Gunfighter
Gunfighters, also called gunslingers, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a firearm and participated in deadly shootouts. The gunfighter can be a lawman, outlaw, cowboy, shooting exhibitionist, or a hired gun, who is quick on the draw with a handgun or highly-skilled with rifles and shotguns. 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.
Nevertheless, the gunfighter had an impact in both history and in popular culture, becoming one of the most enduring characters in the 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. The influence of gunfighters also garnered interest internationally, with many foreign fictional characters and stories derived or based from the character of the gunfighter.
Origin of the term
In his introduction to The Shootist, 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". Swarthout seems to have been correct about "gunslinger", but the term "gunfighter" existed in several newspapers in the 1870s. 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. On the other hand, the term "gunslinger" was first used in the Western film Drag Harlan. The word was soon adopted by other Western writers, such as Zane Grey, and became common usage. Clay Allison, a notorious New Mexico and Texas gunman and cattleman, originated the term "shootist".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". 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 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, 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 1879 Skeleton Canyon massacre.Depiction in culture
Gunslingers frequently appear as stock characters in Western movies and novels, 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. 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, possessing an independent and honorable attitude. 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 In films, the gunslinger often possesses a nearly superhuman speed and skill with the revolver. Twirling pistols, lightning draws, and trick shots are standard fare for the gunmen of the big screen.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. Tales tended to grow with repeated telling, and a single fight might grow into a career-making reputation. 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".Gunfighters King Fisher, John Wesley Hardin, 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. Gunmen Kid Curry, 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. 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. Rare are the gunfighters who, like William Sidney "Cap" Light, died accidentally by their own hand.
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, shooting an opponent's belt buckle, a bullet cutting the hangman's rope, or shooting the guns out of opponents' hands. The last was debunked by Mythbusters as an impossibility, as unjacketed bullets tend to shatter into fragments that can hurt or even kill. Ed McGivern dispelled the myth of the inaccuracy of pistol fanning by shooting tight groups while fanning the revolver. Quick draw and hip shooting were rare skills in the West, and only a handful of historically known gunslingers were known to be fast, such as Luke Short, John Wesley Hardin, and Wild Bill Hickok. Shooting a pistol with one hand is normally associated with gunslingers, and is also a standard for them of the era to carry two guns and fire ambidextrously. Capt. Jonathan R. Davis carried two revolvers in his iconic gunfight, while Jesse James himself carried over half a dozen revolvers in many of his gunfights.Tools
In Western movies, the characters' gun belts are often worn low on the hip and outer thigh, with the holster cut away around the pistol's trigger and grip for a smooth, fast draw. This type of holster is a Hollywood anachronism. Fast-draw artists can be distinguished from other movie cowboys 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. Wild Bill Hickok popularized the butt-forward holster type, which worked better on horseback. Other gunfighters would use bridgeport rigs that gave a faster and easier draw. Revolvers were a popular weapon to gunfighters who were horsemen, cowboys, and lawmen because of their concealability and effectiveness on horseback. 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. Shotguns were also a popular weapon for many gunfighters, most notably Jim Miller.Famous gunfights
The frequency and drama of gunfights in the "Wild West" were highly exaggerated by dime novel authors in the late 19th century. An estimate of 20,000 men in the American West were killed by gunshot between 1866 and 1900. Actual gunfights in the Old West were very rare, and when gunfights did occur, their causes varied. Some were unpremeditated fights incited by strong emotions, while others were the results of longstanding feuds, 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 were also causes. 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.The most notable and well-known took place in the states/territories of Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. To prevent gunfights, many cities in the American frontier, such as Dodge City and Tombstone, issued local ordinances to prohibit firearms in the area. 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 movie adaptations.
- On April 14, 1881, a shootout that became known as the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight occurred when El Paso lawman Dallas Stoudenmire opened fire on armed Mexican vaqueros inside a saloon with his twin.44 caliber revolvers, killing four, including an innocent bystander.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. 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.
- The Luke Short-Jim Courtright Duel that happened in Fort Worth, Texas. A quarrel between fellow gunfighters Luke Short and 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 Shootout, involved Levi Richardson, a buffalo hunter, and "Cockeyed Frank" Loving, a professional gambler, and happened on April 5, 1879. 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. 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.