Deadliest gunslingers of the old west

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

For what it's worth;

http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/04/30/deadliest-gunslingers-of-the-old-west/

[Forty Rod]

Doesn't give a body count for any of them.

[Coffinmaker]

4T >,  Only one ever interested in a Body Count was named McNamara.

[Forty Rod]

If we are discussing "deadliest" shouldn't someone prove it by giving a count of those who were deadlied?

I'd suggest three old Mormon gunmen, Porter Rockwell,  Bill Hickman, and John Lee as equal to or deadlier than anyone else on this list.

[Tsalagidave]

No mention of Jonathan R Davis?  He single-handedly engaged at least 13 bandits killing/mortally wounding 11 of them (7 with pistols and 4 with his Knife) in a single fight in 1854.  The witnesses had to sign affidavits and be interrogated /cross-examined with the evidence because it was so unbelievable.  It was a feat that was unprecedented and was never surpassed by any other gunfighter.

-Dave

[Coal Creek Griff]

It is kind of funny that the headline is "deadliest gunslingers", but in the intro they say, "Here are 10 of the most well-known" (not deadliest).  I've always been amazed that Sam Bass got as much public attention as he did.  He got really lucky with one train robbery, but was otherwise pretty much a failure.  I guess people are impressed that he "died game", but he certainly got a lot of notoriety then and now.

There are a number of others on the list that weren't particularly deadly as "gunslingers" either, but I guess they are mostly well-known.  I would agree with  "Deacon" Jim Miller's inclusion, though.

CC Griff

[Isbjorn]

4T >,  Only one ever interested in a Body Count was named McNamara.

Was that Tex McNamara or Arkansas Danny McNamara?

[hp246]

I always find these lists interesting.  Some of them lawmen doing a tough job in a violent time.  Some of them just plain serial killers.  Few of them shootists in the true sense.

[Galen]

Marshall Matt Dillon gets my vote. Just ask Chester.

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Marshall Matt Dillon gets my vote. Just ask Chester.

I agree with Galen.  When you figure that Matt shot at least 30 to 40 bad guys a year, times 20 years, it works out to between 600 and 800 guys that he shot over his career as Marshal of Dodge City.  Certainly a clear message for the bad guys to steer clear of Dodge.

[Dave T]

I've read through this with interest. Years ago I was on the Speakers Bureau of the Arizona Historical Society. My talk/lecture was "The Myth of the Gunfighter". General theam was that there were no professional gunfighters who roamed the West, selling their gun to the highest bidder.

There were lawman who used guns, criminals who used guns, and there were common citizens who got into arguments and pulled out a gun, either in rage or self defense. When I was a law enforcement officer (Deputy Sheriff) I encountered the same kinds of people but they weren't and aren't called gunslingers or gunfighters.

As for someone from the 19th Century American West who was quite deadly, my vote would be for Jefferson "Jeff" Davis Milton. I've read through his biography A Good Man With a Gun several times and he shot and killed 16 or 17 men, all in the line of duty as an officer of the law.

Dave

[Trailrider]

Jim Hardy aka Dale Robertson on "Tales of Wells Fargo"! 

[Dave T]

Trailrider,

Hadn't thought of that show in years, but when I was a kid I watched it all the time. It was a favorite so thanks for the memory/reminder.

Dave

[Books OToole]

My dad always said that the most dangerous man in the old west era was Doc Holliday.  He knew he was dying and didn't care.  For attitude if not numbers.

Books

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

My dad always said that the most dangerous man in the old west era was Doc Holliday.  He knew he was dying and didn't care.  For attitude if not numbers.

Books

Attitude is VERY important! Wasn't the Sioux warrior's mantra before going into battle, "Today is a good day to die"?

[Will Ketchum]

Attitude is VERY important! Wasn't the Sioux warrior's mantra before going into battle, "Today is a good day to die"?

I've known Marines with the same mind set.

Will Ketchum

[Navy Six]

One name I find occasional references to is Bill Raidler, an associate of Butch Cassidy's bunch.  When his name does come up, there is always some mention of his proficiency with a pair of Colts and he apparently preferred 38-40s. I don't know where you draw the line between proficiency and "deadliest". It can't be a matter of sheer numbers as a good many of Jim Millers victims were more like assassinations from ambush.

[Books OToole]

One name I find occasional references to is Bill Raidler, an associate of Butch Cassidy's bunch.  When his name does come up, there is always some mention of his proficiency with a pair of Colts and he apparently preferred 38-40s. I don't know where you draw the line between proficiency and "deadliest". It can't be a matter of sheer numbers as a good many of Jim Millers victims were more like assassinations from ambush.

There were/are some people who are great shots but couldn't pull the trigger on a person.  The ones that were/are both (great shots and killers) are very rare.  J.B. Hickok was one.

Books