing like any movie you ever saw. The defenders sent people in and out of the Alamo as late as the night before the final attack. The end of the siege was brutal and ignoble, and the bodies of the defenders were burnt in the fields and the ashes left to weather.

What really happened at Adobe Walls?

Basically, a bunch of buffalo hunters got themselves surrounded by a bunch of Indians. But it was significant because Bat Masterson was there, and because Billy Dixon made one of the most spectacular long-distance rifle shots ever recorded. For more details, go the the Adobe Walls page.

What really happened at the OK Corral?

Probably nothing like any book or movie you ever read or saw.

The Earps were probably more crooked than their supporters want you to think, and the Clantons were probably more crooked than their defenders want to admit.

Tombstone was a gambling town on top of a silver mine, and there were rival factions for control of it. The Earps were on one side, the Sheriff was on another, and the Clantons and the McLowrys were on their own side.

For more information on Wyatt Earp and his brothers and friends, see Gunfighters of the Western Frontier, a collection of reminiscences written by Bat Masterson in 1907.

There are also many websites {use your search engine to find them} that will provide you with much more information, and mnay more arguments, on the subject.

Who was Bat Masterson?

William Barclay 'Bat' Masterson began as a buffalo hunter, during which period he was present at the famed battle of Adobe Walls, then a marshal in Dodge City, Kansas, then a gambler, and finally a sports writer in New York City.

During his eventful life, he met and was friends with Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Luke Short.

For more information on Bat and his friends, you can order Gunfighters of the Western Frontier, a collection of reminiscences written by him in 1907.