Author Topic: Old West - How many packed THREE handguns? (Read 1250 times)

Capt Hamp Cox · « **on:** August 17, 2003, 08:15:10 AM »

Evidently the concept of a "backup" gun isn't new. I'm thinking of one 1880s lawman in particular, who carried two S & W No. 3's in .44 American as his primary weapons, and an 1860 Colt Army converted to fire .44 cartridges by the Mason-Richards system. This old colt's barrel was shortened to 2 7/8", the ejector removed, and was carried in a leather-lined pants pocket. Anyone know this lawman's name, or want to hazard a guess?

Would like to hear accounts of other gunfighters who packed three handguns.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2003, 12:09:44 PM »

I have read that Wild Bill Hickock carried an arsenal with him everywhere he went, but I think January of 1870 was the last time he wore a badge, so that wouldbe after his time. I am clueless as to who it was.

I am sure that John "Doc" Holliday wore Three revovlers at one time on several occasions.

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2003, 01:53:37 PM »

SAWgunner,

Here's a hint: "El Paso".

Cheyenne · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2003, 03:50:12 AM »

Wish I'd have gotten in before the second clue, you're talking about Dallas Stoudenmire.

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2003, 06:49:40 AM »

Right you are, Cheyenne.

Great to see you here in the historical arena. Was beginning to think I was going to have to provide another hint. Haven't seen you (in person) in quite a while. Hope all is well with you and your family.

For those who aren't familiar with Dallas (the lawman, not the city), the following is an account of his last use of ANY handgun. This account is from the book Guns and the Gunfighters, which I've addressed in another post in this forum.

"Fortifying himself with a last shot of Whiskey, Stoudenmire walked to the Manning's saloon. There he and Felix Manning got into a violent argument. Words turned into frantic action from which there would be no second place winner.

"The two enemies faced each other, then in one insane moment each drew his gun. Felix was quicker, his .45 Colt clearing leather first. The revolver bucked in Manning's hand, its slug hitting Stoudenmire in the left arm, entering his chest. Dallas' nickle-plated revolver was partially drawn and went spinning across the barroom floor. Once again the Colt fired, the bullet knocking the cursing, bleeding lawman into the street. The bullet was absorbed by a thick layer of papers and a tintype photo carried by Stoudenmire in his breast pocket.

"Getting to his feet, the marshal tortuously managed to draw his "belly gun" (the cut-down 1860 Colt Army converted to .44 cartridge I mentioned previously - Hamp) and shot Felix in the right hand. His .45 dropping in the dust, Manning whipped off his hat and rushed the lawman, beating Dallas in the face. Throwing his arms around the big man, Felix defensively pinned Stoudenmire's arms to his side.

"Jim Manning rushed up. Pulling his triggerless, sawed-off Colt .45, he thumbed a shot at the marshal, which missed, the slug shattering a nearby barber pole. He fired again, this time eight feet away from the men locked in their dance macabre. The bullet struck Stoudenmire in back of the left ear. With a mighty groan the lawman collapsed to the street. The feud was over."

I've been to the Concordia Cemetery in El Paso, where there is a sign posted recalling another of Stoudenmire's shootouts, one in which he killed three men in ten seconds (using his two S & W .44 Americans). That cemetery also lists occupants such as John Wesley Hardin, and Martin Mroz (husband of Beulah Mroz, who was the indirect cause of Hardin's death)

Hamp

williamlayton · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2003, 03:44:47 AM »

it is obvious by your persistance--dogginess--associations--and wild eyed look that you are in favor of a weapon of any sort, carried in any location on the person which can conceal, suspend, or allow access--however uncofortable or unrealistic it may be.
it is your kind that give rise too wemmen goin inta labor prematurely, dogs crawlin under poarches, preachers holdin revivals, men takin up drinkin and smokin, children havin nightmares--and the main reason fer the temperance movement.
my kinda feller!
blessings

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2003, 07:41:55 AM »

Hey, who else can give you the objectionable, obstinate, obtuse, onerous, ornery, off-the-wall, out-to-lunch, out-of-step, off-topic, off-color, obstreperous, omniscient, on-line oratory you so obviously need and crave? It's a tough, thankless and dirty job, but someone's got to do it.

Off to New Mexico Tuesday for a week. "See" ya'll when I get back.

Cody · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2003, 10:46:47 AM »

What did he just say? To many three dollar words for me

williamlayton · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2003, 11:47:32 AM »

first you must abstain from soap box oratory until one can explain to those somewhat less informed just what kind of fellow you are defineing as yourself and who can do it better than the master of the oneline sentence paragraph, or i, who is the proude owner of a 1964 edition of the webster new colligate dictionary----
objectionable---no definition necessary---we took a vote and all agreed.
obstinate-pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, mulish. yesyesyes.
obtuse-not pointed or acute, blunt, specific--well-nonono.
onerous-budensome, oppressive. never-burdensome. oppressive-well-not very.
obstreperous-uncontrollable noisy, unruly. noisy--yesyesyes.
omniscient--reserved for god--and he didn't write anything on this forum.

having allowed our other good and kind online friends to see you as you think you are---yer a rascal of tha first order-a back shootin son of a castaway father and mother----but other than that, tolerable, not given to bad breath, broken down, unfettered and all in all a guy ta set an drink wit---as long as my backs to tha wall an ya keep yer hands above the table.
blessings

williamlayton · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2003, 12:09:01 PM »

his cluses are obtuse!
blessings

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2003, 10:28:31 AM »

Old williamlayton kinda had me worried there for a while. Hadn't heard from him in quite some time (although I think an impersonator used his alias one day a while back), and we was mighty worried he'd gone on to his reward (or punishment, as the case may be). Guess he's really back this time. Can't think of anyone else what has such a way with words, and so many of them.

williamlayton · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2003, 11:08:03 AM »

in the words of somebody---"words is cheap"---and boy do i use cheap words---unlike somebody i know. by the way if you keep usin those words i gotta look up your gonna have to by me a better dictionary.
blessings

williamlayton · « **Reply #12 on:** September 15, 2003, 02:48:05 AM »

hamp---found an old scabbard frum when i was a boy--it fits real good on my thigh---wuz thinkin--fer you--i think i found a way fer ya to carry two more guns--gittin too um seems to be a problem, but i'm sure you can work out a solution.
blessings