Biography; Frontier and pioneer life -- Dakota Territory; Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
The Estelline (Dak.) _Bell_ has been at some trouble to
collect the following latest fashion notes for the benefit
of its Bad Lands readers: The "gun" is still worn on the
right hip, slightly lower down than formerly. This makes it
more convenient to get at during a discussion with a friend.
The regular "forty-five" still remains a favorite. Some
affect a smaller caliber, but it is looked upon as slightly
dudish. A "forty," for instance, may induce a more artistic
opening in an adversary, but the general effect and
mortality is impaired. The plug of tobacco is still worn in
the pocket on the opposite side from the shooter, so when
reaching for the former, friends will not misinterpret the
move and subsequently be present at your funeral. It is no
longer considered necessary to wait for introductions before
proceeding to get the drop. There will be time enough for
the mere outward formalities of politeness at the inquest.
The trimming of the "iron" is still classic and severe, only
a row of six cartridges grouped around the central barrel
being admissible. Self-cockers are now the only style seen
in the best circles.[19] Much of the effectiveness of the
gun was formerly destroyed by having to thumb up the hammer,
especially when the person with whom you were conversing
wore the self-cocking variety. It has been found that on
such occasions the old-style gun was but little used except
in the way of circumstantial evidence at the inquest.
Shooting from the belt without drawing is considered hardly
the thing among gentlemen who do not wish to be considered
as attempting to attract notice. In cases where the
gentleman with whom you are holding a joint debate already
has the drop, his navy six having a hair trigger, and he
being bound to shoot, anyway, this style of discussion is
allowable, though apt to cause a coldness to spring up. As
regards the number of guns which it is admissible to wear,
great latitude is allowed, from one up to four being noted
on the street and at social gatherings. One or two is
generally considered enough, except where a sheriff with a
reputation of usually getting his man and a Winchester rifle
is after you, when we cannot too strongly impress upon the
mind of the reader the absolute necessity for going well
heeled.
[Footnote 19: "Whoever wrote that was badly off his
base. The simon-pure cowpuncher would not accept a
self-cocker as a gift. They laughed at them in fact.
Once, on a bet, a cowpuncher shot off all six shots with
his single-action Colt .45 while his opponent was
getting off three with his self-cocker."--_Lincoln
Lang._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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