Who was your favorite outlaw in the late 1800s

Earlier in this thread someone wondered about Hardin's gun. It was a top-break S&W Frontier 44-40. That's what was on him when Constable John Selman shot him in the Acme Saloon in El Paso. As for favorite bad people, Boone Helm, the Kentucky Cannibal. He didn't shoot much, but rather ate people. He actually did the things that the writers of Crow Killer attributed to Jeremiah Johnson, to make his character more interesting. Ya gotta hand it to a guy who escapes indian capture, and while at it cuts the leg off one of his capturers and takes it with him to gnaw on for sustenance in the winter mountains. Crazy people used to have a purpose. Don't ask me what that means, I haven't slept in a while. Clyde Barrow's case was all about revenge on the Texas correctional system, for the ###ual abuse he suffered while incarcerated as a teenager, that they turned a blind eye too. He just wanted to die and take as many of those he felt betrayed him to the other side. Kinda understandable. Not justifiable, but I can see where he was coming from. That brings up the interesting person Mike Hamer, the hard-boiled egg who had a hand in shooting Bonnie and Clyde to smithereens. It's hard to find a modern day outlaw who has what it takes to be turned into a mythic figure. Today's bad apples are just rotten. No substance beneath the rot.
 
I recall reading in an NFA monthly that Wyatt Earp was known as the " Fighting Pimp"
History sure shined him up didn't it?
Favorite? Not sure, too much time between and too much PR ...like the Wyatt Earp change about.
Wild Bill Hickock is probably the one I'd choose.
Does that count? Even though he's a lawman?
Great Grand-dad I suppose ( avitar ). Never shot or robbed anyone. But he did come up from Texas and solved "problems" now and again with firearms.
"Have no fear of any man, no matter what his size. When in danger, call on me and I will equalize"
 
I vote for Ned Kelly. By most accounts, a kid born and raised on the wrong side of the tracks, mistreated by police because of his Irish ancestry and his fathers sketchy criminal past. Finally had enough one day and became a local hero for the irish, standing up to the oppressive English rulers. Fun story, they even made a movie about it :)

Plus, he gets bonus points for going into a gunfight with homemade plate armour :)
 
mwjones said:
I vote for Ned Kelly. By most accounts, a kid born and raised on the wrong side of the tracks, mistreated by police because of his Irish ancestry and his fathers sketchy criminal past. Finally had enough one day and became a local hero for the irish, standing up to the oppressive English rulers. Fun story, they even made a movie about it :)

Plus, he gets bonus points for going into a gunfight with homemade plate armour :)
Click to expand...

X2 Ned Kelly was played by Heath Ledger good show .
 
Back in the wheellock/flintlock era, Johnnie Armstrong, Ill Will Nixon, Nebless Clem Crozier.

A little more contemporary and a little more local: Sam Miskinis. Or the famous rum-runner, Sam Bronfman.
.
 
Finger Toes said:
The Mad Trapper! All the police had on him was that he was rude. Then when he wouldn't open the door they made Swiss cheese out of his cabin, dynamited it and then he climbed over a mountain behind it that everyone said was impassible. They never figured out who he really was.
Click to expand...

Charles Bronson....;)....or that other guy....:nest:
 
DEZ said:
What about Ned Kelly
Click to expand...

He got his idea about the armor from reading marco polo and at the end they were going to kill off a few hundred police that were on a train by removeing a track includeing the head cop that failed as they were late comeing and he let some person go he was holding at the pub who then rode down the tracks to warn the train.
had he not let that person go the history would have been alot diffrent down under.
he wanted to over throw the victorian goverment back then and really it is hard to blame the guy the way his family was treated by the police.

Theres is a much better movie on Ned kelly than them other two movies there was a series on TV made in Ausi i think it was 6 part that was a much more true to history and much better acting than the other movies.
I seen it on VHS once on ebay but it went for like $80 has to be the right format as well.
You cant tell his story in a 2 hr movie.
 
Frank James packed 1875 revolvers chambered for .44 Remington....:yingyang:...that was just class !....:cool:

But I'd have to go with Jim Levy :stirthepot2: , "the Jewish gunfighter".....:wave:

Or "Hoodoo Brown" (for a genuine outlaw, a la Dodge City), or Charlie Straus for a lawman (Tucson)....
 
Last edited:
Ben Thompson English born settled in texas. Volunteered as a private became a captain with many decorations. He one many a gun battles, but luck ran out and was killed by a winchester rifle when they were ambuhed. He was shot eight times.
 
Outlaws

Bill Miner lived and robbed trains near my hometown of Kamloops BC
My grandfather Robert Tilton tended the horses and rode with him but was never caught and died in 1963 in the Kamloops hospital.
 
Google Captain Jonathan Davis. He was a gold miner in California in the 1850's. He and two companions were ambushed by a gang of 11 outlaws, his companions were shot down in the first rush. Davis had two Colt revolvers and calmly drew them and shot down seven outlaws with twelve shots. The remaining four badguys rushed him as none of the participants had a loaded gun left. Davis drew a bowie knife and dispatched the remaining four outlaws in hand to hand fighting. The fight was witnessed by a group of miners on a nearby hillside who rushed to aid the lone miner. Davis had two flesh wounds from gunfire and several bullet holes in his clothing otherwise he was unhurt. His would be rescuers had nothing to do but dig graves. One of Davis' companions was still alive but died a few days later.
 
My great great grandfather!

Was a moonshiner and a smart one at that. Would build his home right on the county line so if the county sheriff came a knocking he would just ride over the county line where that sheriff wouldn't have power.

Besides that the sheriff never could get any hard evidence on him and even wanted to murder him and I believe would have if my great great grandmother hadn't of ridden along with a pistol hidden in the folds of her dress.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom