The Myth of the Gunfight

Most gunfights are portrayed in films or books as having two men square off, waiting for one to make the first move. This was rarely the case. Often, a gunfight was spur-of-the-moment, with one drawing their pistol, and the other reacting. Often it would develop into a shootout where both men scampered for cover. Other times, one or both were drunk, and missed several normally easy shots.

Many times the shootout was little more than one taking advantage of the other looking away at an opportune moment. Regardless of popular folklore, the men who held a noteworthy reputation as a gunfighter were not anxious to match up against another gunman with the same reputation.

On the contrary, in cases where two men held a similar reputation, both reputable gunmen would avoid confrontation with one another whenever possible. They rarely took undue risks, and usually weighed out their options before confronting another well known gunman. This respect for one another is why most famous gunfights were rarely two or more well known gunmen matched up against one another, but rather one notable gunman against a lesser known opponent or opponents. Generally, two well known gunmen coming into contact with one another would result in either the two keeping one another at arms length, but being social, or avoiding one another all together.

In cases where one well known gunman was a lawman, and another was merely in town, the one that was visiting would avoid problems, therefore avoiding a confrontation with the known gunman who served as the lawman for the town, in effect avoiding a confrontation that neither wanted in the first place.

How famous gunfighters died is as varied as each man. Many well known gunfighters were so feared by the public because of their reputation, that when they were eventually killed, they died as a result of ambush, rather than going down in a blaze of glory. Others died secluded deaths at either an old age or from illness. While some died exactly how they had lived, killed in gunfights or altercations.

Gunfighters like King Fisher, Jesse James, John Wesley Hardin, Ben Thompson, Billy the Kid, and Bill Hickok all died as a result of an ambush, killed in such a manner by men who feared them due to their reputation. Gunmen like Kid Curry, Jim Courtright, Dallas Stoudenmire and Dave Rudabaugh were in fact killed in raging gun battles, much as often portrayed in films of the era, and usually against more than one opponent. Bill Longley and Tom Horn were executed. Famed gunman Clay Allison died in a wagon accident. However, gunmen like Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Commodore Perry Owens, and Luke Short all died of natural causes, living out the remainder of their lives on reputation only, avoiding conflict in secluded retirement.