Age of the Gunfighter: Men and Weapons on the Frontier, 1840-1900

By Joseph G. Rosa

Book Overview

Based upon contemporary and informed opinion, Age of the Gunfighter tells of a tempestuous time and many a notorious gunfighter. Few of those who achieved fame and a reputation lived into old age. Ed Masterson, Tom Smith, and Bill Tilghman, for example, died in the line of duty. Others, like Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, and Billy the Kid, were murdered because of their reputations, at the hands of the law or for personal or financial gain. And the few who survived into old age in the twentieth century, such as Wyatt Earp, were men out of place and time, steeped in nostalgia for an era gone but immortalized as the age of the gunfighter.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806127619
• ISBN13: 9780806127613
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 2.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 13.0" x 0.5" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Thoroughly illustated!

Joseph Rosa presents us with a stunning visual collection of photographs, mainly featuring fine specimens of mid to late 19th century firearms, and vintage photos of emminent gun-fighters of the era. There are several interesting nostalgic paintings displayed as well, by artists such as N.C. Wyeth. Although the illustrations are the most striking feature of this book by far, there is plenty of interesting text as well. The chapters within cover these topics: The Violent West, Feuds and Range Wars, Cowboys and Cowtown Chaos, Law and Order: From Gun to Gavel. In general, this book is an enthralling visual catalog of the firearms, both famous and obscure, that were utilized in the American West during the years 1840 to 1900. Within you will see collections of rifles, pistols, shotguns, and miscellenous historical relics, all arranged in vivid color layouts.

The Old West--the way it really was.

This is the best book I've ever found that extensively shows what the Old West of the Gunfighter was really like.Rosa has done a supurb job of defining all aspects of this intriguing period,roughly from 1840 till the end of the century. Rosa covers all the Gunfighters whose names and faces who have become legends. He also shows us many of the less known and less written about. He has included some of the best pictures of these people you can find ,and all in one volume. Here we are shown how they dressed,and the guns,rifles and tools and equipment they used. We also get wonderful photographs of the towns they inhabited,both inside views and street scenes.There are concise and factual write-ups on many of the characters and their claims to fame. Rosa has been consistant in providing the dates of most of the photographs.I am not sure when the photography technology was first developed that allowed such a great record;but it was around the time of the early years of this period.Just imagine,what a true representation of these days would have been impossible without this invention. If you read many westerns or much history of this era ,you will be forever running into the types of weapons used.You are often left with wondering what they looked like. Well,wonder no more;just pull out this book and you will see excellent photographs and descriptions of these firearms,cartridges,cleaning tools,pistol and rifle cases,watches,holsters,belts,playing cards documents,swords, knives,badges,hats,saddle bags and countless other artifacts of the time.The author also shows the musemms where these artifacts are retained. Also scattered through the book are beautiful examples of artwork done by famous painters of the period.Several maps are included that make stories and history of the Old West very easy to follow.Anyone who has tried to locate events of this period by using present day highway atlass will appreciate them. You will also be amazed with the detail that Rosa has collected,obviously verified and included in the book.Not only that,he does it in a manner that doesn't get the reader bogged down in detail. What I really mean to say is that the information is there in great detail;but the reader is able to skip over or delve into;the choice is his. Another aspect of this book that is also noteworthy is its high quality of construction,binding,paper stock,printing and color rendition makes this a reference book that will stand up to years of use. This book was first published ic 1993 and again in 2000 and as you can see,it still commands a good price.That certainly proves how good and popular this book is, and would be a very often referred to and treasured book for anyone interested in the Gunfighters and any other History of the Old West.I can tell you it is certainly a favorite of mine.

this is THE BEST book on old west gunfighters available today

...between the vast number of personalities discussed, and the quality & quantity of the photos included; this is the ultimate reference on the good guys, and the bad guys of the Wild West... the gear they wore, the guns they used, the circumstances surrounding what each gunfight was really about, and the ultimate fate of each legend.

If you buy one book on gunfighters..this should be the one.

Of the many books I have on the subject of the West from 1840 - 1900, GUNFIGHTERS is one notch above them all. The pictures and drawnings are superb. The stories and history of each individual rely on fact and not on folk lore that so many other books do. I am a member of an Old West Re-enactment group and this book is our Bible

wonderful account of this fancinating era

This was the best book of it's type the I've read. The illustrations are fantastic for the gun enthusiast or anyone interested in the "Wild West". Couldn't put it down.