OK Corral and coach guns

[Hotspur]

That is a nice gun Jim.

Do you recall where the 'dollar's worth of dimes' really came from? I recall that from a Billy the Kid story.


Even with shorter barrels, there is not much spread, out to 20" or so. There is probably a video of dimes. In the '60s, there were flechette rounds. The preference was #4 buck, over those darts or slugs. Or a buck eighty
https://youtu.be/QkH8m9KQzNk?si=rc3PgCLp1O2Bd4LY

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks for coming in Glen! Thought I'd be runnin' solo on this..not a lot of wild west enthusiasts here it seems.
I think the dimes thing is lore evolved from hyperbole, and I think it was from the webs of Billy the Kid tales.

I really appreciate the kind words on the gun. Not high end weapon, but rich in history.

[Hotspur]

A friend had a similar gun in years gone by.


Pretty much anything you put in a modern load will go down the tube.

I've not researched the shotgun at OK but the 'Tombstone' film version shows the shotgun from the pharoh dealer Earp usurps/gets a gaming table, and the shotgun. Then handed to Kilmer with the howitzer comment.

After a couple of strokes, what is old in mind becomes new again. I say that because I had not browsed coach guns in some years but that older acquaintance sticks in mind. The holding, pointing, appreciating a century of use.

Cheers
GC

[urbanspaceman]

How odd. I was just,last week, wondering why firearms were not present on this forum but supposed a forum called Viking Sword told it all.
Is there an interest in firearms?
I have some interesting pieces with late 1800s USA history.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

How odd. I was just,last week, wondering why firearms were not present on this forum but supposed a forum called Viking Sword told it all.
Is there an interest in firearms?
I have some interesting pieces with late 1800s USA history.

When we began this forum in 2008, we set the scope of arms discussions to cover virtually all historic times and forms of arms and armor, and within reasonable inclusion through the end of the 19th century. In most cases weapons beyond the turn of the century become modern militaria, and despite exceptions in certain cases , fall into that category.

While my interest lifelong has been swords, growing up in the west it was hard not to be aware of the gunfighters, and the modern 'paladins' (Richard Boone, "Have Gun Will Travel") whose duels were with guns.

A curious exception was the 70s classic "Master Gunfighter" with Tom McLaughlin (Billy Jack) set in Spanish California with the caballeros strapped with holstered revolvers....AND wearing SAMURAI katanas!!!!!
Hooray for Hollywood! quoting the words of one screen writer.

The Viking sword title was emplaced by the founder Lee Jones, whose key interest was in, of course, Viking swords. The scope of interest broadened to ethnographic weapons and that title prevailed, though the IT address remained Vikingsword.

When the ethnographic denominator became too restrictive, the European (intended collectively to all arms outside ethnographic) Armory was begun.
The keris forum was intended to tend to these intensely specialized weapons, but of course discussions on them tend to transcend the categoric barriers, as of course often happens between European and ethnographic.

So yes, firearms, at least as I recall from the inception of this forum, were always intended to be part of the subject matter included for discussion.

[urbanspaceman]

Something I discovered recently that I thought I would open up for potential correction:
the trumpet like muzzle of a blunderbuss was not to spread the shot - a short barrel would do that - it was to facilitate re-loading while sitting on a moving coach.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

Something I discovered recently that I thought I would open up for potential correction:
the trumpet like muzzle of a blunderbuss was not to spread the shot - a short barrel would do that - it was to facilitate re-loading while sitting on a moving coach.

Wow! Now I NEVER realized that but makes perfect sense! sorta like a funnel.
Those kinds of trivia bits are priceless.
Thank you Keith.
Also, now mentioned, those coach guns are truly desirable......very romanticized, the Highwaymen etc. Always wanted one but if you CAN find one..$$$$$$