What do you call the guys with the pistols?
Most sources I’ve read suggest that “gunfighter,” and “gunman” were terms used in the later days of the Old West (probably after the 1870s or ’80s) for someone who was also known as a “shootist,” or in our post-Western movie times, the guy who had the pistol and wasn’t afraid or hesitant to use it.
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Anyone know origins of name ‘Fair Weather Christian’ cartridge belts?
I was browsing through some Western history sources this morning and the phrase “Fair Weather Christian cartridge belts” caught my eye.
But I have spent much of the morning Googling and digging through books in my library — and no where can I find anything about the origins of that name and what in the world it had to do with the M1876 Cartridge Belt. Yes, I got that specific information from a site that makes and sells leather holsters, belts, and other Old West leather gear. They made reference in passing on that site to troops who had fought in the Civil War adapting some of their military belts to hold cartridges. I even found reference somewhere to a replica of Frank James’ 1875 Remington .44-.40 pistol, which showed a picture of the gun and a handmade replica of James’ holster and “Fair Weather Christian” belt.
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