The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - What kind of gun did Wild Bill Hickock and Wyatt Earp use?

Don Gwinn · July 26, 2000, 10:14 AM

According to my History of the West professor, Wyatt Earp did use a .45 LC but I don't recall the brand. I believe it was a Colt. Also, if I recall correctly, for at least part of his career he used one with about a 7.5 inch barrel. Earp and his brothers were actually known as great lawmen because of their gentleness at the time, according to Dr. Urban. They would pistolwhip drunken cowboys into submission when lesser men would simply have shot 'em full of holes, and the next day when the young men woke up sober they often realized how close they'd come to death.

July 26, 2000, 10:14 AM	#2
Don Gwinn Staff Emeritus Join Date: March 9, 2000 Location: Virden, IL Posts: 5,917	According to my History of the West professor, Wyatt Earp did use a .45 LC but I don't recall the brand. I believe it was a Colt. Also, if I recall correctly, for at least part of his career he used one with about a 7.5 inch barrel. Earp and his brothers were actually known as great lawmen because of their gentleness at the time, according to Dr. Urban. They would pistolwhip drunken cowboys into submission when lesser men would simply have shot 'em full of holes, and the next day when the young men woke up sober they often realized how close they'd come to death.