10 Crazy & Odd Weapons From the Wild West
Being a big gun guy and a huge fan of westerns I'm always interested in the weapons and firearms from the period. I stumbled across this video that highlights some of the craziest, odd and most unusual guns from the wild west.
I'll always have a soft spot for the Colt SAA (Single Action Army) the original "Peacemaker." To me it's the coolest gun ever made and the one all others are compared to. Nothing is more American that the Colt SAA and nothing handles and shoots quite like them. It's the perfect blend of balance, utility and style. It's true what they say, the often used quote that couldn't be more accurate: "God made all men, but Samuel Colt made all men equal."
I love the single actions and of course the lever rifles. The 1873 Winchester is at the top of the list. It's "The gun that won the west" and one of the greatest firearms ever made in my opinion. There's something about a lever gun, the classic lines and feel is as iconic as it is unmistakable. If you've ever handled and fired one you know exactly what I'm talking about. There's nothing quite like them and they're a ton of fun to shoot.
These two guns are probably the most known and used firearms in western lore and movies. Just about every western you'll see has them and for good reason, historically they were the most widely available and used guns in the west. Now that's not to say other makes, models and manufacturers weren't involved. There were all types of guns in the west from wild to mild.
It's great to see all these lesser known firearms and weapons if anything else to learn more about them and the people who used them. Just like today there were all kinds of designs and special purpose guns during the period of the wild west. And like today some are pretty crazy and make you wonder why and how they were built.