Hollywood lied to us about Old West pistoleers

If you love Westerns, you probably think every cowboy was a gunslinger who carried a low-slung, hair-trigger revolver rig.

If you love Westerns, you probably think every cowboy was a gunslinger who carried a low-slung, hair-trigger revolver rig. Turns out that’s nonsense invented for dramatic movie scenes.

This excellent video breaks down how folks really carried their guns in the 19th-century American West. You Tuber LeadLegacyy details why the cinematic version would have been impractical, uncomfortable, and sometimes illegal.

I had always wondered why photos of Cavalry or outlaws always seemed less casual and more functional. It is because the firearms and clothing were there to serve a purpose other than Hollywood drama. When learning about popular Old West pistols and rifles, the saddle ring was clearly there for function and not aesthetics. It comes as no surprise that people who might need the firearm for their work, or to stay alive, would make sure it was actually accessible without causing them pain for the sake of drama. Quick draw, while fun in the movies, was far less valuable than calmly reaching for the firearm and aiming it.

I’ve always been a fan of Steve McQueen and his “Mare’s Leg” from Wanted: Dead or Alive, but the hip holster never seemed to make any sense. I was unshocked to learn the cartridges carried in the holster didn’t even fit the gun; they were pure props.