Gunfighters

[Silver Creek Slim]

Who, of the multi-pistol carrying Old West persons, had been known to pull two pistols in a gunfight and shoot them alternately, as in the SASS Gunfighter Class?

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

WBH allegedly  - sometimes alternately, and sometimes simultaneously, according to Joseph G. Rosa's Wild Bill Hickok Gunfighter.

[Cheyenne]

Hamp's right, Hickok is probably the only one on record.  In Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal, Earp mentions the carrying of two pistols more as a threat, of "having one in reserve", but doesn't mention using them both at the same time as a SASS Gunfighter.

Though flawed, some of the new Earp historians are giving more credit to much of the book.

Of course, I'd bet some of them Missouri boys shot two at a time a time or three, considering the amount of pistols credited to them carrying during the conflict....though there are no written accounts I'm aware of on it.

I think the traditional two gun fighter is probably more due to Hollywood than history.  Once cartridge revolvers became more available, the carrying of two was a bit much for the average person.
Though a smaller hideout could easily have been hidden in a pocket or under a coat or vest. This was probably more common than the two full sized six shooters straped low on the hips.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I think Cheyenne nailed it.  While Wild Bill probably wasn't the ONLY one to carry and use 2 pistols, it would seem that none of the others, if there were any, gained his fame or notoriety.

[litl rooster]

We've all have heard the James Butler Hickok would use both them pistols, I recently seen a shooting show on cable they said, some Calvary soldiers during the Civil war, would have up to 4 pistol. Strapped to each side (2 per side) of their McClelland saddle. I guess loadin those c&b's while in a charge would be out of the question.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

We've all have heard the James Butler Hickok would use both them pistols, I recently seen a shooting show on cable they said, some Calvary soldiers during the Civil war, would have up to 4 pistol. Strapped to each side (2 per side) of their McClelland saddle. I guess loadin those c&b's while in a charge would be out of the question.

I've read that that number (and even more) was pretty much the norm for those who rode with Bloody Bill Anderson and Quantrell.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Erased.  Some how got a double tap on this one.

[Silver Creek Slim]

We've all have heard the James Butler Hickok would use both them pistols, I recently seen a shooting show on cable they said, some Calvary soldiers during the Civil war, would have up to 4 pistol. Strapped to each side (2 per side) of their McClelland saddle. I guess loadin those c&b's while in a charge would be out of the question.

I've read that that number (and even more) was pretty much the norm for those who rode with Bloody Bill Anderson and Quantrell.

Also, considering the (un-)reliability of a C&B pistol. It was a good idea to carry more than one. On Saturday, a pard on our posse was shooting a brace of 1851 Colts. The caps kept falling between the hammer and the frame so the hammer won't hit the caps.   

Slim