The very best historical photographs from our treasured vaults define our idea of the West. In honor of our 70th year, the editors of True West have...
The Power of Pictures
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Billy the Kid
Black Bart, Buffalo Robes and Outlaw Hideouts
What were buffalo hides used for? Pat McManus Cave Junction, Oregon Often, they were used for coats or blankets—both by Indians and Whites. In the...
Shooting Back
Our readers remind us of the variables and vagaries of historic truths, “well-established” facts, headlines and historical photographs. The Revenge...
Not-So Scared Straight
A sheriff’s failed attempt to turn Billy the Kid’s life around. Harvey Whitehill was the sheriff of Grant County, New Mexico Territory, at the time...
Blood Brothers
Billy the Kid’s sibling Joe went in a different direction. Joe McCarty/Antrim had one claim to fame: he was Billy the Kid’s brother (or...
Momaday’s Billy the Kid Pistola
The famed Pulitzer Prize-winning writer shares his obsession for Billy the Kid in his tale of a gun he believes the outlaw owned. This is the story...
Slaughter in Seven Rivers
Billy Wilson and Tom Pickett escaped the noose for the senseless murders of four Hispanos in Lincoln County. "Where would we get help if it...
Billy the Kid, Gunfighters and Rewards
During a film class on Western films it was observed while watching the film The Gunfighter a main character was wearing one spur throughout the...
Original Billy the Kid Artwork: On Sale for the First Time Ever November 26th at 10:00 AM (Central Standard Time) Bob Boze Bell's Billy the Kid Artwork is available to buy for the first time ever.
For more than half a century, Bob Boze Bell has been infatuated with the life and times of Billy The Kid. In his book, The Illustrated Life and...
Who Named the Hole in the Wall?
Figuring out the correct origin of place/names can be difficult to pin down and who named Hole in the Wall is one of them "He says/she says," thing....
Whats in a Name?
Having a catchy “gunfighter” name was almost a sure way to immortality. Henry McCarty might never have become famous as “Henry the Kid.” Nor would...
The Lincoln County War: Armistice Gone Bad
When Lew Wallace was appointed Territorial Governor of New Mexico in 1879 one of the first missions he hoped to accomplish was to stop the killings...