Your Gunslinging Heroes

It was books that got me into blackpowder shooting. The first was Across the Wide Missouri by Bernard DeVoto. The premier book on the mountain man in the northern Rockies. I got myself a blackpowder rifle, took up bp hunting and even attended a few rendezvous after being inspired by his book.

Then for the revolving pistols it was Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. Glanton, Davy Brown, the Judge, black Jackson. That was the baddest bunch that ever packed a Walker!
 
Wild Bill

James Butler Hickok was the greatest - Sheriff, Marshall, Scout, Guide, Stage Driver, Spy, Soldier, Legend
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I am amazed that none of you mentioned Marshall Bill Tighlman(Tillman) who was the best gunfigher in the US Marshalls service. Or Bat Masterson who was a true gunfighter before he became a sportswriter for a New York newpaper.
 
John wesley hardin

I do not know if I look up to him because he was a known murderer. But he came from Texas like me and was born in my families hometown of Bonham, Texas. He also claims to have pulled the Border Roll on Wild Bill.

But in his auto biography he told a story about getting in a gunfight on the plains with a broken cap-n-ball pistol. He shot with his right hand while holding the cylinder in place with his left. If he is telling the truth I think this puts him up there, if he is lying, well he still "Killed 44 men, one of em just for snoring too loud."
 

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Real life- Juaquin Jackson, Texas Ranger who was sent to quell a riot and the sheriff asked if one was all they sent. His reply- you only have one riot, don't you?
Charactors- Tom Selleck of course, NRA member and proud of it! John
 
I'd have to go with a guy that ended up in my current area...Porter Rockwell. The nickname for sawed off revolver barrels 'avenging angel' can be traced back to him.
 
Gotta be John Coffee "Jack" Hays of the Texas Rangers for me.

If even half the stories about him are true he was A) an amazing man and B) out of his everlovin' mind! :D
 
Gotta be John Coffee "Jack" Hays of the Texas Rangers for me.

If even half the stories about him are true he was A) an amazing man and B) out of his everlovin' mind!


Yea Hays was something. It was him and his company of Texas Rangers that first put the Colt Patersons to good use.
 
I'm very particular to whom I apply the word, "hero."
My own definition of hero, as I see it, is someone who makes sacrifices above the norm, for the common good; someone who is, or should be, greatly admired for doing so.

I don't count murderers and thieves as heroes. True, they had character and some had a sense of humor, but I don't conveniently forget that they were thieves, or caused untold grief with wanton -- as opposed to justified -- gunplay.

But if I had to pick I'd say Annie Oakley should be admired not so much for her shooting as for her early work at women's rights. She was an early prototype for the liberated woman and I believe she inspired many women to enter fields that were not usually available to them.
As far as her sacrifice goes, she endangered her career on numerous occasions by being outspoken against injustices concerning women and Native Americans.
Bill Cody was also sympathetic to Indians. Though he was more of a businessman, and had to portray them in the arena as savages in order to ensure a profit, outside of the arena he treated them fairly and tried to present them as a dignified, human rather than a bloodthirsty savage.

In 1995 I met a man who actually knew Buffalo Bill Cody. Ted was 12 when Cody died in 1917 but Ted lived in Cody, Wyoming and his father worked for Wild Bill. Ted had nothing but admiration and high praise for Cody.

But thieves and murderers as heroes? No, thank you.
 
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