Great Gunfighters of the West

Any western reader of the late 1950's and early 1960's will have taken notice of author Carl W. Breihan. Mr. Breihan was noticeable for his work especially on Jesse James, as well as lawmen and gunfighters of the old west. Mr. Breihan was involved with law enforcement himself as well as other offices. As far as I can establish, he was born in 1915 and is yet living. This particular book, GREAT GUNFIGHTERS OF THE WEST, was very popular at the time of its publishing in hardcover from the Naylor Company in 1962. The book came to my attention through reading the old TRUE WEST magazine from Joe Small, Austin, Texas. Each month Naylor would run an ad listing the books they offered. The copy I have on my western shelves, however, is a later SIGNET paperback well done and yet in great reading shape. For a prospective reader of this older book a listing of its contents should not be unwelcome. Though some of the material would have to be considered dated, its factual base cannot be questioned. The book describes the lives of Wild Bill Hickok, Bat Masterson, Clay Allison, Ben Thompson, Wild Bill Longley, Cullen Baker, Henry Starr, Henry Brown, and Frank Leslie. These men, some law abiding a few not, are all listed as "legendary western greats" on the cover, adding "Their names are all carved on the bullet-ridden pattern of the bloody, violent West". One question I have always entertained: why was the life of Luke Short, gambler and gunman, not included in this volume. Oh, well, I didn't write it, Mr. Breihan did. And write it well he did. Included within the book also are 8 pages of 'authentic' photos. And I really enjoy authentic photos as opposed to non-authentic. Seriously, even at this late date no better book on this subject is available for the casual, general reader interested in reading a collection based on gunmen of the the old west. One interesting and very useful section within this book is one that describes the guns the individual gunmen used. So we get both a history of the men and also the guns they used in their daily activities. Thank you Mr. Breihan for a book not only well done, but one that seems to have lasted down through the years. Semper Fi.

I read this book and when I had finished the only draw back was I wanted more, This was and excellent and well documented book. I understand the author had planned a book two but it never came to past, What a shame. If you get a chance to read this book By Elmer LeRoy Baker I think you will enjoy it. Although it is rare and hard to find this reader thinks it is worth it.