Guns and their history: The most famous real Western Gunfighters (Part II)

When we think of gunfighters, our minds are filled with iconic cinematographic images starring figures such as Clint Eastwood, John Wayne or Lee Van Cleef. However, the term 'gunslinger' was popularized mainly thanks to Western genre films at the beginning of the 20th century. In reality, those who served as inspiration for these film characters existed in a tangible way, although they were more commonly known as 'man-killers'.

The famous Wild West gunfights, which took place primarily in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, California, Missouri, and Colorado, were more frequent than one might anticipate and considerably bloodier than artistic depictions. Territorial disputes, feuds between families or controversies over water and land rights were more than enough reasons to trigger shooting confrontations in the streets.

These skilled gunslingers could play a variety of roles, from law enforcement to cowboys, ranchers, farmers, bounty hunters, and outlaws. They had the ability to quickly change sides, either fighting on the side of legality or adopting a more rebellious lifestyle. In fact, some of them took pride in their misdeeds, while others earned their infamous reputation not only through rumours, but also by being genuinely skilled and skilled with their firearms.

DENIX Gold Rush in the Old West story by Sándor Senkó

Below we present to you the most skilful, feared, skilled, mean and popular men of the Far West; real gunmen and bounty hunters who brought more than one problem to the county sheriffs.

John Wesley Hardin

Real name: John Wesley Hardin
Year of birth: 1854
Place of birth: Bonham, Texas.
Favourite gun: Colt 45 Single Action Army

Known as the "Lethal Record Man of the Far West," John Wesley Hardin built a bloody reputation with 58 kills to his name, including that of 4 Marshall Sheriffs, including the famous Bat Masterson. His fame spread throughout the West, making him a legendary figure. The possibility that Clint Eastwood took his story to film shows the richness and complexity of his exploits.

Hardin was an unabashed outlaw, acting alone, whether robbing banks or small railroads that crossed the plains. One memorable act was stopping a convoy of 100 passengers in Topeka, where he single-handedly stopped the train, murdered conductors and a brave passenger, and took $20,000 in loot.

Despite his criminal career, Hardin surprisingly spent 16 years behind bars after being wounded in a shooting in Kansas. His mysterious non-execution fuelled speculation about possible bribes to a federal judge. In prison, he transformed his life, obtaining a law degree and showing a new side. However, upon his release, he returned to his criminal activities with a more cunning approach, maintaining a dual identity as a respectable lawyer in different cities. His life came to an end in a duel with rustlers in an Austin brothel.

Wild Bill

Real name: James Billy Hitchcock
Year of birth: 1837
Place of birth: Troy Grove, Illinois.
Favourite gun: Revolver cal.44

Wild Bill, bold and adventurous, set out into the West with a temperament that prevented stability. A lover of weapons and a brawler, he began his career committing small robberies and facing men in deadly card games. However, his intelligence led him to understand that the life of an outlaw was ephemeral.

In a bold move, he became sheriff of Dodge City, a lawless city, turning it into his own paradise. With questionable but effective methods, he cleaned up the city and became the most powerful man. His life took a turn when he faced John Wesley Hardin in a duel, being publicly defeated. This defeat transformed him, making him cruel and distrustful, and his life ended tragically in a subsequent confrontation.

Wyatt Earp

Real name: Wyatt Earp
Year of birth: 1848
Place of birth: Monmouth, Illinois
Favourite gun: Colt Single Action Army Revolver

Wyatt Earp, a central figure in the famous duel at the OK Corral, was a controversial character in the Wild West. With a life marked by greed, murder, and lying, Earp led his family on a career of crime.

He began his career as head of his family Clan, settling in Dodge City, where he took advantage of his position to enrich himself through blackmail and corruption. The confrontation with the Claytons, another rival group, led to the famous duel at the OK Corral, which left a trail of death and corruption. Earp lived out his final days in California as a wealthy vigilante knight, but his legacy is a hypocritical shadow on the history of the Wild West.

Dirty Dave

Real name: David Rudabaugh
Year of birth: 1854
Place of birth:Illinois
Favourite gun: Colt Single Action Army Revolver

Known as "Dirty Dave," David Rudabaugh was a terrifying outlaw and professional assassin who enjoyed wreaking havoc in the West. His life of crime led him to join a gang and travel the West, robbing stagecoaches and ranches, annihilating their inhabitants even after obtaining the loot.

Pursued by legends like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, Rudabaugh escaped several times, breaking several bones in a daring prison escape. After four years of bloody adventures, he was finally captured and sent to prison. He managed to escape again, but his life came to an end in Mexico, where he was murdered after an argument in a brothel.

Hoodoo Brown

Real name: Hyman G. Neil
Year of birth: Between 1840 and 1850
Place of birth: Lexington, Missouri.
Favourite gun: Colt Wells Fargo

Hoodoo Brown, known as Hyman G. Neil, was the leader of the Dodge City gang that terrorized Las Vegas, New Mexico. He exercised his political position to cover up the crimes of his gang, but the citizens of Las Vegas rebelled against his corruption and managed to overthrow him in 1880. From that moment on, Hoodoo Brown disappeared, fleeing to Mexico and eliminating any trace of corruption that bore his name. .

Belle Starr

Real name: Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr
Year of birth: 1848
Place of birth: Carthage, Missouri.
Favourite gun: Colt .45 Peacemaker

Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr, known as Belle Starr, was a rich girl who became a famous outlaw. Her life took a radical turn during the Kansas-Missouri War, and her marriage to the outlaw Jim Reed catapulted her to fame. Her life was immortalized in the novel "Bella Starr, the Bandit Queen." She was murdered at age 41 while returning home from shopping in San Bois.

Outlaws and gunfighters. Sheriffs and Rangers. Armed robberies, robberies worthy of the big screen. The Wild West left us endless stories that surpass fiction. Many of its protagonists today are considered heroes and villains who, along with their weapons, starred in famous shoot-outs and fights, forming part of popular Southern American folklore.

In DENIX We have a wide variety of replicas of the revolvers used by our favourite villains. Visit our CATALOG and become the best armed outlaw or Ranger.