The American Old West. A time of cowboys, brave marshals, and daring outlaws. These figures have become a big part of America’s most exciting stories. Heroes and villains from this era are now legends. Back in the 19th century, horsemen and bank robbers roamed the land. They often made their own rules. After the Civil War, more people headed west as raising cattle became a big business.
Many of these legends are seen as heroes. But it’s important to remember, they were all skilled with a gun. You couldn’t make a name for yourself in the Old West without being a good gunslinger. It didn’t matter if you were on the side of the law or against it. When the dust settled, the winner lived to see another day. The loser often ended up in a grave. Let’s take a look at ten of the most lethal gunslingers from the Old West.
10 King Fisher
John “King” Fisher was born in October 1853, near Dallas, Texas. His first brush with the law happened when he was eighteen. He was arrested for stealing a horse and spent two years in prison. After he got out, Fisher started working as a cowboy, breaking horses. Bandits often raided Texas ranches, stealing and harming families. Fisher soon joined posses to fight them. He quickly became known for his fast draw.
A famous story from 1878 tells of Fisher arguing with four Mexican cowboys. He reportedly hit the closest one with a branding iron. When another cowboy drew a pistol, Fisher shot and killed him. He then turned and shot the other two. These men apparently hadn’t even drawn their weapons. In March 1884, Fisher was out with a friend when a fight started. A gunfight followed, and Fisher and his friend Thompson were fatally wounded. Fisher himself had said he killed 37 men.
9 Bass Reeves
Bass Reeves was born into slavery in Arkansas in 1848. When he was a boy, his owner moved to Texas. During the Civil War, what happened to Reeves isn’t entirely clear. One story says he attacked his owner and escaped. No matter how it happened, he became one of the first African-American U.S. Marshals after the Civil War. He was also one of the West’s toughest gunslingers.
Reeves was an honorable man who upheld the law. But he was also known for being tough and relentless. Reports from his time say Reeves killed 14 outlaws. He also arrested more than 3,000 criminals during his career, including his own son. When he retired in 1907, he became a police officer in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Many people think Bass Reeves was the inspiration for the fictional character “The Lone Ranger.”
8 Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James is one of the most famous outlaws of the Old West. He led a gang of thieves in the mid-1800s. Born in September 1847 in Missouri, Jesse and his brother Frank joined pro-Confederate fighters called “bushwhackers” during the Civil War. They operated in Missouri and Kansas. Following leaders like William Quantrill and “Bloody Bill” Anderson, they were accused of terrible acts against Union soldiers and abolitionists, such as the Centralia Massacre in 1864.
After the war, Jesse and Frank teamed up with another family to form the James-Younger Gang. It’s said Jesse James killed at least 17 men, though some think the number is even higher. James was eventually betrayed by a member of his own gang. He was shot in the back of the head while he was straightening a picture on a wall.
7 Tom Horn
Thomas Horn Jr., born in 1860, was a skilled gunslinger and a controversial figure in the Old West. He gained notoriety during the Lincoln County War in New Mexico. There, he worked as a hired gun for cattleman John Chisum. Horn’s skill with guns and his fearless nature made him a dreaded opponent, earning him the nickname “Tommy.” But his later work as a Pinkerton detective truly cemented his legend. Horn was known for his unusual methods. He was often willing to bend or break the law to get what he wanted. This earned him both praise and criticism.
However, Horn’s conviction and execution for murdering 14-year-old Willie Nickell sealed his place in Wild West history. Many believed he was wrongly accused. They pointed to a lack of solid evidence. Some thought powerful cattle and mining bosses, who saw Horn as a troublemaker, set him up. To this day, Tom Horn’s story is full of mystery and debate. It shows how complex and often harsh life was on the frontier.
6 James “Killin’ Jim” Miller
“Killin’ Jim” Miller, born in Arkansas in October 1861, was an American outlaw. He was known as a deadly gunfighter, said to have killed 12 people in shootouts. He grew up in Texas. At nineteen, he lived with his widowed mother, siblings, and brother-in-law. On July 30, 1884, he shot and killed his brother-in-law after an argument. A legal loophole helped him avoid a life sentence for this crime. Miller’s next known victim was lawman Joe Townsend.
After traveling extensively, “Killin’ Jim” became a saloon owner and a lawman in Pecos. Later, he joined the Texas Rangers but eventually turned into a professional assassin. In 1909, he took a contract killing job but left witnesses. He was arrested soon after. Fearing he’d be acquitted again, local townspeople formed a posse. They broke into the jail on April 19, 1909. Miller and three others were set to be hanged. While his partners pleaded for their lives, Miller had two last requests: that his diamond ring be given to his wife and that he wear his black hat while being hanged. Both were granted. Miller then reportedly shouted, “Let ‘er rip!” and jumped off the box himself.
5 Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp is one of the most legendary names in American history. His story has inspired many movies, and numerous Hollywood actors have played him. Born on March 19, 1848, he lived until January 1929. He worked as a lawman and gambler in towns like Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp was famously involved in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. In this shootout, lawmen killed three outlaw Cochise County cowboys.
Though Wyatt is often portrayed as the main figure in the O.K. Corral shootout, his brother Virgil was actually the Deputy U.S. Marshal and Tombstone City Marshal that day. Virgil had much more law enforcement experience than Wyatt. Still, Wyatt Earp is seen as a hero. He is thought to have killed between eight and thirty men while serving as a lawman. Earp died in Hollywood at the age of 80. He reportedly had prostate cancer, though the exact cause of death is not confirmed. His common-law wife was by his side when he passed.
4 “Wild” Bill Hickok
Born James Hickok on May 27, 1837, in Homer, Illinois, “Wild” Bill is an American folk hero. His legend has appeared in countless movies, TV shows, books, and comics. He lived a life full of adventure on the frontier. He was a soldier, scout, lawman, cattle rustler, gunslinger, gambler, showman, and actor. He was involved in many famous gunfights. Starting as an outlaw, he later became a sheriff.
Over the years, Hickok was said to have killed over 100 men in gunfights. One of his most famous duels was with Davis Tutt. Hickok shot Tutt from 75 yards away – a remarkable shot even by today’s standards. Sadly, in the summer of 1876, Jack McCall shot Hickok in the back of the head while he was playing five-card stud. Hickok was holding two pairs: black aces and black eights. This hand is now famously known as the “dead man’s hand.”
3 William H. Bonney, aka Billy the Kid
Perhaps the Old West’s most famous outlaw, Billy the Kid, made his name in New Mexico. However, he was actually born in New York City. His family gradually moved west. Billy fell into a life of theft and crime. He ran with several well-known gangs and took part in the Lincoln County Cattle War. In December 1880, Pat Garrett captured him. Billy stood trial for murder in Mesilla, New Mexico, the next year. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang.
But Billy wasn’t done yet. He escaped jail on April 28, killing two deputies in the process. He remained free until Pat Garrett tracked him down and ambushed him, shooting him in the back. Billy the Kid was rumored to have killed 21 men. However, historians generally agree the number was closer to ten. The movie Young Guns II explores the theory that Billy the Kid was actually Ollie L. “Brushy Bill” Roberts. This man supposedly escaped, lived in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, rode in Wild West shows, and died in 1950.
2 John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was born on May 26, 1853, in Texas. He was a known outlaw, a deadly gunfighter, and a folk icon. From a young age, Hardin often found himself in trouble with the law. He was arguably one of the most skilled gunslingers ever. He killed at least 21 men in duels and ambushes between 1868 and 1877. Raised in the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, Hardin held strong anti-Black and anti-Yankee views.
At just 15, he killed his first man – an ex-slave – supposedly in self-defense. From that point on, John lived a life of shooting, gambling, and drinking. During his violent career, he outgunned and killed at least eight Union soldiers and four black policemen who were pursuing him for various murder charges. Hardin was eventually caught in Pensacola, Florida. He returned to Texas, stood trial in September 1877, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was pardoned in 1894. He then moved to Gonzales, but just one year later, while standing on a saloon porch, he was shot in the back of the head by a former rival.
1 Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley, born in August 1860 in Ohio, might not have been a killer like others on this list, but she was arguably the best sharpshooter of the 19th century. At just eight years old, she made her first kill, shooting a squirrel from her front porch. Instead of turning to a life of crime, Annie used her skill to put food on her family’s table. She even paid off the mortgage on their house with money she earned from selling the game she hunted.
When Annie was fifteen, she competed against and beat nationally recognized sharpshooter Frank Butler. Despite their age difference, the two married the following year. They remained married for the rest of their lives, dying just three weeks apart. After seeing one of her performances, Chief Sitting Bull adopted her. He gave her the name “Watanya Cicilla,” which means “Little Sure Shot.” In the spring of 1898, when war with Spain seemed likely, she told President McKinley, “In case of such an event, I am ready to place a company of fifty lady sharpshooters at your disposal.” The outlaws of the Old West should be glad she wasn’t a marshal. Annie Oakley was likely the quickest and sharpest draw of her time.
Conclusion
The Old West was a time of rough justice and legendary figures. These ten gunslingers, whether lawmen or outlaws, left a lasting mark on American history. Their skills with a gun were undeniable, making them some of the most lethal individuals of their era. Their stories, filled with daring feats and deadly encounters, continue to fascinate us today, reminding us of a wilder time in America’s past.
What do you think of these legendary gunslingers? Did we miss anyone? Leave your comment below!
