Famous Firearms of the Old West: From Wild Bill Hickok's Colt Revolvers to Geronimo's Winchester, Twelve Guns That Shaped Our History (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

As Hal Herring says in his Preface, "America was a nation born yelling, and in a cloud of black powder smoke." We have always been addicted to mayhem (albeit from a safe distance), and the most fascinating mayhem of all was that waged in the Old West. This is the story of 12 guns of that time and the famous and infamous people who used them, and if you can start Chapter One and put the book down before you reach at least Chapter Six, see a doctor. Great stuff from someone who is both a historian and a masterful storyteller.

--Dave Petzal, Deputy Editor, Field & Stream

Product Description

From the Model 1866 .44-40 Chief Joseph famously surrendered to General Miles (now gathering dust in a museum in Fort Benton) to Buffalo Bill’s .50 caliber breechloading needlegun nicknamed Lucretia Borgia, a good portion of the actual guns that were once in the hands of the heroes and villains of the old West are still in existence, scattered around in a dozen different museums across the country. Although there are a host of titles that take advantage of our endless curiosity about western firearms (it’s a cottage industry unto itself), there is no single book that traces the natural history of the individual guns. Famous Firearms follows the life stories of twelve of the actual pistols, rifles, and shotguns that were so instrumental in shaping our western mythology, using them as entrees into the lives of the shootists themselves. The end result is a vivid portrait of twelve famous western characters, paired with the guns they used to make themselves famous and infamous.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: TwoDot; 1st edition (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762745088
• ISBN-13: 978-0762745081
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,797 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Books > History > United States > 19th Century > Old West
  #33 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Hunting & Fishing > General & Anthologies
  #45 in	Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles > Firearms & Weapons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Chronicle of Guns in the Wild West!, November 23, 2008

By	Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Hal Herring's 2008 volume is a marvel...and a marvelous read. Herring examines the life history of a dozen historic Wild West firearms and the men who used them. Filled with thrilling stories and larger-than-life characters, it presents a vivid picture of the Wild West. I can't remember when I have enjoyed reading a book as much as I did FAMOUS FIREARMS OF THE OLD WEST.

The firearms and personalities covered in Herring's book reads like a who's who of the Wild West: 'Wild Bill' Hickok and his Colt Model 1851 revolvers, John Wesley Hardin's Colt Lightning Double Actions, Geronimo's Winchester Carbine, Joseph Smith's Pepperbox pistol, Pancho Villa's Smith & Wesson American Revolvers, John Brown's Sharps Model 1850, etc. Herring deftly combines the history of each weapon's development with the life story of each individual to produce an entertaining and educational "look back."

The book is nicely illustrated with vintage photos of the firearms and users along with contemporary color pix of the weapons themselves. The combination of history and illustrations really makes the Wild West come alive.

In short, FAMOUS FIREARMS OF THE OLD WEST is a gem, fascinating history related by a master storyteller. Anyone interested in the Wild West will want to purchase a copy of Herring's book. Highly recommended.

*****
One minor criticism: no index.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guns, Men, and Society, September 9, 2008

By	James R. Mckee "Tiger McKee" (Alabama) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are a lot of books out there that cover historical firearms, biographies of the men who used them, or the world they lived in. Herring's book is one of the few that combines all three of these aspects into one story. By selecting specific weapons, the men who used them, and how society looked at that particular time, Famous Firearms Of The Old West provides the reader with a glimpse of the growth of our nation.

This is not just a gun book. Anyone interested in history, sociology, or firearms should find a great read in this book.

Tiger McKee

The Book of Two Guns: The Martial Art of the 1911 Pistol and AR Carbine

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyric writing about guns, October 6, 2008

By	Samuel Western (Sheridan, WY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Herring writes about guns the way McPhee writes about rocks, fish, and oranges. In an easy but confident voice, Herring describes the history and people behind a dozen firearms. He managed also to be informative but not pedantic and decidedly avoids hook and bullet assumptions. A pleasure to read.