Top 11 Wild West Gunfighters

Top 11 Wild West Gunfighters

by Skip Pulley

Like so many other historical lists, ranking the most notorious gunfighters of the Old West is primarily subjective, as their reputations are often shrouded in folklore, legend, and sometimes exaggerated accounts. It's important to note that many of these figures have been romanticized in books, films and popular culture, which has contributed to their legendary status.

There are several names of old west icons who are not on this list. Most notably, former Confederates  turned outlaws (most of whom were deserters) such as Jesse James, Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh and John Selman (who shot John Wesley Hardin [in the back] and killed him). This is mostly because they - and most other ex-rebel outlaws were essentially bushwhacking pieces of sh*t who hopped out on people sideways from a hidden bunghole or crevasse and shot them in the back. Although i'm sure a lot of other outlaws did that as well, ex-rebs made it standard operating procedure.

11. Tom Horn 

Tom Horn (1860-1903) was a scout, lawman, and hired gun. He is best known for being convicted of murdering a 14-year-old boy, though many believed he was innocent. 

Horn claimed to have killed over 17 men, but his actual tally is uncertain. He was a former Pinkerton detective and U.S. Army scout known for his skills in tracking and hunting. He became infamous for his alleged role as a hired gunman, particularly in the Johnson County War in Wyoming. Horn's reputation was cemented by his execution in 1903 for the murder of a 14-year-old boy, Willie Nickell near Iron Mountain, a crime he claimed he did not commit. While in jail, he wrote his autobiography "Life of Tom Horn: Government Scout and Interpreter", which was published posthumously in 1904. Horn has since become a larger-than-life figure of western folklore, and debate continues as to whether he was actually guilty of Nickell's murder.

10. Johnny Ringo
John Peters Ringo (1850-1882) was an American Old West outlaw associated with the Cochise County

Cowboys in frontier boom-town Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He took part in the Mason County War in Texas during which he committed his first murder. Ringo was a member of the infamous "Cowboys" gang in Arizona and was known for his volatile temper and involvement in several violent incidents. His mysterious death in 1882, which remains a subject of speculation and folklore, has added to his mystique. He was found in a seated position in the crux of a tree with a bullet wound to his right temple. The coroner ruled it as suicide, but most people think he had some help with that. Modern writers have advanced various theories attributing his death to Wyatt Earp or Doc Holliday. However, in an interview with a reporter in Denver in 1896, Earp denied that he had killed Ringo; but later, privately, claimed once again that he had. Doc Holliday still had an outstanding arrest warrant in Arizona for his part in Frank Stilwell's murder (the man who was suspected of murdering Morgan Earp), so it's doubtful that he would have gone to Arizona in a severe state of failing health just to confront Ringo.

9. Doc Holliday
John Henry Holiday (1851-1887) better known as "Doc" was a gambler, dentist and gunfighter best known for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He was a skilled gambler and a deadly gunman, suffering from tuberculosis which added  an element of unpredictability to his demeanor and to his mysterious and feared reputation. On July 14, 1882, 

Holliday's long-time enemy Johnny Ringo was found dead in a low fork of a large tree in West Turkey Creek Valley, Arizona Territory. He had a bullet hole in his right temple and a revolver was found hanging from a finger of his hand. A coroner's inquest officially ruled his death a suicide, but according to some local sources, Doc Holliday stepped in for Wyatt Earp in response to a gunfight challenge from Ringo, and shot him dead. 

In 1887, during his final days, he made his way to the hot springs of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Immediately before his death, he looked at his bootless feet, amused. His last words were, "This is funny" because he always figured he would someday be killed with his boots on. 

Holliday died at 10 a.m. on November 8, 1887. He was 36.

8. Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid, (likely born Henry McCarty 1859-1881), was a young outlaw in the New Mexico

Territory known for his involvement in the Lincoln County War. Billy was an outlaw and gunfighter who was linked to nine murders: four of  which he was solely responsible and five in which he may have played a role alongside others. Officially, He was reputed to have killed 21 men - one for each year of his life, although the actual number is likely much lower. His escape from jail and subsequent killing by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881 (as per the official story) have cemented his status as a legendary figure. Billy the Kid's reputation as the most feared or dreaded gunfighter is largely due to his youth, audacity, and the mystery surrounding his life and death. His alleged ability to kill men with ease and his defiance of law enforcement have made him a legendary figure in American folklore.

7. Butch Cassidy

Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) born Robert LeRoy Parker, was the leader of the Wild Bunch

gang. He was known for his charismatic personality, his clever robberies, and his avoidance of violent confrontations. However, when faced with a gunfight, Cassidy was said to be a skilled and deadly opponent. Butch was known for his intelligence and charm, as well as his involvement in numerous bank and train robberies. He and his partner, the Sundance Kid, supposedly disappeared in South America, adding to their mystique and legend. Local rumors insisted that they had been killed in a shootout with a Bolivian cavalry regiment who had them surrounded in a farm house. Parker's life and death have been extensively dramatized in film, television and literature, and he remains one of the best-known icons of the "Wild West". There is also credible evidence that suggests he may have survived the gunfight in San Vicente southern Bolivia and returned to the United States where it is rumored that he lived until the 1920's or 30's.

6. John Wesley Hardin

John Wesley Hardin (1853-1895) was one of the most prolific gunfighters of the Old West, claiming to have killed over 40 men. He was a lawyer, gambler, and gunman, and his reputation as a deadly draw was widely feared. Hardin supposedly had a few confrontations with "Wild Bill" Hickcock, although apparently none of them ever came to gunshots. Wild Bill never wrote or spoke about Hardin, but John Wesley, even in his extremely exaggerated memoirs, had the utmost respect for Hickcock. Hardin was pursued by lawmen for most of his life. In 1877 at the age of 23, he was captured and sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder. At the time of sentencing, Hardin claimed to have killed 42 men, while contemporary newspaper accounts attributed 27 deaths to him (The actual number is probably between 12 and 30). However, most of the killings he took credit for could not be corroborated. While in prison, Hardin studied law and wrote an autobiography. Within a year of his 1894 release from prison, Hardin was shot and killed by John Selman in an El Paso saloon. Hardin was best known for his cold-blooded behavior and his catchphrase, "I never killed a man that didn't deserve it." 

      Deadly Dozen: Twelve Forgotten Gunfighters of the Old West, Vol. 1

       by Robert K DeArment

        Deadly Dozen tells the story of twelve infamous gunfighters, 

 feared in their own times but almost forgotten today.

        From noted historian Robert K. DeArment

       Click to buy New or Used at Alibris

5. Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) was a lawman and gambler who served in various law enforcement positions in the Old West. He is famous for his role in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and his subsequent

vendetta against those responsible for the shooting of his brothers. Wyatt left Dodge City in 1879 and moved with his brothers James and Virgil to Tombstone where a silver boom was underway. The Earps clashed with a group of outlaws known as the "Cowboys". Wyatt, Virgil, and younger brother Morgan held various law enforcement positions that put them in conflict with Cowboys Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, Ike Clanton, and Billy Clanton. The conflict escalated, culminating in the shootout at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, where the Earps and Doc Holliday killed three of the Cowboys. Earp's reputation as a tough and no-nonsense lawman was well-earned. He was already known nationally prior to becoming world famous for his role in the O.K. Corral gunfight. His reputation as a tough and fearless lawman was solidified by the subsequent vendetta ride against "The Cowboys" who had shot and eventually killed his two brothers. Wyatt Earp was the last surviving Earp brother and the last surviving participant of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral when he died at home in Los Angeles, of chronic cystitis on January 13, 1929, at the age of 80. Several silent film stars in the western genre were pallbearers.

4. Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok (1837-1876) - was a scout, lawman, and gunfighter who was one of the most famous figures of the Old West. Although he is officially of Irish ancestry, he had notably recognizable Native

American features. He was best known for his skills as a marksman, his calm demeanor under pressure and his deadly accurate draw. Hickok's reputation as a gunfighter was legendary, journalists and biographers note his quick draw and sharp-shooting skills. He was famous for killing Dave Tutt in a duel in Springfield, Missouri, one of the first recorded gunfights of the Old West. He served in and spied for the Union army during the American Civil War and gained publicity after the war as a scout, marksman, actor and professional gambler. Hickok was murdered in 1876 in Deadwood, South Dakota, while playing poker. Hickok was playing five-card stud or draw when he was shot. He was holding two pairs: black aces and black eights as his "up cards", which has since become widely known as the "dead man's hand". The identity of the fifth card has long been the subject of debate.

3. Black Jack Ketchum 

Thomas Edward Ketchum (1863-1901) was an American cowboy who later became an outlaw. Ketchum joined some outlaws of the Hole in the Wall Gang and focused on train robberies. Several other notable outlaws operated out of "Hole In The Wall Pass" in Johnson County, Wyoming, which was a known hideout for numerous outlaw gangs which operated separately.

Members of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang included such infamous criminals as Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch (Butch Cassidy also known as Robert Leroy Parker), the Sundance Kid (also known as Harry A. Longabaugh). One Wild Bunch gang member, Kid Curry, along with his brother Lonny Curry, had previously ridden with Black Jack and his gang. During this time, Tom Ketchum was once mistakenly identified as "Black Jack" Christian, another outlaw, which is the origin of Ketchum's nickname. Black Jack Ketchum was executed in 1901 for attempted train robbery. The execution by hanging was botched and he was decapitated because the executioner used a rope that was too long.

2. Cherokee Bill 

Crawford Goldsby (1876-1896) AKA Cherokee Bill was an american outlaw of multi-ethnic heritage, including Native and African American. His father was of Mexican and Sioux descent and his mother was of African, Cherokee, and Caucasian ancestry. He was supposedly responsible for the

murders of eight men (including his brother-in-law) while he and his gang "terrorized" the Indian Territory for over two years. 

Goldsby's life as an outlaw began when he was 18. At a dance in Fort Gibson, Jake Lewis and he had a confrontation over a dispute that Lewis had with one of Goldsby's brothers. A few days later, Goldsby drew a six-shooter and shot Lewis. Thinking Lewis was dead, Goldsby went on the run, leaving Fort Gibson and heading for the Creek and Seminole Nations, where he met up with outlaws Jim and Bill Cook, who were multi-ethnic Cherokees. 

Between August and October, Goldsby and the Cooks allegedly robbed banks, stagecoaches and stores; killing those who stood in their way. When the authorities offered a $1300 reward for the capture of Goldsby, a local group of finks came forward and agreed to help.

In 1895 Bill was captured in Nowata, Oklahoma. After multiple trials and attempted jailbreaks, he was eventually sentenced to hang March 17, 1896. Shortly after 2 pm on the 17th while on the gallows, it was reported Goldsby was asked if he had anything to say, and he replied..."I came here to die, not make a speech." About 12 minutes later, Crawford "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby, the most notorious outlaw in the Indian Territory, was dead. He was 20 years of age.

Honorable Mentions

Kid Curry (1870-1904)  Born Harvey Logan, Kid Curry was a member of the Wild Bunch gang. He was involved in numerous robberies and shootouts, and his reputation as a fierce and reckless gunfighter grew with each passing crime.


Billy Longley (1854-1878)  Longley was known as the "Arkansas Killer" and claimed to have killed around 30 men. He was a young and impulsive gunfighter who often boasted about his exploits, which may have exaggerated his actual number of kills.


Ben Kilpatrick (1873-1912)  Kilpatrick was a member of the Wild Bunch gang, often riding alongside Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He was known for his quick draw and involvement in several robberies.

Luke Short (1854-1893) Short was a gambler, saloon owner, and gunfighter. He was involved in several shootouts and was known for his quick draw and deadly accuracy. Short's reputation as a skilled gunman spread quickly, and he was often sought after for protection in lawless towns.

1. Bass Reeves: 

Bass Reeves (1838-1910) Was a legendary U.S. Marshal, gunfighter, farmer, scout, tracker, railroad

agent, and a runaway slave known for his exceptional bravery and skill. Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas. His family were slaves belonging to Arkansas state legislator William Steele Reeves. During the American Civil War, his owners fought for the Confederacy. At some point, Reeves escaped and fled to Indian Territory, where he learned American Indian languages and customs, as well as tracking and survival skills.Reeves encountered some of the most ruthless outlaws of his day. His weapons of choice were the Winchester models 1873 and 1892, guns that conveniently fit dual-purpose handgun/rifle cartridges. He also briefly used the 1873 Colt Single Action .45 caliber Peacemaker. Reeves is the best possible and most likely inspiration for the fictional character "the Lone Ranger", the travelling hero of western radio, TV and film. Historian Art T. Burton says "Bass Reeves is the closest person to resemble the Lone Ranger" citing similarities including Reeves working with Native American partners and handing out souvenir silver dollars. Reeves also used disguises on occasion, but his primary persona was known by his quick wit and strong presence.

Are there any gunslingers whom you feel should have made the list?

Feel free to list them in the comments or share your own Top 11.

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Skip Pulley

editor in chief