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{{Short description|Infamous gunmen of the American Old West}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{other uses}}
{{redirect|Gunslinger}}
{{good article}}

'''Gunfighters''', also called '''gunslingers''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ʌ|n|s|l|ɪ|ŋ|@r}}), were individuals in the [[American frontier|American Old West]] who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a [[firearm]] and participated in deadly [[shootout]]s. The gunfighter can be a [[Sheriff|lawman]], [[outlaw]], [[cowboy]], [[Exhibition shooting|shooting exhibitionist]], or a [[mercenary|hired gun]], who is [[Fast draw|quick on the draw]] with a [[handgun]] or highly-skilled with rifles and shotguns.<ref name="Wisegeek"/> The feats of such individuals would end up becoming part of frontier folklore, and through the years would gain increasing degree of exaggeration. In modern times, many historians attempted to separate fact and fiction between such historical gunmen.<ref name="Dope"/>

Nevertheless, the gunfighter had an impact in both history and in popular culture, becoming one of the most enduring characters in the [[Western (genre)|Western genre]]. These characters appeared in many associated films, television shows, video games, and literature. Gunfighters influenced other fields as well, from sports shooting, fashion, to [[military]] skills based on their supposed abilities.<ref name="GD"/><ref name="Modern"/> The influence of gunfighters also garnered interest internationally, with many foreign fictional characters and stories derived or based from the character of the gunfighter.<ref name="abroad"/><ref name="Dirks"/>

==Origin of the term==
In his introduction to ''[[The Shootist]]'' (1976), author [[Glendon Swarthout]] says "gunslinger" and "gunfighter" are modern terms, and the more authentic terms for the period would have been "gunman", "pistoleer", "shootist", or "bad man" (sometimes written as "badman"). Swarthout seems to have been correct about "gunslinger", but the term "gunfighter" existed in several newspapers in the 1870s, and as such the term existed in the 19th century.<ref name="Rosa 1969 vi">Rosa (1969) vi.</ref> [[Bat Masterson]] used the term "gunfighter" in the newspaper articles which he wrote about the lawmen and outlaws whom he had known. However, Joseph Rosa noted that, even though Masterson used the term "gunfighter", he "preferred the term 'mankiller{{'"}} when discussing these individuals.<ref>Rosa (1969) vii.</ref> On the other hand, the term "gunslinger" was first used in the [[Western (genre)|Western]] film ''Drag Harlan'' (1920).<ref>The terms "gunslinger" and "showdown" were unknown in the Wild West. [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/gunslinger_or_gun_slinger/ Gunslinger (or Gun Slinger)]</ref> The word was soon adopted by other Western writers, such as [[Zane Grey]], and became common usage. [[Clay Allison]] (1841–1887), a notorious New Mexico and Texas gunman and cattleman, originated the term "shootist".<ref>Chuck Parsons, ''Clay Allison: Portrait of a Shootist'' (Seagraves, Texas: Pioneer, 1983)</ref>

===Usage===
Often, the term has been applied to men who would hire out for contract killings or at a [[ranch]] embroiled in a [[range war]] where they would earn "fighting wages".<ref name="Rosa 1969 vi"/> Others, like [[Billy the Kid]], were notorious bandits, and still others were lawmen like [[Pat Garrett]] and [[Wyatt Earp]]. A gunfighter could be an [[outlaw]]—a [[Robbery|robber]] or murderer who took advantage of the wilderness of the frontier to hide from genteel society and to make periodic raids on it. The gunfighter could also be an agent of the state, [[Archetype|archetypically]] a lone avenger, but more often a sheriff, whose duty was to face the outlaw and bring him to justice or to personally administer it. There were also a few historical cowboys who were actual gunfighters, such as the [[Cochise County Cowboys]] who participated in the bloody [[Skeleton Canyon massacres#1879 Skeleton Canyon massacre|1879 Skeleton Canyon massacre]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bishop|first=William Henry|title=Old Mexico and her Lost Provinces: a Journey in Mexico, Southern California|url=https://archive.org/details/oldmexicoandher00bishgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/oldmexicoandher00bishgoog/page/n512 490]|year=1888 |publisher=Harper and Brothers |access-date=May 3, 2011}}</ref>

==Depiction in culture==
[[Image:great train robbery still.jpg|right|thumb|Gunslinger portrayed by [[Justus D. Barnes]] from ''[[The Great Train Robbery (1903 film)|The Great Train Robbery]]'']]

Gunslingers frequently appear as [[stock character]]s in Western [[Western (genre)|movies]] and [[Western fiction|novel]]s, along with cowboys. Often, the hero of a Western meets his opposite "double", a mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy.<ref name="Dirks">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmsite.org/westernfilms.html|title=Western Films Part 1|publisher=Filmsite.org|author=Tim Dirks}}</ref> Western gunslinger heroes are portrayed as local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, nomadic loners, or skilled fast-draw artists. They are normally masculine persons of integrity and principle – courageous, moral, tough, solid, and self-sufficient, maverick characters (often with trusty sidekicks), possessing an independent and honorable attitude (but often characterized as slow-talking).<ref name="Dirks2">{{cite web|url=http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-characteristics-of-the-western-genre.htm|title=What Are the Characteristics of the Western Genre?|publisher=Wisegeek|author=H. Lo|date=24 April 2023 }} September 11, 2014</ref> They are depicted as similar to a [[knight-errant]], wandering from place to place with no particular direction, often facing curious and hostile enemies, while saving individuals or communities from those enemies in terms of [[chivalry]]. The Western hero usually stands alone and faces danger on his own, commonly against lawlessness, with an expert display of his physical skills (roping, gun-play, horse-handling, pioneering abilities, etc.)<ref name="Dirks"/> In films, the gunslinger often possesses a nearly superhuman speed and skill with the [[revolver]]. [[Gunspinning|Twirling pistols]], [[Fast draw|lightning draws]], and trick shots are standard fare for the gunmen of the big screen.<ref name="Wisegeek">{{cite web|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-gunslinger.htm|title=What Is a Gunslinger?|publisher=Wisegeek|author=Henry Gaudet|date=4 May 2023 }} September 22, 2014</ref><ref name="Neo"/>

==Fact and fiction==
In real-life, a gunfight could be a spur-of-the-moment, with one drawing his pistol, and the other reacting. Often it would develop into a shootout where both men bolted for cover.<ref>O'Neal (1979) p. 3</ref> Tales tended to grow with repeated telling, and a single fight might grow into a career-making reputation.<ref name="Wisegeek"/><ref name="Old West Gunfight archives"/> For instance, the [[gunfight at the O.K. Corral]] made legends of [[Wyatt Earp]] and the [[Cochise County Cowboys]], but they were relatively minor figures before that conflict. Some gunslingers, such as [[Bat Masterson]], actively engaged in self-promotion. How famous gunfighters died is as varied as each man. Many well-known gunfighters were so feared by the public because of their reputation that when they were killed, they died as a result of [[ambush]] rather than going down in a "blaze of glory".<ref name="Dope"/>

Gunfighters [[King Fisher]], [[John Wesley Hardin]], [[Ben Thompson (lawman)|Ben Thompson]], [[Billy the Kid]], [[Wild Bill Hickok]], and [[Pat Garrett]] all died as a result of ambushes, killed by men who feared them because of their reputation.<ref name="Old West Gunfight archives"/> Gunmen [[Kid Curry]], [[Jim Courtright (gunman)|Jim Courtright]], [[Dallas Stoudenmire]] and [[Dave Rudabaugh]] were killed in raging gun battles, much as portrayed in films about the era, and usually against more than one opponent. [[William P. Longley|Bill Longley]] and [[Tom Horn]] were executed. Famed gunman [[Clay Allison]] died in a wagon accident. Gunmen [[Wyatt Earp]], [[Bat Masterson]], [[Bass Reeves]], [[Commodore Perry Owens]], and [[Luke Short]] all died of natural causes, living out their lives on reputation and avoiding conflict in secluded retirement. Gunfighter and lawman [[Frank Eaton]], known as "Pistol Pete" lived into old age and gained further fame, before his death at age 97, by becoming the mascot for Oklahoma A&M College (now [[Oklahoma State University]]). Rare are the gunfighters who, like [[William Sidney "Cap" Light]], died accidentally by their own hand.<ref name="Old West Gunfight archives"/>

===Skills===
Mythology and folklore often exaggerate the skills of famous gunfighters. Most of these historical figures were not known to be capable of trick shooting, nor did they necessarily have a reputation for precision sharpshooting. Such tropes that are frequently seen in Westerns include shooting the center of a coin, stylistic pistol twirling, glancing shots that intentionally only graze an opponent (the bullet through the hat being an example), shooting an opponent's belt buckle (thus dropping his pants), a bullet cutting the hangman's rope, or shooting the guns out of opponents' hands (typically as an alternative to killing). The last was debunked by ''[[MythBusters|Mythbusters]]'' as an impossibility, as unjacketed bullets tend to shatter into fragments that can hurt or even kill.<ref name="Mythbusters">{{cite web |url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/hollywood-gunslingers.htmp |title=MythBusters: Hollywood Gunslingers|publisher=Discovery Channel|access-date=February 2, 2014 }}</ref> [[Ed McGivern]] dispelled the myth of the inaccuracy of pistol [[Fanning (firearms)|fanning]] by shooting tight groups while fanning the revolver.<ref>''Ed McGivern's Book of Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting''. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. {{ISBN|978-1602390867}}. (2007) pp. 101–103</ref> [[Fast draw|Quick draw]] and hip shooting were rare skills in the West,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/top-shot-2011/episode-7-season-3/tricked-out/305314|title=Top Shot (season 3): Episode 7 ("Tricked Out")|magazine=[[TV Guide]]}} September 20, 2011</ref> and only a handful of historically known gunslingers were known to be fast, such as [[Luke Short]], [[John Wesley Hardin]], and [[Wild Bill Hickok]].<ref name="Neo"/><ref name="Shotdc">{{cite web|url=http://shotdoc.com/myths.asp |title=Old West Myths ... And Things Little Known|website=Shotdoc.com|author=James, Kyrie B.|access-date=2014-02-02|archive-date=2011-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417060626/http://shotdoc.com/myths.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> Shooting a pistol with one hand is normally associated with gunslingers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob101.html|title=Frontier Style Handguns For The Modern Backwoods Home|last=Ayoob |first=Massad |publisher=Backwoods Home Magazine |issue=101 |date=September–October 2006 |access-date=September 27, 2014 }}</ref> and is also a standard for them of the era to carry two guns and fire ambidextrously. [[Jonathan R. Davis|Capt. Jonathan R. Davis]] carried two revolvers in his iconic gunfight,<ref name="Davis"/> while [[Jesse James]] himself carried over half a dozen revolvers in many of his gunfights.<ref name="Jesse">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/james-arsenal/|title=An Outlaw's Arsenal|publisher=American Experience}}</ref>

===Tools===
In Western movies, the characters' gun belts are often worn low on the hip and outer thigh, with the [[Handgun holster|holster]] cut away around the pistol's trigger and grip for a smooth, [[fast draw]]. This type of holster is a Hollywood [[anachronism]].<ref name="Shotdc"/> Fast-draw artists can be distinguished from other movie [[list of cowboys and cowgirls|cowboy]]s because their guns will often be tied to their thigh. Long before [[holsters]] were steel-lined, they were soft and supple for comfortable all-day wear. A gunfighter would use tie-downs to keep his [[pistol]] from catching on the holster while drawing. Most of the time, gunfighters would just hide their pistols in their pockets and waistbands.<ref name="Neo">{{cite web|url=http://www.neatorama.com/2012/06/07/the-truth-about-gunfights-in-the-old-west/|title=The Truth About Gunfights in the Old West|publisher=Neutorama|author=Miss Cellania|date=7 June 2012 }} June 7, 2012</ref> [[Wild Bill Hickok]] popularized the butt-forward holster type, which worked better on horseback.<ref name="Shotdc"/> Other gunfighters would use [[bridgeport rig]]s that gave a faster and easier draw.<ref name="McLachlan2013">{{cite book|last=McLachlan|first=Sean |title=Tombstone – Wyatt Earp, the O.K. Corral, and the Vendetta Ride 1881–82|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SasZmDfha9cC&pg=PT50|access-date=2 August 2013|year=2013|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1780961941|page=50}}</ref> [[Revolver]]s were a popular weapon to gunfighters who were [[Horsemanship|horsemen]], cowboys, and lawmen because of their concealability and effectiveness on horseback.<ref name="Wisegeek"/> The [[Winchester rifle]] was also a popular weapon among gunfighters. Dubbed the "Gun that Won the West", it was widely used during the settlement of the [[American frontier|American frontier.]] [[Shotgun]]s were also a popular weapon for many gunfighters, most notably [[Jim Miller (outlaw)|Jim Miller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/gunslingers-top-10-guns-of-the-most-famous-or-infamous/|title=Gunslingers: Top 10 Guns of the Most Famous or Infamous|website=Gun Mag Warehouse|author=Ainsworth, Kat|date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

==Famous gunfights==
{{for|A list of notable Old West gunfighters|List of Old West gunfighters}}
{{quote box|width=30em|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|quote=
The most important lesson I learned ... was that the winner of a gunplay usually was the one who took his time. The second was that, if I hoped to live on the frontier, I would shun flashy trick-shooting—grandstand play—as I would poison ... In all my life as a frontier peace officer, I did not know a really proficient gunfighter who had anything but contempt for the gun-fanner, or the man who literally shot from the hip...<ref name="Shotdc"/> |source=– [[Wyatt Earp]]}} 

The frequency and drama of gunfights in the "[[Wild West]]" were highly exaggerated by [[dime novel]] authors in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal |first=C. L. |last=Sonnichsen |title=Tombstone in Fiction |journal=Journal of Arizona History |year=1968 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=58–76 |jstor=41695470 }}</ref> An estimate of 20,000 men in the American West were killed by gunshot between 1866 and 1900.<ref name="WildBill">{{cite web|url=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWgunfighters.htm|title=Wild bill vs Tutt duel|publisher=Spartacus Educational|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719170724/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWgunfighters.htm|archive-date=July 19, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Actual gunfights in the Old West were very rare, and when gunfights did occur, their causes varied.<ref name="Neo" /> Some were unpremeditated fights incited by strong emotions, while others were the results of longstanding [[feud]]s, or were between criminals and law enforcement. Lawless violence such as [[range wars]] like the [[Lincoln County War]] and conflicts between white Americans and [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous peoples]] were also causes.<ref name="Old West Gunfight archives" /> Some of these shootouts became famous, while others are lost to history. Gunfights were usually close-up and personal, with a number of shots blasted from pistols, often resulting in innocent bystanders hit by bullets gone wild. Much of the time, it would be difficult to tell who had "won" the gunfight for several minutes, as the black powder smoke from the pistols cleared the air.<ref name="Old West Gunfight archives">{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-gunfights.html|title=Old West Legends|publisher=Legends of America}}</ref>

The most notable and well-known took place in the states/territories of [[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]], [[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]], and [[Texas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neatorama.com/2011/11/21/the-meanest-towns-in-the-west/|title=The Meanest Towns in the West |last=Cellania |first=Miss |date=21 November 2011 |publisher=Neotorama}} November 21, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Eric L. |last=Clements |title=Bust and bust in the mining West |journal=Journal of the West |year=1996 |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=40–53 |issn=0022-5169 }}</ref> To prevent gunfights, many cities in the American frontier, such as [[Dodge City]] and [[Tombstone, Arizona|Tombstone]], issued [[local ordinance|local ordinances]] to prohibit firearms in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Law in Tombstone |url=http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/earp/ordinances.html/ |access-date=8 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213174105/http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/earp/ordinances.html |archive-date=13 December 2013 }}</ref> Some of the most iconic gunfights in Old West history included:
* The [[Gunfight at the O.K. Corral]] that happened in October 26, 1881 between [[Earp Brothers]] together with [[Doc Holliday]], and the [[Clanton-McLaury gang]]. The shootout, which happened when the Earp party attempted to disarm the Cochise cowboys, ended up with the two simultaneously drawing their guns and leaving three of the cowboys dead. The whole affair lasted only 30 seconds, contrary to many of its [[Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (film)|movie adaptations]].<ref name="David" />
* On April 14, 1881, a shootout that became known as the [[Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight]] occurred when [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]] lawman [[Dallas Stoudenmire]] opened fire on armed Mexican [[Vaquero|vaqueros]] inside a saloon with his twin .44 caliber revolvers, killing four, including an innocent bystander.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130102115349/http://www.elpasotimes.com/125/ci_3767809 ''El Paso Times'' article documenting the event]</ref><ref>Metz, Leon Claire. 1979. ''Dallas Stoudenmire: El Paso Marshal''. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. 162 p.</ref>
* Another well-known gunfight occurred on December 19, 1854 when Captain [[Jonathan R. Davis]], a [[Mexican-American War]] veteran and miner, was ambushed by a gang en route to the [[California Gold Rush]]. David ended up killing twelve bandits; the most number of kills in a single gunfight by one man in history.<ref name="Davis">Fournier, Richard. "Mexican War Vet Wages Deadliest Gunfight in American History", ''VFW Magazine'' (January 2012), p. 30.</ref>
* The [[Frisco shootout]] which pitted town sheriff [[Elfego Baca]] against 80 gunmen while holed up inside a cabin. Over 400 bullet holes punctured the house over the course of 36-hours. But during that siege, Baca killed four and wounded several more, resulting in his enemy's retreat.<ref name="David">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/guns/rifles/2009/02/david-e-petzals-five-greatest-gunfights-old-west?photo=1#node-1001320741 |title=Five Greatest Gunfights of the Old West |last=Petzal |first=David |magazine=Field and Stream |access-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073626/http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/guns/rifles/2009/02/david-e-petzals-five-greatest-gunfights-old-west?photo=1#node-1001320741 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The most famous type of gunfight in popular imagination, however, were the one-on-one "[[fast draw|quick-draw]]" duels that happened in the Old West.<ref name="WildBill"/> Although the frequency of such incidents is greatly exaggerated in popular culture, a number of individual shootouts that ulitized such fast draw did occur, though rarely.<ref name="Neo"/><ref name="Dope">{{cite web|url=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2514/did-western-gunfighters-really-face-off-one-on-one|title=Did Western gunfighters really face off one-on-one? |website=Straight Dope|author=Adams, Cecil|access-date=2014-10-04|archive-date=2013-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216210005/https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2514/did-western-gunfighters-really-face-off-one-on-one|url-status=live}}</ref> These duels were first recorded in the South, brought by emigrants to the American Frontier as a crude form of the "[[code duello]]," a highly formalized means of solving disputes between gentlemen with swords or guns that had its origins in European chivalry.<ref name="Willy">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wild-bill-hickok-fights-first-western-showdown |title=Wild Bill Hickok fights first western showdown|publisher=History.com|access-date=October 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006135032/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wild-bill-hickok-fights-first-western-showdown |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> By the second half of the 19th century, few Americans still fought duels to solve their problems, and it became a thing of the past in the United States by the start of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=Politics And Pistols: Dueling In America|url=https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/politics-and-pistols-dueling-in-america/|work=[[History Detectives]]|publisher=[[PBS]]|access-date=2012-07-22}}</ref> Writer Wyatt-Brown in his book ''"Southern Honor: Ethics and Behavior in the Old South"'' described dueling in the American frontier as a "custom", and was primarily used for teenage disputes, rise in rank, status, and scapegoating.<ref>Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. 1982. ''Southern Honor: Ethics and Behavior in the Old South''. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 167, 350–351. {{ISBN|0195325176}}</ref> Some well-known examples included:
* The [[Wild Bill Hickok–Davis Tutt shootout]], which happened on July 21, 1865 in Springfield, Missouri, was arguably the most well-known and most documented.<ref name="WildBill"/><ref name="David"/> [[Wild Bill Hickok]] and Davis Tutt quarreled over cards and decided to have a gunfight. They arranged to meet each other in a plaza at 6 pm. When they were about 50 yards apart, both men drew their guns. The two fired at the same time, but Hickok's shot hit Tutt in the heart, killing him, while Tutt's shot missed.<ref name="Willy"/><ref name="Dope"/>
* The [[Luke Short – Jim Courtright duel|Luke Short-Jim Courtright Duel]] that happened in [[Fort Worth, Texas]].<ref name="David"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-gunfights4.html|title=Gunfighters Part 4|publisher=Legends of America}}</ref> A quarrel between fellow gunfighters [[Luke Short]] and [[Jim Courtright (gunman)|Timothy Isaiah "Longhair Jim" Courtright]] over a protection racket on Short's saloon resulted in a gunfight. As the two men stood three to four feet from each other during an argument, Courtright drew his gun, prompting Short to draw his in reply. The latter ended up emptying his gun at the former, killing him.
* The [[Long Branch Saloon Gunfight|Long Branch Saloon Shootout]], involved [[Levi Richardson]], a buffalo hunter, and [[Frank Loving|"Cockeyed Frank" Loving]], a professional gambler, and happened on April 5, 1879.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-gunfights3.html |title=Gunfights: Long Branch Saloon Shootout |publisher=Legends of America|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321220725/http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-Gunfights3.html |archive-date=2008-03-21 }}</ref> Richardson had developed some affection for Loving's wife Mattie, and the two began to argue about her. In the saloon, Frank sat down at a long table, Richardson turned around and took a seat at the same table. The two were then heard speaking in low voices. After the conversation, Richardson drew his pistol, and Loving drew his in response. The shootout ended with the death of Richardson.
* On March 9, 1877, gamblers [[Jim Levy]] and Charlie Harrison argued over a game of cards in a saloon in [[Cheyenne, Wyoming]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-jimlevy.html|title=Jim Levy – The Jewish Gunfighter|publisher=Legends of America}}</ref> The argument escalated to the point that the two decided to face each other in an alleyway. Harrison shot first but missed. Levy aimed carefully and hit Harrison, who died a week later.<ref>[http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-gunfights2.html#Harrison-Levy Shoot-out (1877) ''Old West Gunfights''. p. 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719110508/http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-gunfights2.html |date=2012-07-19 }} ''Legends of America''</ref><ref name="Dope"/>

==Living on reputation==
Most Old West men who were labeled as being "gunfighters" did not kill nearly as many men in gunfights as they were given credit for, if any at all. They were often labeled as such due to one particular instance, which developed from rumors about them having been involved in many more events than they actually were. Often their reputation was as much "self-promotion" as anything else; such was the case of [[Bat Masterson]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Masterson Laments Loss of Pistol. Was Confiscated, but He Hopes to Get It Back at Auction Sale. |quote="Bat" William B. Masterson, in his own parlance, is "sore." His forty-five caliber pistol which he has carried since the strenuous days of his young manhood has been confiscated. |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 8, 1902}}</ref> [[Wyatt Earp]] with his brothers [[Morgan Earp|Morgan]] and [[Virgil Earp|Virgil]] along with [[Doc Holliday]] killed three outlaw [[The Cowboys (Cochise County)|Cowboys]] in the [[Gunfight at the O.K. Corral]] in [[Tombstone, Arizona|Tombstone]], [[Arizona Territory]]. He has been said to have been involved in more than one hundred gunfights in his lifetime. But Prof. [[Bill O'Neal]] cites just five incidents in his ''Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters''.<ref name="Old West Gunfight archives"/> Earp expressed his dismay about the controversy that followed him his entire life. He wrote in a letter to John Hays Hammond on May 21, 1925, that "notoriety had been the bane of my life."<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~knuthco1/recent/Siringo.htm |journal=Western Outlaw Lawman Association Journal |volume=Winter 2003, Vol. XI |number=4 |pages=16–18 |title=Charlie Siringo, Letter Writer |first=Mark |last=Dworkin |access-date=2011-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153221/http://home.earthlink.net/~knuthco1/recent/Siringo.htm |archive-date=2011-06-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After his brother Virgil was maimed in an ambush and Morgan was assassinated by hidden assailants, the men suspected of involvement were provided alibis by fellow Cowboys and released without trial. Wyatt and his brother [[Warren Earp|Warren]] set out on a [[Earp Vendetta Ride|vendetta ride]] to locate and kill those they felt were responsible. Wyatt has been portrayed in a number of films and books as a fearless Western hero.<ref name=earpnet>{{cite web|first=Steve |last=Gatto |url=http://www.wyattearp.net/ |title=Wyatt Earp History Page |publisher=WyattEarp.Net |access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> He is often viewed as the central character and hero of the [[Gunfight at the O.K. Corral]], at least in part because he was the only one who was not wounded or killed. In fact, his brother, Tombstone Marshal and Deputy U.S. Marshal [[Virgil Earp]] had considerably more experience with weapons and combat as a [[Union Army|Union]] soldier in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], and in law enforcement as a sheriff, constable, and marshal.<ref name=ashford>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film—first-action-hero-wyatt-earp-was-an-elderly-movie-groupie-who-failed-to-make-it-as-an-extra-then-stuart-n-lake-wrote-his-spurious-biography-and-the-starspangled-hero-of-the-o-k-corral-was-born-as-two-new-films-strip-the-myth-to-its-bones-david-ashford-charts-the-making-of-a-hollywood-cowboy-1446479.html |title=First action hero: Wyatt Earp was an elderly movie groupie who failed to make it as an extra ...|access-date=January 10, 2011 |first=David |last=Ashford|date=September 3, 1994 |location=London |work=The Independent}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> As city marshal, Virgil made the decision to disarm the Cowboys in Tombstone and requested Wyatt's assistance.<ref name="virgiltestimony">{{cite web|url=http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/earp/vearptestimony.html|title=Testimony of Virgil Earp in the Preliminary Hearing in the Earp Case|access-date=2011-02-06|year=2005|author=Douglas Linder|work=Famous Trials: The O. K. Corral Trial|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203142604/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/earp/vearptestimony.html|archive-date=2011-02-03}}</ref>

There are no records to support the reputation that [[Johnny Ringo]] developed.<ref>{{cite web |work=Gallatin North Missourian |url=http://www.daviesscountyhistoricalsociety.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=123&mode=mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929155029/http://www.daviesscountyhistoricalsociety.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=123&mode=mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-29 |title=Johnny Ringo Called Gallatin Home as a Boy |date=1992-07-22 |first=Darryl |last=Wilkinson |access-date=15 February 2013 }}</ref> Of the documented instances where Ringo killed men, they were unarmed, and there is no evidence to support his participation in a single gunfight. Others deserved the reputation associated with them. [[Jim Courtright (gunman)|Jim Courtright]] and [[Dallas Stoudenmire]] both killed several men in gunfights both as lawmen and as civilians.<ref>Metz, Leon Claire. 1979. ''Dallas Stoudenmire: El Paso Marshal. Norman,'' University of Oklahoma Press. 162 p.</ref> [[Clay Allison]] and [[Ben Thompson (lawman)|Ben Thompson]] had well-deserved reputations.<ref name=CunninghamS-WO-TAC-AV>Cunningham, Sharon. – [http://www.westernoutlaw.com/stories/files/Allisonforweb.pdf ''"The Allison Clan – A Visit"''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192858/http://www.westernoutlaw.com/stories/files/Allisonforweb.pdf |date=2007-09-27 }}. – Western Outlaw. – (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF document).</ref> At the same time, gunmen like [[Scott Cooley]] are all but unknown, when they actually led a life reflective of what most would consider a gunfighter to be.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnnyringo.com/jrtexas.html |title=The Story of the "King of the Cowboys" |publisher=Johnnyringo.com |access-date=October 4, 2014}}</ref> 

In other cases, certain gunfighters were possibly confused, over time, with being someone else with a similar name. The most well-known of [[Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch]] gang,<ref>{{cite web|title=Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid |url=http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/butch1a.html |publisher=Wyoming Tales and Trails |access-date=August 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001165623/http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/butch1a.html |archive-date=October 1, 2011 }}</ref> the [[Sundance Kid]], was in reality only known to have been in one shootout during his lifetime, and no gunfights. Some [[historian]]s have since stated that it is possible that over time he was confused with another Wild Bunch member, [[Kid Curry]], who was without a doubt the most dangerous member of the gang, having killed many lawmen and civilians during his lifetime before being killed himself.

==Outlaw or lawman==
It is often difficult to separate lawmen of the Old West from outlaws of the Old West. In many cases, the term ''gunfighter'' was applied to constables. Despite idealistic portrayals in television, movies, and even in history books, very few lawmen/gunfighters could claim their law enforcement role as their only source of employment. Unlike contemporary peace officers, these lawmen generally pursued other occupations, often earning money as gamblers, business owners, or outlaws—as was the case with [[William Brocius|"Curly" Bill Brocius]], who, while always referred to as an outlaw, served as a deputy sheriff under sheriff [[Johnny Behan]]. Many shootouts involving lawmen were caused by disputes arising from these alternative occupations, rather than the lawman's attempts to enforce the law.<ref>{{Cite book | last1=Barra | first1=Allen | title=Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends | year=2008 | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | location=Lincoln | isbn=978-0803220584 | page=440}} p.117</ref>

[[Tom Horn]], historically cited as an [[Assassination|assassin]], served both as a deputy sheriff and as a [[Pinkerton National Detective Agency|Pinkerton detective]], a job in which he shot at least three people as a killer for hire.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carlson|first=Chip|year=2001|title=Tom Horn: Blood on the Moon: Dark History of the Murderous Cattle Detective|publisher=High Plains Press|pages=22–28|isbn=978-0931271588}}</ref> [[Ben Thompson (lawman)|Ben Thompson]], best known as a gunfighter and gambler, was a very successful chief of police in [[Austin, Texas]]. [[King Fisher]] had great success as a county sheriff in Texas. Doc Holliday and Billy the Kid both wore badges as lawmen at least once.<ref name=woog>{{cite book |title=Wyatt Earp |last=Woog |first=Adam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_y9wsnur9R0C |publisher=Chelsea House Publications |date= 2010 |isbn=978-1604135978}} p.31</ref> "Big" [[Steve Long]] served as deputy marshal for [[Laramie, Wyoming]], while the entire time committing murders and forced theft of land deeds. 

Known gunmen/lawmen were generally effective, and in time the violence would subside, usually, after the gunman/lawman had been involved in several shooting incidents, eventually leading to a substantial and well-earned fear that kept everyone in line.<ref name="Rosa 1969 p.7-8">Rosa (1969) pp. 7–8</ref> At times they were hired by cattlemen or other prominent figures to serve as [[Henchman|henchmen]] or enforcers during cattle wars. Although sanctioned by law enforcement officials, the gunmen were not always actually deputized. Sometimes, however, just to make things "official", they would go through the formality of deputization.<ref name="Rosa 1969 p.7-8"/> A case in point: the service of the [[Jesse Evans Gang]], and outlaw [[Jesse Evans (outlaw)|Jesse Evans]] himself, as agents for the Murphy-Dolan faction during the [[Lincoln County War]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Nolan|first=Frederick|title=The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History|edition=Revised|publisher=Sunstone Presse|year=2009|orig-year=1992|location=Santa Fe|pages=510, 219|isbn=978-0865347212}}</ref>

Usually, when a gunman was hired by a town as town marshal, they received the full support of the townspeople until order was restored, at which point the town would tactfully indicate it was time for a change to a less dangerous lawman who relied more on respect than fear to enforce the law.<ref name="Rosa 1969 p.7-8"/> A good example was the 1882 decision by the [[El Paso, Texas]], town council to dismiss Town Marshal [[Dallas Stoudenmire]]. He entered the council hall and dared the councilors to try to take his guns or his job, at which point they immediately changed their mind, saying he could keep his job. 

==Legacy==
===Modern gunslinger===
{{Main|Cowboy action shooting}}
[[File:Draggonshoot.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A cowboy action shooter brandishing his revolver]]

People relive the Wild West both historically and in popular culture by participating in cowboy action shooting events,<ref name="GD">{{cite book | last = Taffin | first = John| title = The Gun Digest Book of Cowboy Action Shooting: Guns · Gear · Tactics | publisher = Gun Digest Books| year = 2005| page = 256 | isbn = 978-0896891401 }}</ref> where each gunslinger adopts his or her own look representing a character from Western life in the late 1800s, and as part of that character, chooses an alias to go by. The sport originated in Southern California, USA, in the early 1980s but is now practiced in many places with several sanctioning organizations including the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), Western Action Shootists Association (WASA), and National Congress of Old West Shooters (NCOWS), as well as others in the US and in other countries. There are different categories shooters can compete in. There's the gunfighter, frontiersman, classic cowboy, and duelist – each with its own specifications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/070308/loc_299160292.shtml|title=Modern-day gunslingers enjoy competition and camaraderie|publisher=Lubbockonlinecom|author= Henri Brickey}} July 03, 2008</ref>

Alongside the iconic [[cowboy]], gunfighters have become a cultural image of the American people abroad, and also as an idealized image of violence, [[frontier justice]], and adventure.<ref name="abroad">{{cite book|title=''Encyclopedia of Lawmen, Outlaws, and Gunfighters''|author=Leon Claire Metz|year=2003|publisher=Facts on File| isbn=978-0816045433}} Introduction and p. 63</ref> Even outside of the Western genre, the term 'gunslinger' has been used in modern times to describe someone who is fast and accurate with pistols, either in real life or in other fictional [[Action (fiction)|action]] genres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/gunslinger |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304130707/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/gunslinger |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |title=Oxford definition: Gunslinger|publisher=Oxford Dictionary|access-date=April 12, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gunslinger |title='Gunslinger' definition|publisher=Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online|access-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Modern">{{cite book|title=''The Modern Day Gunslinger: The Ultimate Handgun Training Manual''|author=Don Mann|date=2010|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing| isbn=978-1602399860}} Chapter 1</ref> The [[Fast draw|quick draw]] which gunfighters help popularize, is still an important skill in the American military and law enforcement communities.<ref name="Modern"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pointshooting.com/c96ok.pdf |title=Point shooting |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521012204/http://www.pointshooting.com/c96ok.pdf |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===In popular culture===
{{see also|Gun fu|Heroic bloodshed}}
<!-- [[WP:NFCC]] violation: [[File:JonahHex.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Jonah Hex]]: A famous comic book gunslinger]] -->

Gunfighters have been featured in media even outside the Western genre, often combined with other elements and genres, mainly science-fiction [[space Western]]s, [[steampunk]], and the contemporary setting.<ref name="Dirks"/> Abilities, clothing, and attitude associated with gunfighters are seen in many other genres. An example of this is "[[Han shot first]]", in which [[Han Solo]], a gunfighter-like protagonist in ''[[Star Wars]]'', kills his opponent with a subtle, under-the-table draw.<ref>Howell, Peter, [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1035580321.html?dids=1035580321:1035580321&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+12%2C+2006&author=Peter+Howell&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=At+last%2C+Han+shot+first&pqatl=google "At last, Han shot first"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103195254/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1035580321.html?dids=1035580321:1035580321&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+12,+2006&author=Peter+Howell&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=At+last,+Han+shot+first&pqatl=google |date=2012-11-03 }}, [[Toronto Star]], May 12, 2006</ref> He also wore his holster low on, and tied to, the thigh with a cutaway for the trigger. [[Roland Deschain]] from the fantasy series ''[[The Dark Tower (series)|The Dark Tower]]'' is a gunfighter pitted against fantasy-themed monsters and enemies. Inspired by the "[[Man with No Name]]" and other spaghetti-western characters, he himself is detached or unsympathetic, often reacting as uncaring or angry at signs of cowardice or self-pity, yet he possesses a strong sense of heroism, often attempting to help those in need, a morality much seen in Westerns.<ref>{{cite book|title=Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance |last=King |first=Stephen |author2=Robin Furth |author-link=Stephen King |date= 2006 |publisher=Scribner |isbn=978-0743297349}}</ref>

[[Jonah Hex]], from [[DC Comics]], is a ruthless bounty hunter bound by a personal code of honor to protect and avenge the innocent. [[IGN]] ranked Jonah Hex the 73rd greatest comic book hero of all time.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/73 | title=Jonah Hex is number 73 | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=May 11, 2011 | archive-date=May 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507014532/http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/73 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Throughout the [[DC Universe]], Hex has been, on many occasions, transported from the Old West to the contemporary setting and beyond. Even in unfamiliar territory and time periods, Hex managed to outgun his enemies with more advanced weaponry. [[Two-Gun Kid]] is another comic book gunfighter from [[Marvel Comics]]. Skilled with revolvers, he has aided many superheroes in future timelines, most notably [[She-Hulk]].<ref>''[[She-Hulk]]'' vol. 2, #3 (Feb. 2006).</ref>

Many Japanese [[manga]] and [[anime]] have also adopted the western genre. [[Yasuhiro Nightow]] is known for creating the space Western ''[[Trigun]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title= Trigun: Multiple Bullets TPB |url=http://www.honyaclub.com/shop/g/g14316423/ |language= ja|publisher=[[Shonen Gahosha]] |access-date=2014-02-03 }}</ref> The story's protagonist, [[Vash the Stampede]], is a wandering gunslinger with a dark past. Unlike other violence-themed gunslingers, Vash carries a [[Shane (film)|Shane]]-like [[pacifist]] attitude, and avoids killing men, even dangerous enemies. Behind him is the gun-toting priest named [[Nicholas D. Wolfwood]], who carries with him a heavy machine gun and rocket launcher shaped like a cross. Nicholas is more violent than Vash, and the two would often argue about killing opponents. Other western genre-themed manga and anime include ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' and ''[[Kino's Journey]]'', which both incorporate knight-errant gunslinger themes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Staff Picks: Old School Cartoons |author=Mary|publisher=The Vault Magazine|url=http://www.thevaultmag.com/archives/1173|access-date=May 12, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523001417/http://www.thevaultmag.com/archives/1173|archive-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="off-ln">{{cite web|url=http://kinonotabi.com/|title=キノの旅XVII|trans-title=Kino's Journey XVII|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|access-date=October 17, 2013|language=ja|archive-date=October 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017173954/http://kinonotabi.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Modern-day western gunslingers have also appeared in recent [[Western (genre)#Contemporary western|Neo-Westerns]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/western|title=Genre: Western|publisher=The Script Lab|date=2011-03-26}}</ref> [[Raylan Givens]] from the television series ''[[Justified (TV series)|Justified]]'' shares the same ambiguous moral code of an Old West sheriff, even using a fast draw to dispatch his enemies. The hitman [[Anton Chigurh]] from ''[[No Country for Old Men (novel)|No Country for Old Men]]'' shares many elements of a hunted outlaw.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/empire-magazine-lists-the-100-greatest-movie-characters-of-all-time.php |title= Empire 100 Greatest Movie Characters|magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire.com]] |date=2012-03-24 |access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref> Additionally, the comic book character [[Vigilante (character)|Vigilante]] is a self-proclaimed gunfighter born in the 1940s.<ref>''Action Comics'' #42 (November 1941) Mort Weisinger</ref>

Gunfighters have also been featured in many [[video game]]s, both in traditional Old West and in contemporary and future settings. Colton White was the protagonist of 2005's best-selling western video game ''[[Gun (video game)|Gun]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Action Game of the Year|url=http://www.gamepro.com/games/xbox360/111005/gun/|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430185701/http://www.gamepro.com/games/xbox360/111005/gun/|archive-date=2009-04-30}}</ref> Another well-known video game Western protagonist is [[John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)|John Marston]] from ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]'', who was nominated for 2010 [[Spike Video Game Awards|Spike's Video Game Awards]], as well as his friend [[Arthur Morgan (Red Dead)|Arthur Morgan]] in ''[[Red Dead Redemption 2]]''.<ref name="spike">{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/nominees-for-spike-video-game-awards-2010-revealed-187945.phtml |title=Nominees for Spike Video Game Awards 2010 revealed |website=[[Destructoid]] |date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=April 9, 2013 |archive-date=October 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028165827/http://www.destructoid.com/nominees-for-spike-video-game-awards-2010-revealed-187945.phtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' stated: "he and his creators conjure such a convincing, cohesive and enthralling re-imagination of the real world that it sets a new standard for sophistication and ambition in electronic gaming."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/arts/television/17dead.html?scp=1&sq=Red%20Dead%20Redemption&st=cse | work=The New York Times | first=Seth | last=Schiesel | title=Way Down Deep in the Wild, Wild West | date=May 17, 2010}}</ref> The main character Caleb in the video games ''[[Blood (video game)|Blood]]'' and ''[[Blood II: The Chosen]]'' is also a former Old West gunfighter.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Blood|developer=[[Monolith Productions]]|publisher=[[GT Interactive]]|platform=PC|quote=In an age and a region renowned for cruelty and violence, Caleb was legendary. Born in western Texas in 1847, he had sealed a reputation as a merciless gunfighter by the age of 17.|year=1997}}</ref> Gunfighter is also a callsign for a group of two [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|Apache Helicopters]] in the video game ''[[Medal of Honor (2010 video game)|Medal of Honor]]''. They appear on a mission named "Gunfighters", and the player will act as Captain Brad "Hawk" Hawkins from 1st Aviation Regiment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://guides.gamepressure.com/medalofhonor/guide.asp?ID=10018 |title=Gunfighters Walkthrough – Medal of Honor Game Guide |publisher=Game Pressure}}</ref>

Former professional [[American football]] [[quarterback]] [[Brett Favre]] was nicknamed "The Gunslinger" due to his rural, Southern upbringing and his wild, risky, quick-throwing play style that led him to great success in the [[National Football League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staugnews.com/2011/11/03/the-gunslinger-brett-favre.html|title=The Gunslinger – Brett Favre|publisher=Staugnews.com|access-date=2012-08-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921001321/http://staugnews.com/2011/11/03/the-gunslinger-brett-favre.html|archive-date=2012-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?id=3276619|title=Gunslinger mentality defined Favre|author=Mike Sando|date=4 March 2008|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book|author=O'Neal, Bill|author-link=Bill O'Neal|title=Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters|publisher= University of Oklahoma Press |date=1979}}
* {{cite book|author=Rosa, Joseph G.|author-link=Joseph G. Rosa|title=The Gunfighter: Man or Myth?|url=https://archive.org/details/gunfightermanorm0000rosa|url-access=registration|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |date=1969}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author=Cunningham, Eugene |title=Triggernometry: A Gallery of Gunfighters|date=1934 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |edition=1996}}
* {{cite web|website=utexas.edu |url=http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/ucla/lubet48.htm |title=Slap Leather, Gunfighter Myth |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213073825/http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/ucla/lubet48.htm |archive-date=2007-02-13 }}

{{Gunfights and feuds in the Old West}}
{{American frontier}}
{{Stock characters}}
{{Firearms}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gunslingers of the American Old West| ]]
[[Category:American mercenaries]]
[[Category:Stock characters]]