Gus Blazer, SASS #74376 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 It is said and generally accepted in some circles that James Butler Hickok, more commonly known as Wild Bill, emptied his .36 caliber Navy revolvers each and every day and immediately reloaded them. Popular legend has it he would unload by shootingat a playing card 50 yards away. It is this practice that allegedly gave him extreme confidence in his shooting ability and enabled him to make pretty remarkable shots while under fire, such as the 75 yard shot that killed Dave Tutt. Has anybody seen any historical documentation of his daily practice outside internet chatter, articles and a 2001 book "Wild Bill Hickok: Deadwood City--End of Trail" By Thadd Turner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tame Bill #30699 Life Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Reference to Hickok's daily reloading ritual can be found in the letters written by Charles F. Gross to J.B. Edwards in 1925 while the latter was compiling a manuscript for the Kansas State Historical Society. Several thoroughly researched accounts of Wild Bill's pistol prowess are found in the revised and expanded printing of "They Called Him Wild Bill, The Life and Adventures of James Butler Hickok" by Joseph G. Rosa. Chapter 17 "Prince among Pistoleers" beginning on page 338 provides the best resource. Another notable account of Uncle Jim's pistolics can be found in "I Buried Hickok, The Memoirs of White Eye Anderson" by William B. Secrest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Blazer, SASS #74376 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Reference to Hickok's daily reloading ritual can be found in the letters written by Charles F. Gross to J.B. Edwards in 1925 while the latter was compiling a manuscript for the Kansas State Historical Society. Several thoroughly researched accounts of Wild Bill's pistol prowess are found in the revised and expanded printing of "They Called Him Wild Bill, The Life and Adventures of James Butler Hickok" by Joseph G. Rosa. Chapter 17 "Prince among Pistoleers" beginning on page 338 provides the best resource. Another notable account of Uncle Jim's pistolics can be found in "I Buried Hickok, The Memoirs of White Eye Anderson" by William B. Secrest. Thanks Tame Bill, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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