Wild Bill famously wore a brace of pistols in his belt/sash, butts forward. Is there any description on how he drew them? Crossing his arms over his belly? Or the US Cav version of drawing the right gun with his right-hand (left hand on left pistol) palm out then rotating the pistols as they cleared leather?
I don't know but have read that most of the pictures were staged photos. In one of them one pistol is in front of his left hip, which surely would have been drawn as a cross draw if he actually wore them that way.
The thing about how he wore them is he can opt for either a 'cavalry draw' or a cross draw. The 'cavalry draw was very popular carry method during his time, as photos of Missouri Bushwhackers can attest to......a long barreled revolver is pretty easy to draw cavalry style when worn high on the waist.
I think he drew them with pencil and paper. Sorry I just couldn't resist that line.
Based on my own experience / experiments with Colt Patersons, Navies, Armies and Dragoons I'd say the only practical way to carry and draw these 7,5" to 9" barrel pistols is the "Cavalry" / "Twist" draw. The only other option would be a low-slung Buscadero rig.
(I do not consider the "Gamer carry"; both holsters in front of the body, only separated by the belt buckle to be a practical carry mode. I'm not a big fan of the common "CAS-crossdraw" carry either...from a historical perspective. That's just me.)
As for carrying one or two service revolvers tucked in a sash; I think it's purely a photo studio pose. You often see in old photos cowboys have removed their gun from the holster and tucked it behind the belt to show it off better.
The "sash carry" might work for concealed carry of a light-weight pocket pistol like the Smith & Wesson No. 2 "Old Army" that Wild Bill reportedly carried in Deadwood.
But carrying two Colt Navies that way with the risk of dropping them when walking around or snagging on the sash when drawing them? I'm not buying it.
I wear my sash underneath my gunbelt, and my guns in holsters, for a dual twist draw.
:) Hey The Fire ;)
I don't have the slightest Idea. Nadia Clue. The only sorta accurate speculation I can submit: Wild Bill DID NOT carry a pair of Navy Pistols in some silly cloth Sash. No way. There aren't lots of Tin Types depicting his Holsters neither. I would suspect a pair of Slim Jims. Now:
PLUS ONE for Cap'n Redneck. Absolutely. I'd vote for correctamundo on all counts.
I must also report, I have been completely unable to interview anyone who actually observed our hero in the flesh. No-one has stepped forward to share their knowledge. Shamefull.