One journalist reckoned that if Munden had WebAt first, we all though AN-94 was a decent or between good and bad weapon. he should be number 1 or 2, The James younger gang were a band of men who fought ANd killed over A Hundred men in northfield they were attacked by an entire town of people armed with Various small arms, many of the townsmen were ex union soldiers, , the youngerS were shot during the raid n then again on the chase, , Cole was shot 12 times, shoot Any man on the abovE list 12 tImes n see who surrenders. [40] They met in an alley following an argument about a card game. The gunfight caused a huge scandal, and friends of the cowboys soon retaliated, wounding Wyatts brother Virgil and killing Morgan. Killers friends managed to escape with him, only to find that he had been wearing a metal plate under his shirt, which had blocked all of Frazers bullets. But the absolute, without-a-doubt, hands-down, fastest gun in the West? The same could be said for Holliday. A little closer look, though, reveals that Earp who never was wounded in a gunfight and died at age 80 of natural causes maybe wasn't that fast. And Wyatt Earp, though he wasn't the fastest gun in the fight, came out without a scratch. The first man had been fatally wounded in the exchange and tried to draw his pistol before Patton killed him with a single shot. Marshal Virgil Earp had considerably more experience with weapons and combat as a Union soldier in the Civil War, and in law enforcement as a sheriff, constable, and marshal. Often their reputation was as much "self-promotion" as anything else; such was the case of Bat Masterson. Went by the name of no names, that is to say he never attended to a single identity. Both men were still standing, although Richardson had fired five shots from his gun and Loving's Remington No. the old west sounds like it would be a wild time in life. All told, Billy the Kid is said to have killed a total of 21 men, one for each of the years of his life, though this number is often regarded as inaccurate and exaggerated. In many cases, the term gunfighter was applied to constables. [78], Gunfighters have also been featured in many video games, both in traditional Old West and in contemporary and future settings. Even other gunslingers were likely to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. 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. The gunfight at the O.K. I do find this hard to believe. In fact, the faster draw generally misses, and therefore gets killed.". Its kill or be killed. Wyatt responded by sending several rounds into Billy. There is no clear evidence that Doc Holiday ever killed anyone before Tom McClaury at the Many gun toters who did the same often lined their pockets with silk or another slippery material so as to keep the gun from catching on the fabric in case they needed to pull it out quickly. After a longstanding feud with Pecos Sheriff George A. Frazer, Miller shot Frazer in a Toyah, Texas, saloon. He died the next day. Blevins refused and tried to close the door. He was known for carrying two pistols in holsters strapped to his chest, which he claimed facilitated the quick draw, and he used them to gun down three more people in various gunfights soon after his flight. [39] Richardson had developed some affection for Loving's wife Mattie, and the two began to argue about her. Wyatt Earp searched for Ike Clanton in his vendetta, but never found him Ike moved north to Apache County to continue rustling cattle and killing. Doc instantly killed Tom with blasts from his shotgun. Hickock was acquitted of all charges, having claimed self-defense. Fisher drew his guns but was shot13 times and killed. [9] Wild Bill Hickok popularized the butt-forward holster type, which worked better on horseback. Degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from Pennsylania College of Dental Surgery. What? He probably embellished in his book, just to make things sound interesting. [69] He also wore his holster low on, and tied to, the thigh with a cutaway for the trigger. Andy Blevins answered with a pistol in hand, the lawman told him to come out, that he had a warrant for arrest. The Blevins sons searched for their father and in August Hamp Blevins and another were killed by the Tewksbury side. Harrison shot first but missed. [9][15] Shooting a pistol with one hand is normally associated with gunslingers,[18] and is also a standard for them of the era to carry two guns and fire ambidextrously. Earp wasnt even on the street when this occurred. Famed lawman Wyatt Earp is perhaps the most storied figure of the Old West, but he was also an accomplished gunslinger who was greatly feared by the bandits of the time. Sometimes, however, just to make things "official", they would go through the formality of deputization. The following month Hickok was acquitted after pleading self-defense. In 1895, he was killed after being shot in the back by a lawman in El Paso, Texas. That 30-second throwdown, which came to be known as the Gunfight at the O.K. His mother ran out after him. Nothing proved Earp's mettle more than the tumultuous gunfight near the O.K. Historians believe this event explains some of his shockingly brutal actions. Even accuracy is low on the list. not dentistry) a hard reputation was a definite benefit. James Butler Hickok is one of the most famous gunmenof the Old West. [72], Many Japanese manga and anime have also adopted the western genre. Well, Little Bill never met Bob Munden, the man who the Guinness Book of World Records calls the "Fastest Man with a Gun Who Ever Lived." He came to Dodge first in the spring of 1876 and left or good in fall of 79. [citation needed], Mythology and folklore often exaggerate the skills of famous gunfighters. I watched Unforgiven tonite for the 15th time (give or take) and you may cringe but when Clint rides past Ned on the porch it is just surreal to me. Bass himself was shot, but he escaped and was found lying in a field west of Round Rock. I truly enjoyed the background information on each man. Robert Olinger Killer With a Badge. ", "Old West Myths And Things Little Known", "Top Shot (season 3): Episode 7 ("Tricked Out")", "Frontier Style Handguns For The Modern Backwoods Home", "Five Greatest Gunfights of the Old West", "6 Real-Life Gunslingers Who Put Billy the Kid to Shame", "Wild Bill Hickok fights first western showdown", "Politics And Pistols: Dueling In America", "First action hero: Wyatt Earp was an elderly movie groupie who failed to make it as an extra ", "Testimony of Virgil Earp in the Preliminary Hearing in the Earp Case", "Johnny Ringo Called Gallatin Home as a Boy", "Modern-day gunslingers enjoy competition and camaraderie", "Nominees for Spike Video Game Awards 2010 revealed", "Gunfighters Walkthrough Medal of Honor Game Guide", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gunfighter&oldid=1137100133, Articles with dead external links from August 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 20:22. Blevins returned to Holbrook and was heard bragging about his killings. Fisher is alleged to have clubbed the nearest one to him with a branding iron, then as a second drew a pistol Fisher drew his own pistol and shot the man, killing him. Allison fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, but was discharged after a blow to the head started causing erratic behavior in him. The well-worn picture we have of a Wild West gunfight a tension-filled standoff in the middle of a dusty street, often at high noon, won invariably by the man who unholsters his gun more quickly than his opponent is largely fiction. In the early 1870s, Fisher became known as a bandit when he started running with a group of outlaws who raided ranches in Mexico. Gunfighters range from different occupations including lawman, outlaw, cowboy, exhibitionists and duelist, but are more commonly synonymous to a hired gun who made a living with his weapons in the Old West. This story is not true because Laurel arrived the first time in the USA (was english) in 1910 together with Chaplin (born english too) for the first American tour and met Oliver Hardy ten years later. Just because Wyatt Earp was a lawman doesn't mean he wasn't involved in a lot of gunfights. In turn, the cowboy called upon 80 of his associates to murder Baca. Fournier, Richard. The group called themselves the Regulators, but soon it gained its own reputation for violence, and its members were branded as outlaws. This was the first recorded example of two men taking part in a quick-draw duel. After the confession, Wyatt told Cruz to draw, challenging him to a duel, and the posse counted to three before Wyatt gunned Cruz down. If you look very closely at the photo on the right side of the crowd, behind the fence you will see the comedy team Laurel and Hardy who were waiting on a train. So whats the title of the book and when was it published (and by whom)? Gentleman. in a rare book in my library, written by Sheriff Pat Garret who killed Billy the Kid and was a personal friend of Wyatt Earp, he claimed that Doc Holliday started killing as a teen. He killed at least 16 or 17 men and perhaps many, many more. Gentleman. I love the sitebut wish to heaven I could correct it's many SPELLING errors. Unlike other violence-themed gunslingers, Vash carries a Shane-like pacifist attitude, and avoids killing men, even dangerous enemies. The list is missing Kid Curry/Harvey Logan. Earp was on the police force of Wichita until he was released over a dispute . [28] Gunfighters in history did fight Native Americans. Gun Fighter. After one of the gang turned informant, Bass and his men were ambushed by Texas Ranger Sergeant Richard Ware and Ranger George Herold in Round Rock, Texas, where the gang attempted to rob the Williamson County Bank. Of his long life he was a policeman a total of about 35 months. Your list is worthless without him in the top 3 at least! He ten went to Dodge City for a while. In Hickoks hand when he was killed were aces and eights, later known as the Dead Mans Hand.. "Having said that, there was this sense of a reputation of dangerous men with a gun. ', "When it comes to gunfights, the idea is to stay alive, not necessarily draw fast. [11] In popular folklore, men who held noteworthy reputations as a gunfighter were eager to match up against another gunman with the same reputation. This only marked the beginning of what would be a bloody campaign for Stoudenmire as sheriff. But Prof. Bill O'Neal cites just five incidents in his Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters. The two were then heard speaking in low voices. But they were just as apt to be like the O.K. Still, there is no denying that he was responsible for a great many other killings. Owens shot through the wall, striking Andy in the right hip he died that night. In 1900, Miller began offering his services as a paid assassin, committing over six murders. In June 1887 Old Man Blevins disappeared, presumably killed by the Tewksbury faction of the Pleasant Valley War. The shootout took less than one minute and made Owens a legend. Gordon wanted her to stop working. The following are ten of the most famousand downright deadlyof these Old West gunslingers. [79] Another well-known video game Western protagonist is John Marston from Red Dead Redemption, who was nominated for 2010 Spike's Video Game Awards, as well as his friend Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2. In actuality, this kind of thing very rarely occurred, and the true life Western storieslike Wild Bill Hickok being shot in the back while playing cardstell a much more gruesome and less gallant tale. Wyatt became a marshal and met and befriended John Doc Holliday. Clanton had instigated the Gunfight at the OK Corral and was charged with the later ambush shooting of Virgil Earp. Commercial agency in Fort Worth, which provided "protection" to gambling dens and saloons in return for a portion of their profits. He should be replaced on the list by John Ringo or the Sundance Kid-. Gordon died the next day and Holliday fled. There they found themselves victims of an ambush. This garnered nation wide news. He wrote in a letter to John Hays Hammond on May 21, 1925, that "notoriety had been the bane of my life. But the Dodge City gunfighter told Courtright to "go to Hell," and that he could do anything that was necessary to take care of his business. Owens shot his rifle from his hip through the door, hitting Andy Blevins in the stomach. Robert Clay Allison was born to Jeremiah Scotland Allison, a Texas cattle rancher and Presbyterian minister, and Mariah Ruth Brown Allison on September 2, 1841, in Tennessee. [43] Gunfighters Jim Levy and Tom Carberry became infamous for participating in at least two quick draw duels in their lifetimes. He was buried on his ranch, and later his remains were moved to Pioneer Cemetery in Uvalde, Texas. [21][25] Wild Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt quarreled over cards and decided to have a gunfight. Get real. There's the gunfighter, frontiersman, classic cowboy, and duelist each with its own specifications. Ferd Patterson Living and Dying by the Gun. Press Esc to cancel. "What I say is it's the ability to make good decisions under stress. [83], 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.[84][85]. [15] Other gunfighters would use bridgeport rigs that gave a faster and easier draw. [44][45], 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. [62], 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. Orrin Porter Rockwell killed more people than any of these guys, he is not as well known because of being in the far west. Bill Longley and Tom Horn were executed. He was rumored to have killed hundreds but more likely killed 50 or 60. Davis whipped out his Bowie knife and quickly warded off the thrusts from the two of the bandits. [7], Western gunslinger heroes are portrayed as local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, nomadic loners, or skilled fast-draw artists. It's Hollywood. Later in the same month, he killed a man in an argument in Limestone County, and two weeks later shot a man who attempted to rob him. Wyatt Earps daring and apparent recklessness in time of danger is wholly characteristic; personal fear doesnt enter into the equation, and when everything is said and done, I believe he values his own opinion of himself more than that of others, and it is his own good report he seeks to preserve He never at any time in his career resorted to the pistol excepting cases where such a course was absolutely necessary. A gunfighter, gambler, showman, and peace officer, Hickok may have killed more than 100 men. The son of a Methodist preacher, Hardin displayed a capacity for violence early on in life when he stabbed a fellow student in the schoolyard at the age of 14. John was shot in the back of The James boys ran for there lives when a bunch of townspeople started shooting, and the Youngers did fight back but were shot to pieces. Often, a gunfight was spur-of-the-moment, with one drawing his pistol, and the other reacting. As time went on single-shot, muzzle-loading weapons were replaced by repeating guns like the revolver, shotgun and breech-loading rifles such as the 1873 Finally, he shot many more. In fact , in Dodge the city leaders wanted to keep a fine a balance between wild and tame in order to keep the attraction of the Texas Cattle drives. In 1884, Miller shot John Thomas Coop, his sisters husband, in the head after an argument. William H. Bonney, was born in 1859 in New York City to Patrick McCarty and Catherine Devine. Two-Gun Kid is another comic book gunfighter from Marvel Comics. He killed at least 17 and was credited or at least partially credited with up to 180 from his bushwacking days correct this error or your list is meaningless. Earp, as any Wild West buff knows, was in the center of the most famous street fight in American history. On February 8, 1887, the two quarreled, and with Bat Masterson at Short's side, Courtright and Short dueled in the street. Haha! how about Jesse James? By 1879 he had moved to Tombstone with his brothers Virgil and James, and got involved in a feud with Tom and Frank McLaury and Ike and Billy Clanton. The two fired at the same time, but Hickok's shot hit Tutt in the heart, while Tutt's shot missed. Doesnt add up so your story cant be true. [41], Not as well known today but famous in his time was the dapper, derby-wearing train robber Marion Hedgepeth, who despite his swell appearance, "was a deadly killer and one of the fastest guns in the Wild, Wild West". The most well-known of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang,[55] the Sundance Kid, was in reality only known to have been in one shootout during his lifetime, and no gunfights. One of the most downright murderous figures of the Old West, Jim Killer Miller was an assassin and gunfighter who is credited with killing at least 14 people, though legend has it that the number is somewhere closer to 50. Hardin replied with a shot to Bradleys head and one to his chest. There is more speculation than history in this list. [70], Jonah Hex, from DC Comics, is a ruthless bounty hunter bound by a personal code of honor to protect and avenge the innocent. He was wounded several times but stayed in service until the end of the war. I have often remarked, and I am not alone in my conclusions, that what goes for courage in a man is generally fear of what others will think of him in other words, personal bravery is largely made up of self-respect, egotism, and apprehension of the opinions of others. Hickok got his start as a constable and rider for the Pony Express, but he gained a reputation for being handy with a gun after he killed outlaw David McCanles with a single bullet from 75 yards away. [29], General George S. Patton himself had a gunfight when he was a young second lieutenant chasing Pancho Villa all over northern Mexico in 1916. After more problems with the law, Bonney was captured and sentenced to death. After more killings over the next three years, Hardin was captured by the Texas Rangers and sentenced to25 years at Texas State Prison in Huntsville. [51] Of the documented instances where Ringo killed men, they were unarmed, and there is no evidence to support his participation in a single gunfight. When they were about 50 yards apart, both men drew their guns. Ben Thompson was a gambler, gunfighter, and sometimes lawman who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous figures of the Old West. Often it would develop into a shootout where both men bolted for cover. Hickok was playing poker when he was shot in the back of the head by a gambler named Jack McCall, supposedly in retaliation for a prior insult. Doc Holliday was able to speak Latin and French pretty good. Following his resignation, he developed a reputation as a killer for hire, and is said to have been responsible for the deaths of some 20 cattle rustlers over the course of several years. 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". [25] The gunfight itself did not actually happen in the corral but in a vacant lot outside of it. However, Joseph Rosa noted that, even though Masterson used the term "gunfighter", he "preferred the term 'mankiller'" when discussing these individuals. While in the South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains, Earp's posse found one of the outlaw cowboys named "Indian Charlie" Cruz. Hickhock should be second or first. [26] Wounded and dying, Billy Clanton fired blindly into the gun smoke encircling him, striking Virgil's leg. After failing to succeed in business, he joined a group of outlaws and began robbing stagecoaches. [citation needed], Most gunfights are portrayed in films or books as having two men square off, waiting for one to make the first move. [1], Another classic bit of cinema that is largely a myth is the showdown at high noon, where two well-matched gunslingers agree to meet for a climactic formal duel. And in a close-range free-for-all, speed is not all it's cracked up to be. In the end the fight lasted only 30 seconds or so, with at least 20 shots being fired Billy Clanton and both McLaury brothers died. Doc Holliday has also been credited with wounding and shooting a pistol out of saloon owner Milt Joyce's hand when he tried to brandish it at Holliday. To prevent gunfights from happening, many cities in the American frontier, such as Dodge City and Tombstone, put up a local ordinance to prohibit firearms in the area. [citation needed], There are no records to support the reputation that Johnny Ringo developed. Wyatt Earp should be #03, actually, hes had a rough life as a teamster against raiding parties, comancheros, and outlaws as a teamster, saloon, of course, Marshal. It's "Gunfight at the O.K. [citation needed], 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. Type above and press Enter to search. I guess that a good-olde Hispanic gunfighter cannot make this list. His gravestone is said to read: Clay Allison. [7] Abilities, clothing, and attitude associated with gunfighters are seen in many other genres. Others deserved the reputation associated with them. Billys group, called the Regulators, became known for their wanton violence, and were themselves soon regarded as outlaws. Hardin Senior was a Methodist minister who settled his family in Trinity County, Texas, in 1859. I live in Colorado where Doc is reportedly buried and he knifed a man to death in Denver over a card game (knife instead of gun because there were no guns allowed in Denver at the time.) My grand father was one of the mob who drug Miller out of the and hung him. Allison died in 1887 when he broke his neck after falling from a wagon. Also unlike the movies: Wyatt Earp wasn't even wearing a holster at the O.K. He once told someone that the only times he wasn't nervous was when he was working on teeth or killing somebody. "Wyatt thought, 'I better take Frank [McLaury], because he's more dangerous. Gordon then started shooting at him but missed. Sheriff Owens had inherited a warrant for Andy Blevins' (Cooper) arrest for horse theft so he rode to Holbook on September 2, 1887. He was buried in Alleyton Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas. Ike Clanton panicked as well and ran towards Wyatt pleading for his life. Henry McCarty, a.k.a. It is this ailment that many historians have said explains his shockingly brutal actions, which included once beheading a man he suspected of murder and carrying the head into his favorite bar. Frank Loving, who had only a slight scratch on his hand, was immediately taken to jail. He was buried in Round Rock Cemetery, and the road to the cemetery was later named Sam Bass Road. Patton and 10 enlisted men had been sent to San Miguelito Ranch to look for Villa, who had recently raided the city of Columbus, New Mexico. [7], In films, the gunslinger often possesses a nearly superhuman speed and skill with the revolver. Most experts believe the real number is right around 100 men. Show They followed them to the horse barn and witnessed the hanging. One of those killed was an innocent Mexican bystander. The captain reacted in an instant. [13] Ed McGivern dispelled the myth of the inaccuracy of pistol fanning by shooting tight groups while fanning the revolver. Theres no question about him being in gunfights and being fast. [citation needed], On April 14, 1881, lawman Dallas Stoudenmire participated in a gunfight in El Paso, Texas which many dubbed the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight, in which he killed three of the four fatalities with his twin .44 caliber Colt revolvers. Over the next several years, Allison was reported to have killed several men over disagreements, and in one case he decapitated a man and brought the severed head into a saloon. Corral.". For other uses, see, For a list of notable Old West gunfighters, see. [citation needed], The Long Branch Saloon Shootout, involving Levi Richardson, a buffalo hunter, and "Cockeyed Frank" Loving, a professional gambler, happened on April 5, 1879. The group was eventually broken up by law enforcement, but the Kid managed to elude capture. They appear on a mission named "Gunfighters", and the player will act as Captain Brad "Hawk" Hawkins from 1st Aviation Regiment. He then went back to the saloon. [46] Wyatt Earp with his brothers Morgan and Virgil along with Doc Holliday killed three outlaw Cowboys in the Gunfight at the O.K. In 1884, Fisher was ambushed and killed, along with Ben Thompson, by friends of a man whom Thompson had previously killed in a gun battle. He sent two deputies to arrest Ike Clanton. [63][64] 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 genres. [53] 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. They had ordered the Cowboys to give up their guns earlier in the day, warning them with a pistol-whipping at the hands of Wyatt. Still, theres no denying that among the bandits and lawmen of the day there were a number of larger-than-life gunfighters whose exploits helped pave a bloody path for the characters that would later populate Western movies and dime novels. WebBob Munden is probably the fastest gunslinger to have ever lived, period. In 1880, Allison relocated to Mobeetie, Texas, where he met and married America Medora Dora McCulloch. Earp, as historians long have recognized, possessed an almost preternatural coolness under fire. WebIn the film Tombstone (1993), Doc Holliday was portrayed by Val Kilmer. [60] While technically working as lawmen, they were little more than hired guns. Earp's fellow lawman and general Old West badass Bat Masterson once said that speed in a gunfight is probably the least important factor in winning. The deadliest gunfighter was probably someone who is not very famous today, and perhaps obsure back then. Lawless violence such as range wars like the Lincoln County War and clashes with Indians were also a cause. That year he opened a dental office in Atlanta. Billy Claiborne ran as soon as shots were fired and was already out of sight. Our newest biography website and YouTube channel. It didnt happen. And on that day, Earp was not the fastest gunslinger in town. Horn was finally caught and hanged in 1901 after being linked to the murder of a 14-year-old boy. Some of his time in Dodge he was on the police force there. [12] Others died secluded deaths either from old age or illness. In Docs profession ( Gambling, That 30-second throwdown, which came to be known as He was released from his sentence after having served17 years, and became a lawyer in El Paso.