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This is a list of Old West gunfighters, referring to outlaws or lawmen, of the American frontier who gained fame or notoriety during the American Wild West or Old West. Some listed were never gunfighters.
In actuality, the “real” gunfights of the Old West were rarely that “civilized.” Many of the men listed on our Gunfighters pages fought in the Old West’s many range wars and feuds, which were far more common than the “stand-off” gunfight.
Here are the ten greatest gunfighters of the old west. John Wesley Hardin. Otherwise known as Little Arkansas, John Wesley Hardin became something of a folk hero during his time as an outlaw. He would always have two pistols strapped to his chest, which might be why his quick-draw was so feared.
Gunfighters, also called gunslingers (/ ˈ ɡ ʌ n s l ɪ ŋ ər /), or in the late 19th and early 20th century, gunmen were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in shootouts.
Most gunfighters carried their pistols stuck in their waistband, in a pocket, or a simple leather holster slipped on a belt. There are several gunfighters whose names were well-known while they were still alive and are just as quickly recognized today, including Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Bat Masterson, Bill Hickok, and Doc Holliday.
This is a list of Old West gunfights. Gunfights have left a lasting impression on American frontier history; many were retold and embellished by dime novels and magazines like Harper's Weekly during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Learn about the most legendary and deadliest gunfighters in the history of the Wild West in this must-see video. From iconic pistol duels to the true stories...
