Billy the Kid and the Colt Thunderer pistol

[fernando]

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.