The 1873 Winchester made its way into the arms of Buffalo Bill Cody and Belle Starr. Thanks largely to its use on the American frontier, the slab-sided 1873 Winchester lever-action rifle has become an icon of the Wild West.

Jobs, Trades, and Occupations

• Apothecary. The apothecaries of colonial times were similar to today’s pharmacists.
• Blacksmith. The blacksmith was one of the most important tradesmen of any colonial settlement.
• Cabinetmaker.
• Chandler (candlemaker)
• Cobbler (shoemaker)
• Cooper.
• Gunsmith.
• Milliner.

Gunpowder Invented Cannons and grenades were among the earliest weapons to incorporate gunpowder, followed by primitive handheld firearms, which consisted of a hollow bamboo tubes, packed with gunpowder and small projectiles. The devices had limited range and were likely used only in hand-to-hand combat.

So, the pistol holster would be on the right side butt forward, such that it could be easily drawn with the left hand. If the holster were on the left side then it would have to be much lower down the body and it would be awkward to draw.

The 11 Most Important Guns in History

• 1 of 11. Hand Cannon, 13th century.
• 2 of 11. Gatling Gun, 1862.
• 3 of 11. Colt Peacemaker, 1873.
• 4 of 11. Maxim Gun, 1883.
• 5 of 11. Colt M1911, 1911.
• 6 of 11. M2 Browning, 1933.
• 7 of 11. M1 Garand, 1936.
• 8 of 11. Uzi, 1948.

The federal government of the 1800s largely stayed out of gun-law court battles. “People were allowed to own guns, and everyone did own guns [in the West], for the most part,” says Winkler.

Gunspinning refers to the old west tradition and Hollywood legend of a cowboy gunslinger twirling his pistol around his trigger finger. Gunspinning is a western art such as trick roping, and is sometimes referred as gunplay, gun artistry, and gun twirling.

Actual gunfights in the Old West were very rare, very few and far between, but when gunfights did occur, the cause for each varied. Some were simply the result of the heat of the moment, while others were longstanding feuds, or between bandits and lawmen.

The Colt Frontier Six Shooter Revolver and the Winchester Model 1873 or the Winchester Model 1892 in . 44-40 WCF caliber were one of the most common combinations seen in “the Old West”.

.44 caliber

Volcanic made an improved version of the Rocket Ball ammunition, and a carbine and pistol version of the lever action gun to fire it….Volcanic Repeating Arms.

1607 – 1920