Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas! Today I wanted to do another myth busting post about misconceptions people have about the Old West.
It's not their fault though, when you see the same style or specific type of scene in movie after movie then you accept those as facts or reality. So here are a couple of misconceptions that I see all the time in the media.
The classic cowboy hat
If you watch Western movies or tv series they often are wearing classic Stetson style cowboy hats like this Texas girl is:
And here is one of Hollywood's examples via The Lone Ranger, set in the mid 1800's:
source
The problem is, this style of hat didn't come out until the end of the Wild West period and didn't become popular until the 1930's and 40's. Here's the style most were actually wearing in the Wild West:
source
How would you like to get into an argument with those boys? But as far as their hats: Wide brims, good protection from rain and sun but not very stylish.
As far as the movies using the classic cowboy hat, I can see why.. they look cool and ARE much cooler in hot weather.
The gun that won the West!
This one cracks me up. There are a couple of guns that always seem to lay claim to that title. Most of the time the famous Colt .45 is named as the Gun That Won The West but the truth is that there WAS no single gun that was predominately used in the Old West.
colt 45 
source
As far as the Colt .45, it was and is a magnificent firearm and although it started production in 1873, it didn't make it out into the Western Territory in significant numbers until a decade later when much of the West was already settled.
Most of the heavy settling and fighting was done with cap and ball pistols like this one:
source
They were great guns too but the problem with those were that once you fired your six shots it took like ten minutes to reload and you had to have the gun powder, slugs and firing caps with you to do it. Something you don't see in the movies.
But the favored type of gun was not usually a pistol anyway, it was a rifle or a double barrelled shotgun. The bottom line: the guns that won the West were the ones that shot!
Whatever was shootable.. from ancient muzzle loaders to lever action rifles, to shotguns to the cartridge pistols, they ALL won the West.
Meanwhile back in redneck country
There's a little project I've been working on. It's a dang tree that just fell over onto one of our lawns. It's grown up along the edge of the pond and I reckon it's root system weakened.
The thing is, I decided to cut it up and remove it using tools like the pioneers had. I have a chainsaw but I thought it would be more challenging and more of a workout to use an axe, machete and a short, 12 inch hand saw.
I've made some headway.
But I still got a heck of a long way to go. With a chainsaw it would've taken 20 minutes! lol. It's a good sized tree. I'll let you know how it goes.
I'll probably do another myth-busting post tomorrow. If you see a Western movie or tv show take note of their guns and hats and see if they line up with the correct times in history..most likely not!
Thanks for reading guys!
-jonboy Texas
the gentleman redneck
PS- ya know...you might just be a redneck if:
You've ever had to turn your pickup truck around because of bridge clearance restrictions! lol.
God bless you all!
Okay after following you for months, I have come down to a conclusion that you love cowboy hats, thieves, arms and beautiful looking ladies :D
What? where did you get those wild ideas hananali? lol.. well ok, all but the thieves. I write about the thieves because they usually have entertaining stories with some action. You want me to write about a boring farmer and what he planted each year and how the crops turned out? I might have one or two readers!
hahaha I din't say don't write entertaining stories about I just noticed this interest of yours in thieves, am happy you were not alive in that era or I would be sitting here writing a story about you :D "Jonboy from the Northern Texas who dodged police for several months" kind of stuff lol
Apart from jokes, you write good and have many regular readers, this is something a lot of people here want but don't get so you are lucky and good at what you do
As long as it fired. Makes sense.
Looks like you're making some progress on the tree. Keep at it and you'll have it down in no time.
Howdy sir Blondie! Yes sir about the guns. What amazing is that even when the new cartridge guns came out like the Colt 45 some people kept their ball and cap pistols like Wild Bill Hickok because that's what they'd used all their lives.
As far as that dang tree, I was out there with my axe today working my tail off and only got about 6 ft cut off of two of the main branches. Man, that's brutally hard work! At this rate it will take quite a few days! lol. I don't know how the settlers did it, clearing the trees off the land and building the cabins and all.
Morning janton, the cowboys in the movies have to look good you know! How else do they get the crowds to watch the action at the cinemas? lol.
Damn nuisance when tress fall over!
haha! yeah that's right angiemitchell! An ugly, uncool looking cowboy wouldn't attract many viewers. And cool looking hats are a big part of it! That tree is a pain in the neck but I'm making progress on it and it's all coming down with hand tools and being hauled away with a wheel barrow instead of a tractor.
Forget the hats I don’t think the woman looked like that eighter.
what woman? lol! Yeah I don't think they did either sir Wolf! lol. I'm going over to your blog right now, it's been too long.
Years ago I read a letter from the commander of Ft. Sill requesting woman from back east. They would work the fort. Laundry ect. But he wanted the ugliest woman that they could get because the men would marry them and the woman would quit and stay home leaving no one to work the infrastructure of the fort.
Good reading! I have read many of these Wild West myth-busting articles, but never seen mention of the guns or hats. Very interesting!
Well howdy sir dbooster! Thanks for the kind words. I see that you are in Japan! How interesting...is it dramatically different from living in the United States? It seems like it woud be crowded with everyone living in small apartments or something.
I'd say it's about the same as the States. Smaller cities are not so busy with plenty of space, while larger places (like Tokyo) are super busy and crowded (like NYC). Apartments are in general smaller, but house sizes are similar. To me I don't seen huge differences between living here and in the States, beyond the obvious things like food and whatnot. But Japan has been very Americanized since the war, and that has only increases since the internet became common.
Howdy sir dbooster! how interesting...and what is the cost of living like, is that similar also?
Good myths to bust! Hollywood does change our perceptions. Good luck with that tree. I admire your effort.
howdy Melinda! oh my gosh I didn't know if was so late, are you still up?
I missed you last night. I went to bed shortly after midnight, my time. I simply could not keep my eyes open any longer!
I'm sorry I got so wrapped up in trying to catch up that I forgot the time, I didn't get all the comments answered so I still didn't catch up, nice problem to have, that hasn't happened for awhile. Hey I had a weird thing happen, I got a bunch of votes from one of the Belle Starr posts from a month ago, then quite a few from a post I did about Dodge City like 3 months ago! I have no idea why and we still have the 7 day voting time limit right?
I didn't even make it to your blog last night! I haven't even had time to make it over to the League results to see how we did!
I certainly hope that you feel like you can get caught up a little more today! Of course you did great with the EL numbers! Mine were far better than I expected. I skipped several days commenting on c squared posts, but I did really good there too! I will look around and see if I can figure out why you got votes on a post older than 7 days! I believe they are just wasted votes, right?
Do remember to check out the post that e-steemapp did about the leaderboard. Their screen shot doesn't show the best numbers for either one of us, but it was fun to be featured in their post! I resteemed it, so it's on my page.
I'm hoping for a good day here today! Maybe we will both feel more caught up!
Howdy again Melinda! So you had a great week all around, yay! I think people are doing alot of holiday things or something because I spent less time on commenting last week since I joined the League. Yes unless they changed the rules those are wasted votes so it makes no sense.
I'll check out the esteemapp post, thanks.
What an interestin post, @janton! You got your work cut out for you to clear that brush with hand tools!
I loved the photos of the old pistols, reminded me of the Steve Earle song, Devil's Right Hand:
My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt
Shoot as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow
Loads a mite slow and soon I found out
Get you into trouble but it can't get you out
So then I went and bought myself a Colt 45
Called a peacemaker but I never knew why
Never knew why, I didn't understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand
I guess I never knew "loads a mite slow" meant 10 minutes! Better make every shot count!
The stetsons were interesting too. Up here we have the stetson as part of the parade uniform for the RCMP. Doesn't look exactly the same as what you showed, but I think it's pretty close..
source
I enjoyed your post - like all of them! U+R :)
thank you sir Keith! what a cool song! Is that a country artist? Well I don't know how long it actually takes to reload a six shooter but they have videos showing that of course, it's a hassle! have you seen how they do it? you literally have 6 shots and then the fight is over unless you got more, now I know why most of those guys like Wild Bill always carried at least 2 pistols.
Stetson makes, or at least they did, I guess I should go to their website...anyway they made all kinds of hat shapes like the Bowlers. They're based right here in Dallas or maybe it's Austin. They're great quality and that one you show would sure work in cowboy conditions too! Thanks so much for the kind words.
Oh, I got blisters from using that axe so long today hacking sections of that tree away. lol. I don't know how the pioneers did it.
You don't know this song? You're going to love it! I think Steve Earle is a little country-rock, but Waylon Jennings released a cover version of this before Steve Earle even recorded it. Johnny Cash also did a version which I think is not great.. but here is the original Steve Earle version.... "about the time Daddy left to fight the big war, saw my first pistol in the general store... " I lOVE this song! :)
Here's another... this one's about you guys showing up late for WW II haha! "Johnny come Lately" Great song! About a US fighter pilot flying out of England across the channel on missions. Awesome stuff:
By the way, that RCMP Stetson has what's called a "Montana Peak"
Love it. Mythbusters Wild West.
Get the chainsaw. No one is keeping score except your back.
haha! I'm stubborn sir, I want to see if I can do it. I worked my butt off today with my axe and only got about 6 feet on two big limbs but that's okay, I'm down there by the pond and it's very peaceful and I can dream about all the fake money I'm making on steemit. plus I need the workout. lol.
Hot lady click bait lmao! I knew about the guns were not true but the hats? Makes sense tho, practicality and all. Lotta dust in them days.
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haha! hot lady click bait! lol...hey I was just looking for a good cowboy hat to demonstrate what it looks like! lol. Yes sir, good hats were very practical especially in scorching sun, rain, hail, dust, and sometimes using it to feed your horse grain. Thank you sir enginewitty!
The fallen tree giving you a good workout. :-)
howdy sir Vincent! yes sir it's a little tough, I think I'll stop for a couple of days because of blisters on my hands plus we're supposed to be getting some rain. But I'm making progress, just not a 20 yr old anymore! lol.
Good myth bustin' information there partner. Do you have a fireplace? Wood stove? That looks like good wood for cooking out. Don't hurt yourself.
We do have a fireplace but it hasn't been used for so many years that we need to get it checked out before we use it and I don't know when that will be. We've been pinching pennies and there's not much wood around here to burn. I mean we have alot of wood but it's cedar so we can't burn that in the fireplace so it would cost alot to buy wood, that's why we haven't.
Thanks I will be careful. I busted my tail yesterday with an axe on two big limbs and only got about 6 feet cut and hauled away so it's slow going but it makes me appreciate the pioneers! Thanks for the kind words, I'm doing a couple more today, I've done it before but didn't have much of an audience then, the saloon doors and circling the wagons, remember those? lol. should get some good reactions.
Oh yes, I remember. I remember the fit I threw about education too. LOL!!!!
Check out my video when you have a chance. I demonstrate using my cell phone that aluminum foil is NOT for crazies as we are led to believe. I had a good time making that one. My old chipper dorkie and weird self. Gosh, I miss that gal. Hopefully, we will see more of her.
As far as the hats go, they seem similar to some of the Mexican ones I've seen from the same period. I suppose that makes sense, though.
There is a banditry museum in Ronda, Spain, where I lived that has some amazingly well-preserved clothes and weaponry from the same era. Actually, if you ever get the chance, Andalucía was very similar to the American Old West in many ways.
Howdy again sir fotosdenada! If I ever get the chance to what? go there or research it? It sounds very interesting and yes the Americans just had their own version of the Mexican sombrero which does make sense. good points sir!
Now I know you are a redneck. Be sure and 'git' the woodchipper out. lol You forgot the redneck beer @janton
This redneck label courtesy of deviant art
Be careful and really no drinking.
hahaha! Howdy rebeccabe! this is hilarious, is this a real beer? lol.
Interesting, thanks
Howdy sir wales! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I would have never thought to really question the hats and guns but I guess it makes sense to use something that got associated with the west even if it was not accurate!
Yes sir and both the later model Colt 45 and the cowboy hats have a cool, sleek look to them which is very important to Hollywood, or at least used to be. They're alot more realistic these days in some films but they still use old sterotypes that are wrong. I'll bust a few more of them.
Hi, @janton!
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Those guns are sweet!
howdy blacklux! oh wow, do you like guns? They are magnificently machined tools and some have great class like the Colt 45, it's my favorite design. Come to Texas and we'll do a bunch of shooting!
I grow up seeing my dad's gun tiny collection...
howdy blacklux! ok. well have you ever shot one?
Nope!
what the?? what happened to your Christmas spirit profile image? now you turned into a killer snarling dog? that's worse than the Grinch, that thing is scary! wow..ok well I'm trying to concentrate here but my hands are shaking after seeing that profile photo..oh yeah..most people are very surprised when they shoot a gun for the first time. Most people lose their fear of guns if they had any and for others it is an empowering feeling, especially for women. Just think Belle Starr. lol.
The doggie is smiling! You should try it once in a while! I don't fear guns, I just not interested in them. I like more swords and knives but I know how to appreciate the art of old guns.
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That's quite a project & workout you've got going for yourself there Cowboy.... Why aren't you actifitting...hmmmm? lol :) <333
howdy there reikigirl! yeah that thing is turning out to be a tough job but I'll eventually get it. lol. I have a great deal of respect for the pioneers! You could do it. You'd go all Beastly on it! lol. I don't carry a cell phone and I don't have an actifit but mostly I sit around most of the time so I don't think I'd amass much in the way of points.
Well through your posts I am learning a lot about the old west today so interesting and thanks so much for sharing
You are very welcome JJ and I have gotten such a better impression of NYC than ever through your photos!
Thanks that is such a kind comment and truly appreciated my friend
Howdy, Janton, so now you are a MYTH BUSTER!!! LOL!!! Very interesting, because I would never thought of the hats obviously, but it makes lots of sense. Those guys were not exactly supermodels those days and these popular cowboy hats look like designed by a designer, lol. And the guns, oh well, of course they were not picky. But Belle was!
About that tree! Is it dead? I mean it look dead but it's winter so I am not sure, lol.
Howdy again Miss Lena! Yes I am now a professional Myth Buster! lol. I get paid one dollar for every post..I know it's a dirty job but somebody has to set these people straight! lol. Well it's just entertainment but it's also educational. Yes, Belle was very classy and stylish indeed! She was magnificent on her beautiful black horses.
That tree is mostly dead, I'm making headway on it, more pictures each day. Very hard work! wow. I'm used to the chainsaw.
Well Hollywood makes educational.movies too, so is not all bad.
And keep up the good work with the tree Janton 😉
haha, yes the tree, thank you I will. It's a brutal job. Are you doing your Monday thing next week or is that Christmas? I don't even know what day Christmas is on!
Gosh, Jon. You ARE a glutton for punishment. I'd have definitely used the chainsaw. Interesting facts on the Colt .45 and the hat. Didn't know either of those!
Similar to your redneck joke:
You might NOT be a redneck if you've ever turned your pickup around because it says "high water, flooding ahead."
haha! I LIKE that joke, I will use that one sometime too. lol. that's great. Yeah the myth about the guns is especially interesting because I've never seen where anyone has ever stopped and reloaded a cap and ball pistol, it's so painstaking and takes so long.
They had to carry three different containers, one for powder, one for the little firing caps and one for the slugs. That rod under the barrel is the plunger to press down on the slug once the chamber has gun powder in it and the bullet has been seated then you line it up and pull that rod which works the plunger to press the bullet slug into the chamber, then you have to mount each firing cap for the hammer to strike and the gun powder has to be a precise amount so you need something to measure it with! lol. That's why we've never seen that in the movies. with those type of pistols they might run out of bullets but they never show them reloading.
Good point. Only on Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactments do we get to see them re-charging their muskets...but never pistols.
Great info about the myths - Keep em coming.
If you just use a handsaw on that tree, it'll keep you fit for a long while and keep you in wood for a fire too.
howdy back sir preppervetuk! yes sir, one good sized tree produces alot of wood for a small area like a firesplace as I'm sure you know. Thanks so much for commenting!
Interesting @janton, I didn't really think so much about these details...
This would be good source material for anyone making a modern western movie...
/FF
Howdy sir friendly-fenix! yes sir and many of the newer movies are pretty accurate except they still never show anyone reloading a cap and ball pistol..lol. What did you do this week, have you been posting?
@janton
Yeah they never show that cap and ball part...
I did a short blogpost on radiation protection, because a steemit friend of mine just told me he is inclined to believe he has testicle cancer from cellphone use... ☹️ Other then that I have been trying to keep active read some new blogs follow some new people I have around 998 followers now, I would love to break trough the 1k limit... 😀
/FF
howdy sir friendly-fenix! That post about the radiation sounds interesting, I've heard that cell phones can cause brain cancer but that's the only kind I've heard about, but then I haven't done any research either. Good for you to reach a thousand followers!
I lost just one... Follower... 😞 But yesterday I had 1087 followers, so Im not sure... Might be bots or users turning into dead-fish, then they disappear from the following...
The thing with these new smartphones is that you can never really turn them off, I always have my phone in my jeans front pocket, and now with the new cellphone networks with potentially stronger radiation I rather be safe then sorry... So I think Im going to make one just for the times when I want to turn it off properly and still have it in my pocket or for when Im sleeping...
I talked to this guy who was a former cellphone company employee not going to mention the name of the company but it rimes with "coca-cola", he told me that they could boil eggs, 3 feet from the "mast", you know the one they sometimes put on rooftops etc, but from a further distance it was not boiling the eggs and probably not dangerous or so he said, he was a bit drunk, and this was back in the 90ties... 🙄
/FF
Howdy today sir friendly-fenix! I'm not quite clear how you plan on handling the cell phone if you think it may be dangerous but you can't turn them off. How does that work? I don't know anything about them and I don't even carry a cell phone. But one reason is that I've been hearing about the dangers of them for years.
I know they used to sell those shields that you can attache to your phone but I haven't seen those advertised for a long time so I don't know if they still have them or if they work.
Yeah I remember those shields too...Have not seen those in a long time...
They have these bags for credit cards and passports you can buy in the airport, to prevent digital identity theft, I think one of those bags might work...?
/FF
Nice way to bring in more red blooded males ! It’s normally a big dirty smelly cowboy as your first photo . That tree is massive . Their a lot harder to deal with than they look. When I moved into my place I had to knock 3 of them . Nearly killed me .
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haha! I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about sir blanchy, in referrence to red-blooded males. I was merely showing an example of a fine cowboy hat. lol!
The trees, I know they're brutal. I've taken dozens of large ones down, been cutting down trees for three years now and big ones too but always with a chainsaw. I just wanted to challenge myself on this little project is all.
A big dirty, smelly cowboy? lol. that's very true and typical. One of the few exceptions was Wild Bill Hickok who was famous for taking daily baths.
I know you're super busy this time of year sir blanchy so I appreciate your visit!
Ohyeah I forgot about old Bill and his cleanliness!
lol yes sir he was so popular that all the men started taking baths everyday too so he literally cleaned up the whole town! lol. Hey sir blanchy..those trees that you took down, why didn't you hire someone to do it?
That would of cost me money and I have two hands and an axe .
and a strong back. ok I was going to ask you what you used. Using an axe is one of the hardest jobs you can do isn't it? lol. good job sir blanchy!
yeah I'm afraid I'd chop a hand off with a chainsaw so the axe will do. The tree is the ok part. Its the iceberg roots underneath that cause me the hassle.
Time Traveler..... Me and the Furr Kits are taking a trip Back in Time
To read some of your older posts from B4 we became part of the Huge group who love the stuff you write about.
We were Power Scrolling at warp 5 when it stopped on the pretty lady in the Cowboy Hat. So we had to read this...... upvote is at Zeeero just to show some love. And besides i still get 5 Partiko points for the vote.
Ok back in the Time Scroll Machine to find Us some Doc Holiday Postings..... Zoooom.....
Haha! Animalnado! lol. that would be a great username too. Are you stopped somewhere out on the road? Well, not on the road but at a truck stop?
U see my Orlando post...?
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