The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Gun Fights & Wild West Legends

Gun Fights & Wild West Legends

Today we look at two icons of the Wild West, Wyatt Earp & Doc Holiday. The gun fight at the OK Corral was perhaps the most famous gun fight in their combined history. The two films we think of when we think of these of the legends are Tombstone & Wyatt Earp. So today we'll take a look at the gun dominated scenes in both films.

Tombstone: Released in 1993 this Western was directed by George P. Cosmatos and had an all star cast. This film is a fictionalized version of the very true story of Wyatt Earp, his family and his good friend Doc Holliday. This retelling of the Earp/Clanton feud also follows up the gunfight at the O.K. Corral with a look at the bloody consequences of the showdown.

Wyatt Earp and his brothers Virgil and Morgan arrive in Tombstone, Arizona. The men hope to settle down with their wives and start a new life, this time without having to keep the law. When Wyatt Earp arrives, he meets long time friend and partner Doc Holliday . The two start talking about their past travels, and it is implied that Holliday is dying of tuberculosis. Holliday tells Earp that a group of vicious outlaw Cowboys run Tombstone. Earp goes home to a wife addicted to a laudanum, a common drug of the time mixing morphine and opium. Earp begins an affair with a traveling actress named Josephine Marcus.

The Tombstone town marshal is killed by a Cowboy. An angry mob wants to lynch the murderer, but Earp steps in and prevents the man from being killed. Virgil, who feels sorry for the people of the town, agrees to take the position of town marshal. Virgil instates a new law that no men are allowed to carry weapons into town, and all weapons must be checked in on the outskirts of town. This law maintains peace in Tombstone for a while, but eventually Curly Brocius and his gang come riding into town, completely armed. Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan, and Doc Holliday decide to confront the Cowboys and try and get them to give up their weapons. They confront the Cowboys at the OK Corral, and they tell the men of their intentions to arrest them. The men resist, and a shootout breaks out. The lawmen kill many Cowboys, but one by the name of Ike Clanton escapes and tells the other Cowboys the news.

In scenes following, we see the Cowboys ambush first Virgil, maiming him with a shogun blast to the back. They then creep up on Morgan who is playing billiards and fatally shoot him through the window of a door. Wyatt decides that the best thing for them and the people of the town would be for the Earps to leave town. However, as Wyatt and his brood try to leave they are ambushed once again by the Cowboys. Wyatt returns to Tombstone and vows to kill every last Cowboy. They track down and kill a number of Cowboys, shooting and hanging them. Finally, Wyatt is confronted by Johnny Ringo, a gunslinger and "leader" of the Cowboys. Ringo challenges Earp to a duel. Wyatt accepts, but he and Doc Holliday both know that Ringo is a much faster gunfighter than Wyatt. In the next scene we see Ringo waiting for Earp to show up. Doc Holliday volunteers to take on Ringo and shows up ahead of Wyatt. Ringo isn't happy to face Doc who shoots Ringo. Wyatt arrives late to find that Doc has taken his kill. The lawmen leave Arizona and every character goes his separate way. Virgil goes to California to become sheriff of a small town. Doc goes to a hospital to spend the remainder of his days, where he is visited frequently by Wyatt Earp. Finally, Wyatt Earp is shown settling down with Josephine Marcus, and living out the remainder of his days in peace.

There were several types of guns used in this film but let's focus on three key scenes.

The first scene we'll take a look at is the scene at the OK Corral.
https://youtu.be/FRiWAxMMX5o

Wyatt Earp carries a Colt Buntline Special that appears to have been crafted especially for him in 1878 due to his service in Dodge City. In actuality, the Buntline Special in the film is one of three EMF/Uberti replicas custom made for Tombstone. Although the legendary Buntline Special is often associated with Wyatt Earp, he more likely carried his Smith & Wesson Model 3 Schofield during the O.K. Corral gunfight.

EMF/Uberti Buntline Special used in the film. Due to the fact that current production Colt Buntlines are only available in 12" barrels, the film's armorer contacted EMF/Uberti to have three custom Buntlines made for Tombstone. From the personal collection of the film's armorer Peter Sherayko. The close up shot is from when Wyatt opens his drawer to prepare for the O.K. Corral gunfight and he looks at the custom grips.

Wyatt draws his Buntline Special during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

The O.K. Corral scene features gun fire from all sides. Doc Holliday brought out a couple types of guns for this famous Western shoot out. The first one we'll look at is Belgian made 10 gauge Meteor used by Val Kilmer in the film Tombstone. From the personal collection of the film's armorer Peter Sherayko.

Doc carries one of these into the O.K. Corral during the confrontation, as the true Doc Holliday had in 1881. Doc's real-life personal shotgun was a 10 gauge Colt double.

Doc fires the 10-gauge.

As with many Westerns, the Single Action Army is the most commonly seen gun in the film, in the hands (or holsters) of nearly every major and minor character. Doc Holliday also has a nickel Quickdraw, which he carries in addition to his Colt Lightning.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel, referred to as "Quick-Draw" or "Civilian" model.

Doc Holliday fans his SAA during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Other than the remarkable shoot out at the O.K. Corral there is another scene I'd like to take a look at which is the firefight at Iron Springs.

https://youtu.be/s-5bI3FtdTs

"Curly Bill" Brocius carries 2 Colt Single Action Army w/ 7.5" barrel known as the "Cavalry" model.

"Curly Bill" at Iron Springs with his Cavalry SAA drawn.

Also used in this set of scenes are rifles, shotguns and carbines.

The 1873 "Short Rifle" model with octagon barrel was used by many of The Cowboys in the Iron Springs shoot out.

Brocius's Cowboys fire at Earp's men at Iron Springs.

Wyatt carries a three-triggered Stevens 10-Gauge shotgun during his vendetta ride, notably using it to kill Frank Stilwell at the train depot and "Curly Bill" Brocius at Iron Springs.

Stevens 10 Gauge side-by-side used in the film Tombstone, from the personal collection of the film's armorer Peter Sherayko.

Wyatt with the shotgun as he prepares to face Curly Bill Brocius. The three triggers are readily visible here.

My favorite line from this movie will always be "I'm your Huckleberry". This film is an epic bit of cinema I highly recommend watching anytime you need some vintage western in your life. To see the listing of all the weapons used in this movie please go to http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Tombstone for more info.

Wyatt Earp: Released in 1994 and was more about the personal history of Wyatt Earp rather than spotlighting just his time in Tombstone. We explore more than just what made Earp famous and see what his early years consisted of. Although the movies came out within 6 months of each other and had the same premise, the approach the director's took to telling the story of Earp & Holliday was different.

Those subtle changes can be noted in this clip https://youtu.be/KXg6L0bfkLs

A variety of weapons were used in this film but let's look at the ones from early in Wyatt's career.

The Artillery Model appears to be the most prominent model seen in the film. Mid-way through the film, Wyatt is seen to have selected an Artillery with a 5 1/2" barrel as his left hand gun.

The town sheriff gives Wyatt his 5 1/2" Artillery SAA when he is too cowardly to arrest an armed drunken citizen. Wyatt charges into the saloon with the SAA and shoots the drunk in the leg before knocking him unconscious and dragging him out for the Sheriff to arrest.

As for Doc, his favored weapon in this film is almost perfectly matched with historical accuracy. John "Doc" Holliday uses a Colt Sheriff's Model SAA revolver with a 3.5" barrel and nickel finish as his weapon of choice and uses it several times in the film, including the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Historians have proven that during the gunfight, Doc Holliday was actually used a 7.5" Cavalry SAA, not a Colt Sheriff's Model. He was believed to have carried a Cavalry SAA right up until he died in the sanitarium at age 36.

Colt Sheriff's Model Single Action Army w/ 3.5" barrel - .45 LC.

Doc fires his Colt Sheriff's Model

Doc fires his Sheriff's Model at Indian Charlie while on horseback.

If you are looking for the fact over the fiction I recommend watching Wyatt Earp with Kevin Costner. Grab some popcorn and relive the tales of the Wild West.

What was your favorite scene from Tombstone? Did you watch Wyatt Earp? What did you think?

Labels: cinema, doc holliday, gun fights, guns, kurt russell, movies, rifles, the old west, tombstone, val kilmer, weapons, westerns, wild west, wyatt earp