The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #31048   Message #2014201
Posted By: JohnInKansas
02-Apr-07 - 06:01 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Only Five Bullets in My Old Six-Shooter
Subject: RE: Req:Cowboy song-only 5 bullets in my old 6 shooter
Sorry to be pedantic, but only five bullets in my six shooter is a dead giveaway that it's by a "plastic cowboy" somewhere.

No "authentic cowboy" of the classic era would ever load more than 5 bullets in a six shooter, since the old single-action revolvers had no useful "safety" and it was necessary to drop the hammer on an empty cylinder to carry them with even a remote semblance of safety.

Although not actually a prevalent habit, the traditional explanation that some gunsmiths offered for having all six chambers was that the "extra" one allowed you to tuck a dollar bill in to be found when you needed a decent burial. That would have been a good idea, but the "average cowpoke" almost never had a dollar to tuck away for any purpose. (sort of like the average musician, before they all got agents?)

John