The Wild West has conjured images of the heroic cowboy and villainous outlaw since the Western movies of the early 1900s. These movies give the idea that the Wild West era stretched for generations—thanks to their sheer volume. Yet, the Wild West was a short window of history, a 40-year period where America expanded and settled the West.
Although the movies aren’t realistic, the Wild West has stories to tell—some of them through the firearms people used. These guns settled disputes and even the field for many people. Thanks to their makers’ contribution to the Old West, these firearms are icons.
(These are the 30 best Western films of all time.)
1851 Colt Navy Revolver
- Caliber: .36
1873 Winchester Rifle
- Caliber: multiple
Colt Paterson Revolver
- Caliber: .36
Double-Barrel Shotgun
- Caliber: Multiple
Springfield Trapdoor Rifle
- Caliber: Multiple
1852 & 1853 Slant-Breech Sharps Carbine
- Caliber: .54
1860 Colt Army Revolver
- Caliber: .44
Smith & Wesson Model 3 Revolver
- Caliber: .44
1895 Winchester Rifle
- Caliber: multiple
Hawken Plains Rifle
- Caliber: .54
S&W Model 3 “American” Revolver
- Caliber: multiple