compilation of Old West gunfights

[Pukin Dog]

I wonder if anyone has ever put together a listing of all the known gunfights between 1865 and 1900.  I don't mean ambushes or assasinations and back shooting, I mean known gunfights between two or more individuals who at least had an inkling of what was to occur and was documented by observers.

It would be interesting to see a spread sheet of where they all occured, the dates and locations to just see how common (or uncommon) this was.

As far as I know, this sort of thing has not been done, they are scattered around in dozens of books.

Am I wrong?

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Probably wouldn't be too big a list, there Dog. Off the top of my head: Hickock-Tutt, Short- Courtwright, maybe the O.K. Corral( alright, Freemont Street). These latter two were in Tombstone, the other was further East. Another Tombstone fight that might qualify, Buckskin Frank Leslie and Billy Claiborne...........Buck

[Pukin Dog]

Buck,
That's what I'm thinking too.  It might be a real eye opener to some folks to see how really rare a true "gunfight" was.  I wonder if there were even a dozen over that 35 year span.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Closest I've seen is Bill O'Neal's Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters (University of Oklahoma Press).  It profiles about 250 old west characters who were involved in gunfights, and provides a description of each shootout they were in (a considerable number were in more than one).  Would imagine a person with some time on their hands could definitely produce a spreadsheet based on O'Neal's work.  I think the number of gunfights was considerably greater than you might be thinking, unless you are limiting the definition of "Gunfight" to Matt Dillon's showdown in the middle of the street type. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Cap, I thought maybe that's what he was alluding to. The more typically "Hollyweird" type duel in the sun.......Buck

[Silver Creek Slim]

I tried to reserve Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters via interlibrary loan. I can't 'cuz it is classified as Reference material. 

Slim

[Pukin Dog]

Closest I've seen is Bill O'Neal's Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters (University of Oklahoma Press).  It profiles about 250 old west characters who were involved in gunfights, and provides a description of each shootout they were in (a considerable number were in more than one).  Would imagine a person with some time on their hands could definitely produce a spreadsheet based on O'Neal's work.  I think the number of gunfights was considerably greater than you might be thinking, unless you are limiting the definition of "Gunfight" to Matt Dillon's showdown in the middle of the street type. 

Thats some good information.  My definition is more broad than a showdown.  Just has to have 2 or more individuals shooting (or at least going) for their guns.  I wouldn't classify for instance Billy the Kids slaying of Morton & Baker or his shooting the deputy in his jail break.  Or Tom Horn killing someone from 300 yards from behind a tree.

Yeah I want to know how many of the type like the OK Corral, WBH-Dave Tutts or Short-Courtright occured.

[Pukin Dog]

Oh, and Slim???

I just checked out O'Neals book for a month!  The librarian said shouldn't be a problem extending it a couple times either.

So liberal Madison ain't so bad sometime!!

[Silver Creek Slim]

Oh, and Slim???

I just checked out O'Neals book for a month!  The librarian said shouldn't be a problem extending it a couple times either.

So liberal Madison ain't so bad sometime!!

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Oh, and Slim???

I just checked out O'Neals book for a month!  The librarian said shouldn't be a problem extending it a couple times either.

So liberal Madison ain't so bad sometime!!

I think you'll enjoy it, PD.  I refer to my copy often.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Oh, and Slim???

I just checked out O'Neals book for a month!  The librarian said shouldn't be a problem extending it a couple times either.

So liberal Madison ain't so bad sometime!!

Slim

Slim

If ya ain't too proud ta buy used, there's a couple as low as $5 at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/0806123354/ref=dp_olp_2//103-1853889-8097462?condition=all .  Definitely worth having in your personal liberry.  It ain't perfect (a few errors, and some personal bias) but lots of good stuff to offset tha deficiencies.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Oh, and Slim???

I just checked out O'Neals book for a month!  The librarian said shouldn't be a problem extending it a couple times either.

So liberal Madison ain't so bad sometime!!

Slim

Slim

If ya ain't too proud ta buy used, there's a couple as low as $5 at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/0806123354/ref=dp_olp_2//103-1853889-8097462?condition=all .  Definitely worth having in your personal liberry.  It ain't perfect (a few errors, and some personal bias) but lots of good stuff to offset tha deficiencies.

Thanks, Capt.

Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

You say there's a couple?  I might have to snag the one Slim doesn't get!

[Pukin Dog]

Thanks for the suggestion.  Just got the book from the library and it does pretty much list all the stuff I was looking for.  I did note some gaffs however, such as listing 0 kills for Wyatt Earp.  I don't understand how he can say that Wyatt didn't kill SOMEONE at the OK corral as 3 men certainly died.  Also didn't credit him with Frank Stillwell or Curly Bill.  I thought there were plenty of witnesses to Wyatt cutting Curly Bill down with a shotgun.

He does state in the front that if you only counted mano to mano gun fights that it might only number a dozen or so.

I mean he counts Hardin's death and Hickock's death as gunfights!  I'd categorize them as assassinations.

[tarheel mac]

I've already sent a couple of PMs about this, but those of you trying to get your hands on a copy of O'Neal's book, try www.abebooks.com.   they are big clearing house for numerous used book dealers, and I got a "like new" copy for less than 9 bucks including shipping...I got it today, and it really is "like new."

[Danny Bear Claw]

Seems to me there was a book called "Texas Gunfighters" or something like that covering the 1850s on up to the turn of the century.  As I recall, there were quite a few that would have qualified as "gunfights" as you describe them.  Seems lots of Texans took to slinging lead at one another back then.  I don't know if I still have the book in my collection and it's too late at night now to go digging in the library.

[Malachi Thorne]

Good Afternoon, All;

True West Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Bob Boze Bell, has released two books on gunfights of the old west:

Classic Gunfights, Volume I

Classic Gunfights, Volume II

Volume II was just released, and details the "25 gunfights behind the OK Corral"; twenty-five incidents of gunplay/gunfights in and around Tombstone, AZ, leading up to, and after the infamous fight behind the OK corral.

I've already ordered my copy, just on the strength of Volume I, which detailed a variety of old west gunfights, including Elfego Baca's stand against 30+ cowboys in New Mexico.

All of the gunfights in Volume I are annotated with illustrations, text, maps of the area, newspaper accounts, eyewitness testimony, and a variety of follow-ups (excerpts from trial transcripts, etc); many of these appeared on the pages of True West Magazine, and have been expanded with additional material.  I expect the same high standards in Volume II.  Links for ordering may be found at http://www.truewestmagazine.com

I have the honor to remain.

Your Obedient Servant,

Bvt. Captain Malachi Thorne

[blue drifter]

I tried to reserve Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters via interlibrary loan. I can't 'cuz it is classified as Reference material. 

Slim

holy poop if slim don't have it, then your only other hope is del and since he's not here yet he must be in his time
machine heading back to get the info