Deadwood HBO series Wild Bills draw

[docmel]

Loved the series: Question on Wild Bills draw and pistol in the series, specifically the scene where him and Bullock draw on the man on horseback (highwayman)

1. It looks as if Bill pistol was a converted percussion pistol to cartridges?
2. Is it true that BP percussion pistols started to convert cylinders in the west in the 1870's as cartridges gained more popularity as well as the move out west? Or did folks have to buy complete pistols
3. Bills draw in that scene: Looked like his pistols were grips out, doubkle cross draw. Did he actually draw that way?

 

[necchi]

It's basic Hollywood embellishment for entertainment
1. Nope, not his Colt Navies, you can look up early conversions historically.
2. see above.
3. Yes, he used a Calvary Draw. You can look that up too,,

 

[docmel]

I did niotice they werent navies: But again, what he carried depends where and what you read. I have seen many dif versions of what he supposedly carried

 

[necchi]

Well, he lived his lifetime in many places and owned many guns, it's all out there for review.
It's just like trying to figure out what the 5th card was,,

I visited the gambling town of Deadwood on vacation many years ago,
I particularly enjoyed a single wooden chair hung on a wall in one establishment, the placard next to it read;
"The Only historical chair in Deadwood Wild Bill Hickok was NOT sitting in when he was shot"

 

[docmel]

Yeah, I went there this past June They were charging $10 just to go downstairs, which I didnt do, and frankly was that where he was really shot? Maybe, maybe not

 

[nhmoose]

Keep in mind it is TV. Most TV 99.9% is wrong and fantasy.

Repeat every time you think it may be real.

 

[Stantheman86]

Just like how "Hell on Wheels" had brass frame 1860 Armies

99.9% of viewers won't know any better.

We can't say for sure Bill Hickock didn't own any cartridge converted guns, he likely owned many guns. He didn't just carry a pair of the same Colt Navies.

It's like if any of us was ever to become famous. I'm sure most of us have used, owned, were issued, sold, traded, carried and fired dozens upon dozens of different firearms.

He also had a .32 RF break top as a "walking around" gun probably for when he was gambling.

 

[ryoung14]

Just like how "Hell on Wheels" had brass frame 1860 Armies

99.9% of viewers won't know any better.

We can't say for sure Bill Hickock didn't own any cartridge converted guns, he likely owned many guns. He didn't just carry a pair of the same Colt Navies.

It's like if any of us was ever to become famous. I'm sure most of us have used, owned, were issued, sold, traded, carried and fired dozens upon dozens of different firearms.

He also had a .32 RF break top as a "walking around" gun probably for when he was gambling.

Yeah, but living life on horseback kind of limits your options. Carrying arsenals around with you gets tiring and raises some serious security issues.

 

[oncewas]

Here, you want to know what he actually carried? Read this Weapons of a Pistoleer: Wild Bill Was Well-Armed | HistoryNet

 

[Ranger94]

Here, you want to know what he actually carried? Read this Weapons of a Pistoleer: Wild Bill Was Well-Armed | HistoryNet

That was a wonderful read. Many thanks!

 

[Stantheman86]

So he did have conversions during that time period?