Is Wild Bill the Father of the Classic Western Gunfight?

If you love Westerns and the classic gunfight in the street face off, you can thank one guy: Wild Bill Hickok, the first gunfighter and the founder of the feast.
All the gunfights featured in countless Westerns over the past 12 decades originated with one fight and one man. BBB will break it down, how this one seminal event featuring this one classic frontiersman became the foundation of the Western movie staple that continues to resonate with fans around the world.
Not only was Wild Bill the first gunfighter, he was the first celebrity who set the style that has become known as the Western Man in fact and fiction.
Was Wild Bill romantically involved with Calamity Jane? Boy hardly. But there they are buried next to each other in the Deadwood Cemetery. So, who was responsible for that bad joke?
Bob Boze Bell is known as America's Western Storyteller. He is an artist, author, writer and serves as executive editor of True West magazine. Bell is a popular, sought-after figure in television documentaries about the Old West, appearing as an expert in dozens of Wild West history shows. Bell won an Emmy Award as Executive Producer of the PBS special, Outrageous Arizona, a zany look at the state's centennial, that he also wrote and helped direct. As an author, Bell has brought to life Billy the Kid, Geronimo, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok in his best-selling Illustrated Life and Times series. His books Classic Gunfights I, II and III are must-reads about the most important Old West gunfights. Bell’s Bad Men is now in its fourth printing, while his illustrated autobiography, The 66 Kid: Raised on the Mother Road, gives personal insight into the passions that have driven him on his lifelong quest to interpret the history of the American West for audiences around the world.
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[@63DW89A]

The Colt Navy revolver favored by Hickok was (and is) a superbly accurate handgun, even by modern standards. Colt used "gain-twist" rifling in their cap and ball revolvers. If the shooter carefully and methodically loaded a Navy Colt, the revolver could shoot rings around a modern 9mm auto pistol, accuracy-wise. By all accounts Hickok was very methodical in the loading, greasing and care of his revolvers. In an 1857 test of Colt's Navy .36, using the 140 grain conical bullet cast in the Colt bullet mold, British Ordnance officers reported accurate effective hits on targets at more than 200 yards. This astounded the British officers, who did not expect a handgun to be so capable at such long range! I've fired Uberti's excellent replica of the Colt Navy 1851 using conical bullets and can verify that the revolver design is superbly accurate and quite powerful when loaded with proper fine-grain "pistol" black powders. Also if properly greased using beef tallow, the revolver will shoot 60+ rounds (10 cylinders!) with no issues while keeping the bore extremely clean. Uberti uses a 1 in 19 inch rifling twist of constant pitch which fires round ball or conical bullet with amazing accuracy, while the original Colt Navy had a slightly faster twist of 1 in 16 inch in the final 2 inches of barrel travel, with the first 5.5 inches of barrel travel at a rifling twist at about 1 in 32 inch twist in the "gain-twist' rifling method used by Colt during the cap and ball revolver production era. In the 1865 Tutt gunfight, I'd bet that Hickok was using combustible cartridges, as he would have been familiar with combustible's from his military experience. A combustible cartridge is a paper envelope containing the powder charge, glued to the base of a conical bullet, the bullet being pre-greased by hot dipping into a beeswax / beef tallow mixture. The combustibles would come packed 6 to a box, in a wooden block or pasteboard box to protect the fragile paper envelope. The combustible cartridges were rammed straight into the chambers and then capped after all 6 were loaded. The percussion cap flame easily punched thru the thin paper envelope to fire the revolver. Using combustible cartridges, a C&B revolver can be loaded fairly fast with a very consistent loading that will shoot with consistent and excellent accuracy. Combustible cartridge use in C&B revolvers was common loading by the start of the Civil War in 1860. Colt had started making revolver cartridges in 1855, using a tin-foil envelope that was so problematic that it never became popular. When Colt switched to paper envelopes in 1858, the revolver combustible cartridge became very popular, and soon other companies began manufacturing revolver combustibles too. (D.C Sage, Johnston & Dow, Hazard Powder Company, & H. W. Mason to name a few!). Sorry for such a long rant, but I wanted folks to be aware of just how superbly accurate a Navy Colt could be in the hands of an excellent handgun shooter. And almost all historical accounts of Hickok show him to be an excellent handgun shot, who was methodical and careful in the maintenance of his revolvers.

[@manuelkong10]

this is the most helpful intelligent thing on here thank you

[@mrdaveyjones5432]

I’m a Great fan of Revolvers, and prefer them to magazine pistols. Great information you wrote about Navy Colts & Black Powder cartridges, I’ve Always wanted a break top , problem is finding long colt Ammunition! 💥💥🌵

[@daisymae6561]

Was he carrying Colts ? Or the Remingtons he was gifted as told in this video??

[@cameronmccreary4758]

I had a Colt reproduction .36 Navy revolver and always used Hercules either Bullseye or Unique smokeless pistol powders. I put .38 short Colt cases with turned off rims in the chambers and used light charges in the cases and seated the bullets on the case mouths. I never had a problem with over pressure and the loads were extremely accurate. I began using smokeless powder in cap and ball revolvers because I was shooting CIL Canuck .32 long rimfire cartridges with smokeless powder loadings in the old Smith and Wesson .32 rimfire revolvers and never had problems with the smokeless rimfire loadings. I didn't shoot the Smith and Wessons all the time but occasionally shot them. I have read that Hickok was carrying a .32 rimfire Smith and Wesson Number 2 revolver when he was killed.

[@rharthart9477]

@@daisymae6561 The gift of Remington pistols mentioned in the video occurred years after the gun fight.

[@charlescomly1]

Thanks Mr Bell, I really enjoyed your telling about Wild Bill.

[@sch1191]

I love Libby Custer's description of Wild Bill. Sure seems like she found him alluring. It also speaks of Wild Bill's athleticism. Maybe if he'd been born in 1937 he'd have been a Hall of Fame baseball player. Maybe if he'd were alive today he'd be an NFL quarterback. Seems like he was an elite physical being for his time.

[@sanchopanza4583]

Im so glad your channel came up in my feed recently. Now i have a bunch of your vids to catch up on 👍 thank you.

[@douggoss4855]

Always love your historical posts. Please keep them coming.

[@Sheltowee1775]

You are a wealth of knowledge and fun to listen to. Please do this once a month or so.

[@alissarobertson8840]

Unlike most the others like Billy the Kid or Wyatt Earp Wild Bill was famous in his life time maybe the most famous.

[@tylerhamme1009]

Wyatt Earp was famous in his time for being a badass law enforcer. That's why towns wanted him.

[@firebird_spleen4190]

@@tylerhamme1009 Wyatt Earp lied about a lot of his stories

[@tylerhamme1009]

@@firebird_spleen4190 i agree, but when it came to law enforcement he took care of business. Bat Masterson and a few others say the same thing.

[@jamesdunn2214]

@@tylerhamme1009 Bat Masterson is the reason Earp is remembered today. Remember Bat was a newspaper reporter.

[@TomBTerrific]

Wyatt was a brutal man. He pistol whipped many a person. Wild Bill was gifted with speed of draw, accuracy of shot and the guts to take no prisoners. He single handedly made the western gunfight image a reality.

[@gortbot7748]

Greetings from 32 miles south of Deadwood. The chair that Wild Bill got shot in can be found in at least four different bars. We love tourists. Visit South Dakota.

[@brettheal8109]

Thank You Bob, I love this! I grew up 50 miles from Troy Grove and Hickok is a Favorite!

[@mike1967sam]

Hey Bob i was raised in your country, my dad worked for an airline, now I live in the country I was born in which is Portugal. I grew up watching all kinds of westerns I'm 54 now and I teach as a profession but I wish I had gotten into research of the American Old West, it's really the only subject matter that I would gladly listen to or speak about for hours with great joy. Mike.

[@brettsims931]

I love the way you tell these historic stories. I've loved the history and remembrances of the old west most especially. I've always believed the truth is stranger than fiction! It's so much more entertaining.. Thank You Bob!

[@crazy4277]

Ultimately entertaining, thoroughly enjoyable! Thank YOU, Mr. Bell... - Mark Pittenger

[@thomaslockwood8870]

Thanks 🙏👍. You're a great story teller!

[@ajdogcurr1]

Mr Bell you strike me as a man that love’s and is passionate about what you do working for true west magazine. I recognize that because I loved and was passionate about what I did for a living. Although it was in a different profession. Love your videos enjoy watching your true stories are better than the fake stories.

[@StephenPike]

This was great. Just found your channel and live the enthusiasm and easy way of telling the history.

[@rezlogan4787]

When you’ve shot the Old Model Navy enough, you develop an appreciation of just how skilled a pistolero Wild Bill must have been.

[@peterwhitman5575]

You are one Awesome historian and an intriguing story teller. In these time of covid you are a Blessing . Thank you for what you do and give us the viewer.

[@scottliegel855]

They play the movie Tombstone, all the time and its a great movie with Kurt Russell, But they never play the movie Wild Bill any reasons, great video. Thanks.

[@bravoeleven8258]

I love hearing about Hickok. Supposedly I’m related to his friend “Colorado” Charlie Utter. Charlie was born in upstate New York and moved to Illinois. My grandmothers maiden name was Utter and if you go back a few generations her family originated in upstate New York and moved to Illinois where we all live now. I’m working with a genealogist who is fairly certain Charlie Utter was part of my family. Sad that some of the facts about these legends get lost in history.

[@allenball3453]

Charlie was quite the character himself and accomplished much as an icon of the old west.

[@bravoeleven8258]

@@allenball3453 yeah my dad has some journals my grandmother wrote family stories and history in that mentions Charlie a few times. I’ve had a historian piece together my families lineage with what we know of Charlie’s and the historian is with out a doubt convinced that Charlie was part of our family and it kind of makes you feel proud lol

[@thetrojanhorse.1320]

I love your work mate. True pleasure!

[@stephenbartlett1167]

Worth listening to, thx

[@larryrobinson6914]

And one of the few whose legend is essentially true. Best pistol shot who ever lived under pressure

[@mrdaveyjones5432]

James Butler HICkOCK has always facinating to me. Like You I grew up watching All the western movies ,& Reading anything about the west. Wild Bill was one of my heroes. Been to Deadwood & visited His grave. Great video! I subscribe to True West,& WILL by the book & others you have written. Thanks Mr Bell ! Keep em coming!

[@oregonoutback7779]

I grew up in the Springfield area and have made many trips to the downtown square. There are small markers inset into the street showing where Bill and Tutt were standing. As a kid, I was awe struck anyone could make that shot.

[@jwolfbear]

I love you're passion...I share it sir..great story presentations. Thankyou.

[@halfpintcowgirl4595]

Wild Bill , a fantastic man. I think he was quite impressive. I’d like to say more, words fail me. Thank you so much for “mining” all the history in the way you do. You are interesting in your own right. Thank you so much Bob Bose Bell .

[@classicbladereview1886]

Absolutely love your channel, you have a gift for telling tales of the old west. I visited Deadwood last summer and paid homage at his grave. What a life!

[@jonhelmer8591]

Great show, thank you.

[@CuttingEdgetools]

Great talk Bob on my favorite Old West Gun Slinger❤️ thanks for putting this together and sharing this with us Town Folk🇺🇸

[@johnwayne3331]

Great show bell love it

[@DC8091]

Keith Carradine HAD to play the most accurate, &, at least, the best Wild Bill. Thanks for the work Mr Bell

[@robertayoder2063]

I'd say Jeff bridges did best Keith be second

[@johnnyquest3707]

@@robertayoder2063 .I agree 100%. Jeff Bridges was perfect and even his speech had an authentic dialect in it. The beginning of “Wild Bill” where they showed his gunfights was great.

[@robertayoder2063]

@@johnnyquest3707 yup he nailed it 👌 right on bud thanks I knew I couldn't be only one he was authentic as it gets

[@robertayoder2063]

@@johnnyquest3707 to bad they didn't make a little bit different film not that its bad more his life and things

[@johnnyquest3707]

@@robertayoder2063 .Film makers think people are so interesting to make movies about then when they do they fictionalize too much as their literary egos take over. "Wild Bill" should have been a straight story about Hickok without David Arquette doing much more than eventually murdering him. That part "Deadwood" got right. But Bridges' performance made the movie worthwhile in spite of a lame script.

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous effort and thank you. Enlightening.

[@mikemiller3553]

I have been a ten year subscriber of True West and read it cover to cover. This is the first video of yours I have watched and rest assured I will watch every one that I find. I must say that watching and listening to you that you represent to the Wild West what Shelby Foote does with the Civil War. Thank you, I truly enjoyed your presentation!! I am also (using a western term), biting at the bit, for the next issue of True West!!

[@johnnyquest3707]

In both "Deadwood" and "Wild Bill" they show Hickok using Navy Colt conversions and some books say he switched to metallic cartridge at the end. But I don't think so. Especially since he supposedly shot and cleaned his guns every morning making sure clean, dry new black powder is loaded. Conversions are just easier to load for filming so I think that's why they use them thinking we won't notice.

[@allenball3453]

The reason some say he used conversions is that a diary entry of one who was familiar with Charlie Utter and his brother Steve's wagon train traveling to Deadwood with Hickok was that Hickok had a "case of cartridges" that he used to practice with every morning. The problem is that commercial paper cartridges with ball were readily available and sold by the case so I doubt if Hickok used a conversion as the modification does change the balance of the 1851 navy colt with the use of paper cartridges there was no messy measuring involved so there was no reason to change.

[@SierraThunder]

Hickok had "Syphilitic Glaucoma", his corneas were slowly going opaque, and had he lived longer his eyes would have essentially turned a milky white.

[@jeff9104]

Great stuff BBB, thanks

[@larryclark4791]

This is so fun, thank you

[@TheReal1953]

Not only did they turn sideways, but they also had guns drawn, pointed down.....in most true face-offs. As much as "Appaloosa" is an Ed Harris farce, they got the dueling correct and chaos involved with multiple shooters.

[@johnstewart9745]

Great video THANKS 🇬🇧

[@mikemarley2389]

The movie Wild Bill with Jeff Bridges follows just about everything you said except about Calamity Jane.

[@larryphipps1938]

Fascinating Bob! What a great job. Love western history and you are a western icon yourself. Keep up the great 👍 work.

[@robertnewport8288]

Awesome history!!! Plus the JJW reference was just icing on the cake! Thank you!

[@4bulldurham]

Way Wylie Hubbard wrote the song.

[@kentowens2179]

Nice video! Wild Bill was a master with Navy Colt's. A legend, then and now.

[@stevemccoy8138]

I love hearing about Wild Bill. What ever became of Wild Bill's pistols ? 🇺🇸

[@RedStingrayy]

Thanks soooo much again for u wealth of informative and fascinating information

[@KSFWG]

Well, that's 25 seconds of my life that I'll never get back. Otherwise, great video ! Thumbs up !

[@allenball3453]

For many years I performed as Wild Bill. I was hired by the Deadwood chamber of commerce to be THE Hickok for Wild Bill Days in 2003. I woke early and decided to walk up to Mount Moria to pay my respects. The weather was a bit overcast and there was a lot of fog on the mountain. I was in full costume walking down from the grave walking out of the fog and came on a group of tourists trudging up the hill. I never saw folks eyes get that big! I did not stop or acknowledge them in anyway and just kept walking down. I imagine Bill was grinning in his grave as he was known to be a bit of a prankster himself. Betcha some tourists had a story to tell when they got home!

[@djfglobal3377]

I bet you indeed Sir! That’s a great story

[@rongarrett1366]

For some reason, 50s TV chose to portray Wild Bill as clean-shaven with short hair a sidekick named Jingles, rather than with a handsome mustache and a partner named Colorado Charlie. They also made a movie about Calamity Jane with the beautiful singer/actress Doris Day in the title role. Howard Keel's Wild Bill was also clean-shaven with short hair.

[@terrymarchand7402]

Love your videos

[@freyatilly]

What an incredibly interesting expounding of such a legend. You are a real character yourself. Will have to get your book. BTW. Which movie or documentary has the most accurate depiction of Wild Bill? Thank you.

[@williamchristopher1560]

Question is, Did he get his watch back??

[@JanOlafRisnes]

Thank you very much 😊

[@rodbrock4759]

Hello from Kansas City, Mo.

[@michaelproctor8100]

I remember historian Paul Hutton who was on a episode of The Old West (narrated by Kenny Rogers) talking about Wild Bill. Hutton stated that when Wild Bill was younger he could walk up to any card table that was full and point to an occupied chair and say "I'd like to sit there," and the chair would immediately become vacant. Hutton went on to say that by the time Hickok arrived in Deadwood he didn't put that kind of fear in people any longer because of his bad eyes, which is why he didn't have his back to a wall when killed.

[@ExKUKicker]

As an avid cigar aficionado...if I could have (2) Western Gents to sit with, smoke a cigar and sip on some fine scotch, it would be John Henry Holliday (because in many ways, he is still quite mysterious) and James Butler Hickok. Being from Kansas, I've studied much of his historical background. And yes, Bob...he is the quintessential, Western Gunslinger and Lawman. Frankly, I don't believe that he was gay, he just dressed like a true sportsman of the times. A Dandy he was...

[@jwolfbear]

Made it twice to deadwood. I paid my respect's to the man both time's. I will not go there without first paying my respect's to James Butler Hickock. I hope I can make it at least once more.

[@Purpmaster]

Such a tragic and meaningless death for an amazing individual. Great video and great information.

[@brazosteinway5924]

Great

[@plowboysghost]

I enjoyed it, but I will add that I have fired a replica 4-3/4" SAA in .45 Colt (std. pressure, full power loads...not weaker "cowboy" loads) indoors and I was surprised by how loud is was not. I had no real discomfort. As a matter of fact, I believe it's louder in my back yard. I didn't expect that. Of course I was behind it and it's likely a bit louder in front of it....but I'll be content with the supposition and not put it to the test :)

[@allenball3453]

Shooting the old black powder guns inside a small crowded room is quite the experience. I now understand why so many bar room gunfights resulted in more bystanders wounded than combatants. I loaded an 1851 colt with 20 grains of fff black powder and ball and fired six rounds quickly into a log in a 10x15 room. Before the last shot was fired my partner and I could not see, could not breath, could not hear and were quick to beat feet to the door outside.

[@plowboysghost]

@@allenball3453 I load 40-gr of 3F under a 255-gr bullet in .45 Colt. I'd wager that one is a room clearer, as well.

[@noelcollins1072]

You forgot to tell about the blue eye glasses he started wearing due to the eye sight issue.

[@noelcollins1072]

Dave Mcanles, Dave Tutt, Jack Strawhan October 1869, Bill Mulvey,Phil Coe, two 7th cav troopers(one died, Kyle), 4 sheep herders in Jefferson County Nebraska December 1867(three died from head shots, Beeber, Slater, and Dowder), two at North Platte Nebraska while waiting for a meal to be served,some Indians, who knows how many in the war? More than 4 or 5 Bob.

[@allenball3453]

I always heard it was 7 which included his deputy Mike Williams. Never heard anything about any sheepherders and he DID NOT kill the "Peace Chief Whistler" as that was done by "Wild Bill of Blue" Mortimer Kress who was also a hero of the second battle of adobe walls. He was a sharpshooter for a brief time during the war and supposedly killed "hundreds" of the enemy.

[@isaiahfronning5157]

Fun fact: One reason cowboys will leave their pants tucked into their boots is to let their feet breathe.

[@mpetersen6]

James Butler Hickcock makes an appearance in one of the Flashman novels. After Flashie survives Little Big Horn (1) he makes his way to Deadwood and runs into James and Hickcock makes a comment about Flashman's Arapaho Haircut. 1) Its a novel.

[@cavecookie1]

Another case of the legend being taken for fact. It's sad that the history of the West is so misunderstood, and sensationalized. Been a big fan of Bob for a long time, but didn't know til just now that he's from Kingman. I lived 30 miles west of there on Rt. 66 in the 90's...HOWDY, neighbor!

[@2011Matz]

It is an interesting subject, but public perception is based on what Hollywood directors thought would appeal circa 1930-50.

[@gustavderkits8433]

Good point about the anachronistic misinterpretations of naive historians. I read that his large nose got him the nickname, “Duck Bill”, which was later transformed to “Wild Bill” because he fiercely objected to the first nickname. Note that duelist1954 tells the story of the Hickok Tutt duel and attempts the famous shot.

[@allenball3453]

The nickname he had was Dutch Bill while he served as James Lane's body guard in bleeding Kansas. Dave McCanless began to torment him by calling him DUCKBILL instead as an insult. Just one of the MANY reasons McCanless was murdered including an abusive to women personality, a bully, abusive to stock, which Hickok would NOT tolerate and a certain pretty mistress love triangle and a money dispute about rent due on the Rock Creek station where Hickok was recovering from injuries from a wagon wreck, not a bear attack, working as an assistant ostler.

[@larrypatterson7291]

Where do I get that book I am a fan of westerns I really find his videos and history.

[@stevegrooms1142]

Wild Bill was a lady's man, for sure. One female heart he set aflutter belonged to Libbie Custer, George Armstrong Custer's wife. She wrote a description of Hickok in one of her books that leaves no doubt about how hot she found him to be.

[@Gutslinger]

He mentions it at the end..

[@scotttilson8876]

It’s unlikely this is the first gun fight ever, there are probably many other gun fights throughout the old West. Just none of them got the Note-oriety as the ones with Bill Hickok.

[@noelcollins1072]

The 7th cav fight, he shot two not three, one died.

[@denizen9998]

I wonder how history would have changed if he was " Wild Jim" instead.

[@ringo-bf3xf]

Aces & 8’s. Gotta love the myths.

[@allenball3453]

Adding to the myth and that is all it is, is that the fifth card was a red face card. Eigther the queen of hearts for Agnes Hickok, his wife to which he had written a prophetic letter before the murder or the Jack of diamonds for Jack McCall. None of it true, except the letter to Agnes.

[@simba30]

Is there only one picture wild Bill Longley

[@simba30]

Love your stories was there really an Ed Bailey the character I portrayed in Tombstone . Thanks Bill

[@rocksandoil2241]

He seemed a rather melancholy fellow.

[@craigwarner6156]

YES I GOT THE HIS NIBS QUOTE STRAIGHT AWAY. IT BASICALLY MEANS LOOK AT THIS GUY WHO THINKS HES IMPORTANT AND BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.HIS NIBS IS AN OLD ENGLISH EXPRESSION.HIS NIBS MEANS HIS LORDSHIP

[@johnsavers1168]

A football field is measured in yards. If two men faced off at 83 feet, then they would be separated by 27.67 yards. At that range both men might miss, assuming that pistol accuracy in the 1850s was somewhat wanting after 15 yards.

[@allenball3453]

I agree. I stood on the site of the shootout in Springfield, MO and it was NOT a football field in distance. Certainly under 50 yards.

[@reefhog]

He said 100 paces, which he then said was about 83 yards. Try listening properly.

[@johnsavers1168]

@@reefhog Valid correction. He said "about 83 yards." I still believe this distance is suspicious. When he said that, for the shooters, it was like looking at each other from either end of a football field, I thought that accuracy for handguns at that distant was unlikely. If they were striding toward one another firing, then it would be more likely that one of the shots connected. Someone told me that a 1911 Colt .45 was usually lethal within three feet; otherwise, you might miss. I understand that Wild Bill had a long barrel pistol. Perhaps I heard incorrectly again, but it seemed to me he mentioned that Wild Bill may have developed some sort of eye problem, which are not usually a positive for vision. Eighty-three yards may not be a football field, but it is quite a distance to initiate a gunfight fought in the manner of a duel.

[@reefhog]

@@johnsavers1168 he wasn’t using 1911 Colt 45s in the 19th century. Have a look at the comment below about the Colt Navy revolvers he actually was using, which were apparently accurate to 200 yards.

[@johnsavers1168]

I mentioned the 1911 Colt as it has a good reputation as a design. It has stopping force but its accuracy at 50' is not so good. The 1851 Navy Colt also has good reputation as a design for its period. The issue is accuracy over distance. The attachment you provided focused on a very well-cared for specimen tested by British military marksmen. They mentioned 200 yard. This probably was achieved on one or two occasions with the bulk considerably less. In this example one learns that not only were the pistols in top shape, but they were being loaded with 140 grains of fine quality black powder. I do not believe that Hickok was using 140 grains in his 1851 Navy Colt. There is a lot of scuttlebutt about Hickok being extremely attentive to the care of his pistols. Exactly what that meant, no one knows. However, given the immediate period controversy with Tutt, I believe that it is safe to suppose that he had his colts in good order. I have watched a couple of YT programs dealing with the firing accuracy of the 1851 Navy Colt .36 caliber. The results appear to be excellant at 50 feet. One test was over 75 feet, and the results seem good to very good but going high and left 2 inches or more. In both these tests the powder load was 20 grains. So, what load was likely used by Hickok? With 140 grains, the Brits had at least one accuracy at 600 feet. Presumably, they would record more success at 249 feet, or 83 yards. But would they have even one success at a 20 grain test? I doubt it. If the professional accuracy tester was beginning to stray at 75 feet, what would happen at 249 feet? I might say that the man who tested at both 50' and 75' used a barrel holder attached to the platform to rest and steady the 1851 Navy Colt. This should have more than compensated for Hickok's presumed superior marksmanship. If Hickok shot Tutt from a dueling stance at 249 feet, he was using a high load of powder. Incidentally, some say the duel was fought at 75 paces rather than 100, while a replier stated it couldn't be more than fifty yards. However, using the data provided in this YT program, I concede that Hickok could have made the kill at 249 feet, if he was using a high load. But this isn't a normal load for contemporary people who fire their 1851 Navy Colts. Today, people use 15 to 21 grain loads. One article mentioned 27 grain load but stated it was more difficult to seat it in the Colt. The figure of 27 grains is so much less than the 140 grains used in the cited British test that I wonder if it is entirely true. The bottom line is that the cited figures in the YT program we have been talking about are probably significantly high. The duel probably took place at 60 yards or less. Hickok probably used a load between 22 and 30 grains. Wind was not a factor. Tutt having already discharged his pistol first, Hickok had a more relaxed period to execute his shot. Lastly, he may have had the luck of Tutt moving from his duelist position to a squared off position where a chest shot was available. I don't believe in the 83 yard set-up.

[@rhinehardt1]

Many, many years ago (I think it was the early 70s) I read an article in "Wild West Magazine" about Wild Bill Hickock, and in it, the reason given for Jack McCall killing our favorite gunfighter was that Bill had killed Jack's brother with a hoe years before, for taunting him.

[@hankhicks1108]

Did he kill the ho too?

[@rhinehardt1]

@@hankhicks1108 Naw. Bill liked the hoes.

[@allenball3453]

That was the excuse that McCall going by the name of Bill Sutherland gave to the miners inquest that released McCall after the shooting as a "justifiable revenge killing". Problem is that McCall did NOT have a brother and it was all a lie to get away with murder. He was bragging about getting away with killing Wild Bill in Rawlings, Wyo. when the first trial was declared invalid because it was in Indian territory and no one was authorized to be there. McCall was retried, found guilty and hung in Yankton, South Dakota.

[@flaco5581]

I grew up in Lincoln nebraska not far from where the rock creek battle happened. I think that was his real beginning

[@WildwoodClaire1]

I wonder if Bob ever read the novel "Little Big Man," in which WIld Bill Hitchcock appears as a major character. Great novel (which was lamentably raped and pillaged by the silly Dustin Hoffman film).

[@terryfoyfoy7926]

I believe Wild Bill was born in Staffordshire England

[@noelcollins1072]

I agree.

[@Idahoguy10157]

From the emaciated look and losing his eyesight its quite possibly that Hickok had diabetes

[@billtillerson5893]

You made it sound as if Tutt just grabbed the watch. Hickok bet the watch. He just told Tutt nor to carry it. When he did Hickok shot him

[@michaelhiggs8657]

We say his nib's quite a bit here in England. It's just a nick name for a posh kid.

[@r.e.tucker3223]

Did Hickock really kill a bear one night?

[@DressedForDrowning]

0:23 - Start

[@scottbechtold6022]

I always heard it was James fenimore cooper and Natty Bumppo

[@fugeeohu9357]

I think there were real gunfights in Dodge City that inspired the movie and television portrayals

[@MrZola1234]

Even if the cards were on the floor, they would be able to identify the hand he had unless other guys hands ended up on the ground as well. I’m surprised he didn’t like show biz given he was flamboyant and pompous.

[@allenball3453]

The ONLY thing that gives the deadman's hand any credence is that Hickok's last words were, "two pair, the Duffer broke me on that hand" , BANK! "Take that damn you!" as McCall began to back towards the back door.

[@ulflyng4072]

😊 👍

[@GreenMeanExemption]

Hi so there is this one picture of doc holliday that you didn't really go over, in this photo doc has a cowlick, pretty easy to spot, is it real, where is it from if not?

[@firebird_spleen4190]

Billy the kid has more than one pic now

[@davidandrew1078]

Hickock would not have been able to do anything as his brains and skull would have been all over the place. Prepared to discuss that.

[@joanieprice664]

Just wondering if you are familiar with a youtube channel ObsoleteOddity. He just posted on the subject of the supposed Sadie Earp photo. Check it out. I would love to know what you think.

[@williamchristopher1560]

You say he emptied his Navies n a river the night before he died., YET He wasnt carrying them the next day when he died

[@niall679]

How good was Nolan or MASTERSON

[@peterwhitman5575]

How tall was Wild Bill?

[@oregonoutback7779]

6 foot.

[@drstrangelove4998]

@@oregonoutback7779 at least 6‘, maybe more I‘d say.

[@oregonoutback7779]

@@drstrangelove4998 I just googled it. The internet says 6'0", if you can believe the internet :))

[@scottsmith4145]

Interesting character,, but all these guys take second place to Rockwell.

[@SPotter1973]

15:02 yes this happens all of the time...but now QUESTIONS are recorded as fact..Like no talks about the the Black slave owners, and how black African sold black Africans. The lucky ones went west and those whom were sold into MUSLIM COUNTRIES WOULD BE CASTRATED 1 IN 5 SURVIVED..

[@TheReal1953]

OK then....how to you stand on Hardin's 'story' that as he was surrendering his guns to Marshal Hickok of Abilene, Hardin reversed the guns( 'border shift') and got the drop on Hickok? Hardin started this story after Hickok was dead, after all. I find it hard to believe that pistolero Hickok would have fallen for that.

[@allenball3453]

You are right about the whole story being a figment of Hardin's imagination conveniently told AFTER Hickock's death. Hardin was in Abilene in 1871 while Hickok was Marshal, and they did meet where Hickok warned the Texas drovers that Hardin was with that, he would not tolerate any misbehavior. One evening Hardin was drunk and belligerent in his room getting ready for bed and angry at a man snoring in the next room so he fired a round into the wall. The man was sitting up in bed and the round struck him in the head killing him. With all the commotion Hardin heard someone holler, "Here comes the Marshal"! Hardin did not even bother to get dressed, jumped out the second story window in his long underwear and lit a shuck for Texas.

[@TheReal1953]

@@allenball3453 I've heard that story. If Hardin was such a bad-ass pistolero, why didn't he face Hickok? Masterson was the same.....he kept 'amplifying' the stories every time he told one. His interviews and later life stories are mostly worthless.