Historian Answers Wild West Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

Historian Mark Lee Gardner discusses the most dangerous outlaws in the Old West, highlighting Jesse and Frank James, whose violent tendencies stemmed from the Civil War. He also compares the accuracy of the OK Corral gunfight depiction in films 'Wyatt Earp' and 'Tombstone,' noting that the actual gunfight was in a much smaller space, and gunfighters often carried revolvers in coat pockets rather than holsters for quick draw.

The term 'doggie' in cowboy songs refers to orphan calves with distended bellies ('dough belly' or 'dough guts'). Gardner explains that Old West towns like Tombstone and Dodge City had strict gun laws, requiring cowboys to check their firearms at designated locations to prevent incidents, as only lawmen were permitted to carry weapons within city limits.

Saloons in the Old West offered a variety of drinks beyond whiskey and beer, including wine, champagne, brandy, and gin, as detailed in the 1874 'Bartender's Guide.' John B. Stetson was the most famous hat maker, known for his durable 'trail boss' hat. The video also discusses theories on when the Old West 'officially' ended, suggesting the disappearance of free-ranging buffalo, the widespread use of barbed wire, or the replacement of horses by automobiles.

Before European contact, estimates suggest 28-30 million buffalo roamed the Great Plains. The robe trade and meat hunting, exemplified by Buffalo Bill Cody, drastically reduced their numbers to just 324 by 1884. Annie Oakley, a real and exceptional markswoman, was a major attraction in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West exhibition, which recreated scenes and featured Native American leaders like Sitting Bull.

The only authenticated photo of Billy the Kid is a tin type from Fort Sumner, which sold for $2.3 million. This image, a reverse image, led to the misconception that he was left-handed. The video also clarifies that as many as 25% of Old West cowboys were Black, with notable figures like lawman Bass Reeves, who many believe inspired the Lone Ranger.

Cattle branding originated in ancient Egypt and was introduced to North America by the Spaniards, becoming a key practice for identifying livestock. The 10-gauge shotgun was popular due to its wide shot spread, making it effective for 'riding shotgun' on stagecoaches. Other popular firearms included the Winchester 1873 repeater and the Colt Single Action Army revolver, known as 'The Peacemaker.'

Red Dead Redemption is considered reasonably accurate, though its depiction of low-slung holsters for fast draw is often a Hollywood embellishment; real cowboys wore them higher. Literacy was common in the Old West, with one-room schoolhouses even in remote areas. Famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James could read and write, with dime novels popularizing romanticized versions of their stories.

Commercially manufactured toilet paper existed from the 1850s, but in remote areas, people used corn cobs, catalogs, or pulp novels. Wyatt Earp once tracked stagecoach robbers by torn pages of a dime novel used as toilet paper. The notion of theatrical standoffs in the Old West is largely a Hollywood myth; real gunfights were often sudden ambushes, as exemplified by Pat Garrett killing Billy the Kid without warning.

Dining in Old West boom towns included luxuries like fresh oysters. Cowboys on cattle drives had fresh beef and preserved foods like beans and flour from chuck wagons. Saloons were vibrant social hubs, offering food, reading areas, and even adjacent brothels; Wyatt Earp himself worked as a bouncer and possibly a pimp. Lesser-known facts include the existence of multiple individuals named 'Billy the Kid' and Jesse James's superstitions about ball lightning as an omen.

The iconic swinging saloon doors are likely a Hollywood invention, as historical photos show standard doors. Early silent films often featured real Old West figures as advisors or background actors. Different Native American nations, such as the Apache, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche, and Lakota, were formidable foes to the US government, fiercely defending their culture and way of life against incursions.

The defeat of Custer's troops at Little Bighorn was largely due to Custer dividing his regiment, allowing the Native American warriors, motivated to protect their village, to defeat them in segments. Navajo blankets, made on vertical looms with tight weaves, were a significant industry from the 1600s, reflecting their resourcefulness. Plains Indians were also part of a global market, trading buffalo robes for items like Italian glass beads and firearms.

The start of the Old West period is debatable. Options include the Lewis and Clark expedition (1803-1806) exploring the Louisiana Purchase, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) acquiring the American Southwest, the end of the Civil War (which sent many veterans West), or the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad (which facilitated migration and fulfilled the idea of Manifest Destiny). The end of the Civil War is suggested as the start of the classic Old West period.