The Old West

[gun runner]

How would you have liked it to be living in the 19th century( the 1800s ) when you could carry a gun in a saloon or wherever you wanted without legal issues? Or how about hunting off a road without getting your horse but now vehicle tooken away, your gun, and you getting sent to jail with also a big fine like these days now , not saying that Ive done that. Just thought Id get some replies. I know nothing cant beat todays technology but yeah Abraham Lincoln certainly did do a better job as president than as this president we have now in my opinion

[ofitg]

In all honesty, I wouldn't have lived this long in the Old West.... bad eyes, bad back, not to mention the miracle of antibiotics!

I would have been one of those wooden crosses planted alongside the Chisolm Trail.

[76Highboy]

1865 would have been great. The 45 long colt by Samuel Colt. But did the girls shower much then. Hmmm.

[gun runner]

I dont know if they showered much back then but from what I see there is alot less clothes being worn by these girls than it used to be. These girls nowadays dont hold an umbrella from the sun they tan in the sun. You know times have changed. My father told me about the 70's but i told him about these years/days

[Blackshirts]

In 1885 and you could see Doc Brown and Marty McFly.

[Brisk44]

I'll just stick with today. I like TP to much. I'm just a stickler for personal comfort.

[gdmoody]

Originally Posted by Brisk44

I'll just stick with today. I like TP to much. I'm just a stickler for personal comfort.

Man, you ain't just whistling Dixie!!

[AL MOUNT]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

But did the girls shower much then. Hmmm.

Ever time it rained and they went outside....

Whattaya got... Bloodhound in yer genes ?? picky,picky,picky..

[Win73]

Originally Posted by gun runner

How would you have liked it to be living in the 19th century( the 1800s ) when you could carry a gun in a saloon or wherever you wanted without legal issues?

Actually there were many places you couldn't carry guns then. Many towns had no gun ordinances. Remember the OK corral? The Earps were trying to enforce the no gun ordinance against the Clantons.

In Abilene, there was a no gun ordinance. Hickock tried to enforce it against Cousin Wes. But Hardin backed him down, so the story goes.

[Win73]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

1865 would have been great. The 45 long colt by Samuel Colt. But did the girls shower much then. Hmmm.

The .45 Colt didn't come along until 1873.

[Win73]

By the way, here is my piece of the Old West, 1891 vintage.

[76Highboy]

Win73, Thanks for correedcting me on that. I have always known that but sometimes my brain just doesn't hold everything. That's what I get for being cocky. Jim

[HunterAlpha1]

Originally Posted by Win73

Actually there were many places you couldn't carry guns then. Many towns had no gun ordinances. Remember the OK corral? The Earps were trying to enforce the no gun ordinance against the Clantons.

In Abilene, there was a no gun ordinance. Hickock tried to enforce it against Cousin Wes. But Hardin backed him down, so the story goes.

those gun laws were mainly for strangers in town. people who owned property in town were allowed to carry. in fact, if there was trouble, they were expected to be ready to serve in a posse.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by Brisk44

I'll just stick with today. I like TP to much. I'm just a stickler for personal comfort.

Yeah I like air conditioning, ice cold beer, TV....but it would be nice to have the best of both. Maybe?

[millwright]

Originally Posted by gun runner

How would you have liked it to be living in the 19th century( the 1800s ) when you could carry a gun in a saloon or wherever you wanted without legal issues? Or how about hunting off a road without getting your horse but now vehicle tooken away, your gun, and you getting sent to jail with also a big fine like these days now , not saying that Ive done that. Just thought Id get some replies. I know nothing cant beat todays technology but yeah Abraham Lincoln certainly did do a better job as president than as this president we have now in my opinion

[bold added]

Actually a hollyweird fantasy. Most organized towns of any size prohibited the carrying of firearms by the 1860's. In most cases this was a rather liberal policy that mostly targeted side arms. Long arms kept in wagons weren't often considered. Those in need carried their iron concealed in pockets, etc. ( Note; a great deal of experiment by gun makers making concealable pistols followed hard on the heels of this practice. ) In small towns across the west I'd opine the practice probably varied somewhat according to the feelings of the local LEO and the clientele the town served.

FWIW, in the "mid sixties" (20th century) in KY I had several occasions to see hill families "come to town" with the patriarch and his sons on the wagon seat - each with his own rifle - and the 'women folks'in the bed. But the wagon - while industinguishable from from generations' previous - was fitted with rubber tires and they left their "iron" in the wagon whilst doing their shopping.

According to multiple accounts I've read the "Shootout at the OK Corral" resulted from precisely this practice. Range cowboys - the McLowerys - were inside Tombstone city limits with side arms. And Dodge City - trailhead for many cattle drives - had its "deadline" where open carry of sidearms was strictly prohibited, while it was discourage south of there as well. >MW

[fordtrucksforever]

What was the average life span back then, like 29 or so? If you got a common cold, it likely resulted in death. You get snake bit, you died. You didnt have canned food. Meat had to be fresh, salted or smoked, or you died from food poisoning. Vegetables were seasonal at best. Hamburgers had not been invented yet. No insulation in your home, if not a log cabin. Highly likely to burn your house down when using the fireplace during the winter. Smallpox, Yellow fever, Scarlet fever, Pneumonia, Influenza, All usually killed a large part of the local population. Yea I am liking the idea of living back then.....not.

[HunterAlpha1]

Originally Posted by fordtrucksforever

What was the average life span back then, like 29 or so? If you got a common cold, it likely resulted in death. You get snake bit, you died. You didnt have canned food. Meat had to be fresh, salted or smoked, or you died from food poisoning. Vegetables were seasonal at best. Hamburgers had not been invented yet. No insulation in your home, if not a log cabin. Highly likely to burn your house down when using the fireplace during the winter. Smallpox, Yellow fever, Scarlet fever, Pneumonia, Influenza, All usually killed a large part of the local population. Yea I am liking the idea of living back then.....not.

lifespans were actually much higher than that back then, 40-50 for women, 60-80 for men. people rarely got common colds, because 1. fewer people around to spread it and 2. stronger immune systems. canning was discovered in 1810 and was wildly popular, so food could be preserved for some time. much fewer people got food poisoning than today, again because of stronger immune systems. vegetables and other seasonal foods could be preserved. the franklin stove was invented in the 1700s, so people could keep their homes warm. disease only claimed sizable portions of the population when they became epidemics, or in areas where people were living in filth.

all in all, things were much better back then.

[Win73]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

Win73, Thanks for correedcting me on that. I have always known that but sometimes my brain just doesn't hold everything. That's what I get for being cocky. Jim

Don't worry about that. At my age, I have forgotten more than I ever knew!

[Win73]

[QUOTE=Win73;852034]Actually there were many places you couldn't carry guns then. Many towns had no gun ordinances. Remember the OK corral? The Earps were trying to enforce the no gun ordinance against the Clantons./QUOTE]

Actually the fight did not take place at the OK corral. It really took place in front of Fly's Photography Studio. But somehow Gunfight at Fly's Photography Studio does not have the ring to that Gunfight at OK Corral does!

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by HunterAlpha1

lifespans were actually much higher than that back then, 40-50 for women, 60-80 for men. people rarely got common colds, because 1. fewer people around to spread it and 2. stronger immune systems. canning was discovered in 1810 and was wildly popular, so food could be preserved for some time. much fewer people got food poisoning than today, again because of stronger immune systems. vegetables and other seasonal foods could be preserved. the franklin stove was invented in the 1700s, so people could keep their homes warm. disease only claimed sizable portions of the population when they became epidemics, or in areas where people were living in filth.

all in all, things were much better back then.

I'd really question your claim of stronger immune systems. Vitamins hadn't even been figured out at that point, so basic nutrition that we take for granted today was seriously lacking.

The people who lived beyond childhood were definitely hearty by necessity, but a whole bunch didn't make it to 10 years old. Neither my wife nor I would have.

[fordtrucksforever]

The average life span was no where near that high. Doesnt mean people didnt live that long. Infant mortality and epidemics did a good job maintaining population control and average life spans. Just go visit some old cemeteries. Its very obvious when an epidemic swept thru. You add any wars, gunfights, getting killed traveling, scalped by an injun, being robbed, random gunfire, wildlife, blood poisoning, even visits to the local doctor. Just about anything you did back then was detrimental to your health. People usually didnt drop dead of heart attacks and arterial diseases because they didnt live long enough for the damage to kill them.

[The Duke]

Ill stick with today, thank you....Ever smelled a 'two holer' in Summer?? If you dont know what Im talking about, you havent...

Get shot and you likly die and likly die from infection if the bullet doesnt kill you outright...Surgery with out asespsis, decent pain medication or much anesthisia....just as likly die...and can you imagine all the disease that we treat routinely today with antibiotics...

A saloon must have had quite a smell...Whiskey, cigar smoke, spitoon gook, and body odor from the patrons who knew nothing of deoterant and if lucky, got a bath in a wash tub every couple weeks...

No electricity...chop and split your firewood or freeze in the Winter...

And not to mention the hemmaroids from sitting your arse in a saddle all day...

Wool clothing in the Summer...sheeze...I could go on forever...

Plus, I get to carry a gun in todays modern times...Thanks...Ill stick to the 21 century...

[redwing carson]

In the less populated western states things are still open. In Wyoming we have open carry anyone can carry concealed without a permit if you are a Wyoming citizen. Or you can get a CCW by mail. There is vast areas of Mtns and deserts on public lands. You can carry loaded weapons in trucks etc. You can hunt from roadways but you must shoot from beyond the Bar Pits. You may shoot from a truck etc. if one foot is touching the ground. You may shoot varmints from the cab. Due to Federal Laws driving while drinking has been outlawed for the most part. We have a very low population being 50th at the bottom.

[gun runner]

Well I can say people back then ate a whole lot healthier but yeah Im thankful to be living in the current days now. Just a question is all.

[Win73]

Originally Posted by The Duke

:Ever smelled a 'two holer' in Summer?? If you dont know what Im talking about, you havent...

got a bath in a wash tub

chop and split your firewood or freeze in the Winter...Plus, I get to carry a gun in todays modern times...Thanks...Ill stick to the 21 century...

Yeah, I know about the path and a two holer.

And the bath in a wash tub. And carrying the water up the hill from the spring at the bottom of the hill to the house at the top of the hill. That hill got especially long on wash day. Had to fill the big iron kettle in the yard, build a fire under it to heat the water, then dip it out to pour into the washing machine.

And had to cut and split a lot of firewood to heat an 8 room house. In the winter, the first person up in the morning had to break the ice in the water bucket to get a drink.

I grew up in the same house my great grandfather lived in and he died in 1892.

When I tell my children what it was like when I was growing up, they just say, "There goes dad again!"