True West Blog
Interrupting the Game

Interrupting the Game

Dick Lloyd paid the price for wrecking a poker contest. Dick Lloyd seemed to be attracted to violence. He was involved in troubles in New Mexico and...

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David Crockett’s Rifles

David Crockett’s Rifles

There are actually three rifles that became important in Davy Crockett’s career. The first was a .48 caliber flintlock. It belongs to Joe Swan of...

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Tattoos in the Old West

Tattoos in the Old West

Did cowboys or gunfighters have tattoos? And if so what kind of tattoos? Tattoo's go back thousands of years. In this country many Native American...

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Coast to Coast Telegrams

Coast to Coast Telegrams

Back in the early days of the telegraph, when sending a telegram from New York to San Francisco what process had to be followed for it to reach its...

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A Ranger of Note

A Ranger of Note

John B. Armstrong, on the scene of big arrests. John B. Armstrong was a remarkable lawman. As a Texas Ranger, he was tasked with controlling the...

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Stop the Presses

Stop the Presses

  A negative editorial set Clay Allison off. It was January 1876, and gunfighter Clay Allison was angry. The Cimarron News and Press had...

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Card Players and In-Jogging

Card Players and In-Jogging

Author Louis L'Amour told a story about an old gambler describing a way of cheating at cards, "He in-jogged the top card, took off the bottom and...

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Clydesdales and Budweiser Beer

Clydesdales and Budweiser Beer

How did the Clydesdale become associated with Budweiser Beer? The Clydesdale was initially bred for farm work in Clydesdale, Scotland more than 300...

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Coffee in the Old West

Coffee in the Old West

From Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, regarding daily rations: Looking at the soldier’s rations, note the specific inclusion of green...

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