One of the West's most unusual gunfighter wannabe’s was Bill Tettenborn, better-known as Russian Bill. There are a number of tales about his origins. Some say he was a young lieutenant serving in the Russian Army before deserting to come to the Wild West because he wanted to become an outlaw.
Bill was described as a tall, “gangling man of blonde complexion.” According to one source, he had a “fierce blond mustache and blond hair which hung to his shoulders; he carried a six-gun on e

February 2017
In This Issue:
Features
Western Books & Movies
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Departments
- Did Old West Towns Require Cowboys To Check Their Guns?
- What History Has Taught Me: Rex Allen Jr., Country Singer
- Western Events for February 2017
- Which U.S. Army Officer Had The Worst Attitude Toward Indians?
- Who Was William Preston Longley?
- What Is A High Shoulder Saddle?
- A Pistoleer Goes Semi Auto
- Where Was The Tombstone Jail?
- Little Houses on the Prairie
- Why In Bob Boze Bell’s Painting, Is Wild Bill Hickok’s Navy Colt Pointed To The Sky?
- The Wickedest Cattletown in Kansas
- Sold Off By Her Father
- What History Has Taught Me: Drew Gomber, History Buff
- A Stone Sentinel Stands Tall Again