GUNS Magazine August 1955

By WILLIAM C. L. THOMPSONP ERHAPSNO chapter of the WildWest's history has been more dramatizedby Hollywood than the quickdraw. From the earliest cowboy moviesto the most recent cowtown epics,quick drawing by boots-and-saddleheroes has been a standard item. Everysodbuster, every sheep rancher, everyfence rider in cowboy stories becomesa Wild Bill Hickok when he straps onhis guns. Low-slung holsters trippingover his ankles, the hero slaps leatherin a five-seconds - gun duel with the localhard case.Under careful scrutiny the legend ofthe quick draw becomes more fictionthan fact. Modern-day holsters as wellas improvement in firearms designhave made the modern policeman betterset for quick draw than the Westernidols of yesteryear. Tests made toequal the fabulous feats of the pastshow that the modern shooter is farbetter off on the "quick draw" than hiscow puncher predecessor. Scores thatwould have turned a Western gunfighter green with envy were set up infractions of a second. at killing rangesof 15 to 18 feet.Alone with the modern double ac-"tion revolver has come the developmentof the holster.