The Gunfighter Man or Myth Author:Joseph G. Rosa THE GUNFIGHTER MAN OR MYTH is a surprisingly complete look at the wild west. He goes beyond a study of gunfighters to the various bodies of lawmakers, the vices, guns and much more. — On the subject of lawmen he covered the history and some adventures of the Texas Rangers, the Pinkertons, and the U.S. Marshals. — The cowboys, cattle drives and the... more » Texas Longhorn cattle were examined.
Mr. Rosa had short essays on some of the prominent gunfighters from both sides of the law. Among those were the Earps, Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, Ben Thompson, and "Mysterious Dave" Mather.
Another fascinating subject was the handguns that were so instrumental in the life and death of a gunfighter. He explored the manufacturers and the models they sold. What was even more interesting was the individual modifications some of the shootists used for safety or to enhance the use of their gun. He also addresses the reasoning for some of carrying more than one pistol.
Among the myths that the author dispelled was the quick draw. It wasn't a normal part of a gunfight. Situational preparation and "deliberation" were under-rated factors. On page 180 Mr. Rose wrote; "Legend has made all the shootists appear much better shots than they were. But there can be no doubt that some of them were great pistol men."
This book not only accomplishes the goal of separating the gunman from the myth, it educates the reader on other relevant topics in the life of the gunfighter. Also helpful are the footnotes to sources and the Index.« less