Old Bill Dibble
New member
I don't know that much about the Old West frontier era, or honestly much about pistols of that time.
The movies would have us believe that a man wouldn't even take a bath without a gun. Everyone seemed to carry one; in town, in the saloon, on the range... everywhere (except Tombstone). I find it tough to believe that pistol usage was that widespread given the cost of the guns, ammo and overall capabilities of the side arms of the day.
If anyone in the know could direct me to some solid historical evidence I would be curious to see it.
ETA- Not just "cowboys" that would seem to limit it to ranch hands, but overall gun carry during the frontier era is what I am curious about.
The movies would have us believe that a man wouldn't even take a bath without a gun. Everyone seemed to carry one; in town, in the saloon, on the range... everywhere (except Tombstone). I find it tough to believe that pistol usage was that widespread given the cost of the guns, ammo and overall capabilities of the side arms of the day.
If anyone in the know could direct me to some solid historical evidence I would be curious to see it.
ETA- Not just "cowboys" that would seem to limit it to ranch hands, but overall gun carry during the frontier era is what I am curious about.