Review: The Gunfighter

The Gunfighter: Man or Myth?
Joseph G Rosa

We are all familiar with the figure of the gunfighter, the lone western man with his sixgun and his morals (or not, if he’s wearing a black hat) who paraded across our movie and television screens in times past. The gunfighter is more than just a legend, he is also the template for a whole series of legends, including the “superhero,” who simply has “special powers” instead of a six shooter.

But how real is the legend? What were these men really like? That’s the question Mr Rosa addresses in this book. Here you will find a catalog of the men who were known as gunfighters in the old west, along with enough history for each one to provide a general picture of how such men came to be. There is also a history of the guns they used, which many folks will find useful. The book ends with an examination of the gunfighter of the old west compared to the art of modern pistolcraft, a useful exercise for those who’ve never considered this sort of thing.

Overall, an interesting book, though the writing style can be a bit dry.