Billy the Kid and the Colt Thunderer pistol

Jim McDougall · 10th July 2019, 04:44 PM

Thank you for the observation and those details.
Actually I worked at finding the correct image with him holding the Winchester in his right hand, as I frankly got tired of the back and forth over this detail and wanted to avoid spending more time with it.

The photo I posted, unless I am severely disoriented, shows him holding the rifle in his right hand. If I am not mistaken the image you show has the left hand posture. I must say that I am impressed with your thorough detail and references in the rebuttal however.

Apparently photo historians revealed that the reversal situation in the tintype (also known as ferrotype) was the indeed the case as they noticed his waistcoat buttons and belt buckle were reversed as well in the original image.

I really do appreciate your reading and responding to my post. I put some time and thought into it, and thought I would share it here as I am presently in these areas and trying to learn more on the 'Billy the Kid' mystery.

I am hoping to find more on why these 'Thunderer' pistols were suggested to be Billy's 'favorite' as the only one he seems to have had was 'possibly' the one previously noted (known as the Momaday pistol). ..which he could have only had for 10 days.

fernando · 10th July 2019, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... The photo I posted, unless I am severely disoriented, shows him holding the rifle in his right hand.

Precisely Jim; the rifle held with his right hand and the holster/pistol on the left side, close to his 'vacant' hand, as per the tricky ferrotype 'negative'. Long time i have read about this often discussed particularity which, being linked to such famous person, is not a detail but the detail.
Another bizarre situation is the one connected with his preference for the 1877 double action. Could it be that Billy, a person having to rely on this kind of tool in his daily life, was not aware that such gun model was a complete fiasco. Maybe; a risk apparently also taken by Pat Garret, said to have owned an engraved .41 of the same type.
However in a different but plausible approach, if you are a trade dealer and need to publicize your stuff, which best way you may get hold of ? announce that the thing you are looking to sell is preferred buy such and such big stars ... just like nowadays.

10th July 2019, 04:44 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Thank you for the observation and those details. Actually I worked at finding the correct image with him holding the Winchester in his right hand, as I frankly got tired of the back and forth over this detail and wanted to avoid spending more time with it. The photo I posted, unless I am severely disoriented, shows him holding the rifle in his right hand. If I am not mistaken the image you show has the left hand posture. I must say that I am impressed with your thorough detail and references in the rebuttal however. Apparently photo historians revealed that the reversal situation in the tintype (also known as ferrotype) was the indeed the case as they noticed his waistcoat buttons and belt buckle were reversed as well in the original image. I really do appreciate your reading and responding to my post. I put some time and thought into it, and thought I would share it here as I am presently in these areas and trying to learn more on the 'Billy the Kid' mystery. I am hoping to find more on why these 'Thunderer' pistols were suggested to be Billy's 'favorite' as the only one he seems to have had was 'possibly' the one previously noted (known as the Momaday pistol). ..which he could have only had for 10 days. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 10th July 2019 at 05:00 PM.