Triggernometry : a gallery of gunfighters : with technical notes on leather slapping as a fine art, gathered from many a loose holstered expert over the years

In this now classic volume, Eugene Cunningham collects - in his "gallery" - biographies of nearly a score of master gunfighters, including such notables as John Wesley Hardin, Billy the Kid, Dallas Stoudenmire, Sam Bass, Wild Bill Hickok, Butch Cassidy, and Tom Horn. Himself a Westerner familiar with the feel of pistol and rifle, Cunningham knew firsthand several of the Texas gunfighters featured in his book, the product of more than thirty-five years of research, interviews, and writing. Cunningham examines the evidence and breaks down the myths surrounding the exploits of Wild Bill Hickok, for example, preferring instead to find the living, breathing human behind the legend. His final chapter, "Triggernometry," remains a fascinating discussion of the gunfighters' expertise with the fast draw, the "road-agent's spin," pistol fanning, the "border shift," "rolling" and "pinwheeling," and the use of various holsters and harnesses. This new edition includes an extensive introduction and updated bibliography by Joseph G. Rosa. Discussing in detail the types of pistols used by the gunfighters, their speed and accuracy in gunfights, and the qualities of a deadly gunfighter, Rosa also provides new information on many of the more prominent gunfighters in Cunningham's gallery. The Mississippi Valley Historical Review - E. Douglas Branch For many of the 'gunfighter' here included, no better short narrative exists A final chapter on 'trigger-nometry,' embellished with diagrams on the manipulation of revolvers and including a catalogue of holsters, would, if studied by the authors east of Poughkeepsie and west of Bitter Root who write the overwhelming bulk of western fiction, introduce a dangerous accuracy into their writings. In this new edition, Eugene Cunningham collects together biographies of a score of master gunfighters, including John Wesley Hardin, Billy the Kid, Dallas Stoudenmire, Sam Bass, Wild Bill Hickok, Butch Cassidy and Tom Horn. A discussion of the gunfighters' expertise with the fast draw is included.