How Did Folks in the Old West Carry?

[Crash]

I just read a magazine article that stated that most of the folks in the Old West, contrary to what we see on TV and in the movies, did not carry on the hip. The writer stated that most carried either cross-draw or in shoulder holsters. Does anybody know if this is true?

Crash

[AEA]

They also carried 5 rounds in the SAA with the empty chamber on the hammer for safety.

I think Wyatt Earp was the start of the end to belt carry, at least openly. Prior to that I believe the cowboys did in fact wear belt rigs when working.

[jimlongley]

Depends on where in the "Old West" you're talking about.

My (paternal) grandmother had a "purse pistol" and a little semi-auto. I know the little revolver was carried in her purse, but I don't know anything about the semi-auto. According to her, and she lived there then, most cowboys, if they carried at all, wore the gun in a manner that was secure and would not interfere with day to day activities on a horse. From her description, I always pictured a cavalry flap holster in a cross draw position.

My (maternal) grandfather was a cowboy in Texas briefly, and the only existing family photo of him from that era shows him in full rig, with the holster positioned pretty much front and center.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Bob Bose Bell is an "old west" historian and he had an interesting 5 minute segment on the Westerns Channel about methods of carrying. According to Bell, open carry in a holster was common outside of towns, but not in town/cities. It was considered impolite and most people carried concealed. The method depended on the type of gun. Handguns like Colt's Single Action Army, Remington, S&W Schofield were commonly carried in shoulder holsters under a vest or cover garment or in a cross-draw also under some type of cover. Smaller pistols were pocket guns and carried in pants pockets or vest pockets.

It was an interesting segment.

Chas.

[terryg]

Great topic!!! I have wondered the same thing myself.

[Heartland Patriot]

I know this was a serious question post and kind of interesting, too. But the first thing I thought of when I read the title was: any way they wanted to!

[Mike1951]

Good reading:

http://www.cochiseleather.com/western-g ... story.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jmorris]

My understanding is that the low slung western holster didn't even show up until the very early 1900s. Most people used a Slim Jim type holster:


Or loop holsters:


on either a regular or cartridge belt. But not in town.

Wild Bill (no, not that one, the earlier one) carried two Colt Navy .36 cal pistols, cross draw, either tucked into his belt or, in town dress, in a sash.

As others mentioned, in town most carried concealed. That's why Colt came out with their percussion pocket pistols, .31 cal, 3-6" barrel. One model came without a charging handle probably to reduce weight and little chance the individual was carrying powder and balls. When metallic cartridges came out there were lots of different concealable models. Seems like every metal shop was producing firearms.

Want to see a weird idea, google pinfire revolvers.