Jason Waltz’s Reviews > Triggernometry: A Gallery of Gunfighters > Status Update

Butch Cassidy! According to this account, had no notches on his gun, and Cunningham knew it because he was holding Cassidy's gun as he described it. This wasn't even 100 years back--the book was published in 1934. Very cool to be reading these recollections and retellings.

It was rather cool to read the author talk about knowing the next gunman, Bill McDonald, famous Texas Ranger Captain. The author even interviewed with him to become a Ranger and was declined. McDonald was one tough fella and famous more for not killing than killing the bad guys he consistently and regularly outdrew, outsmarted, and just plain out-manned. He sounds like one fearless hombre.

John Slaughter was a name I'd heard but knew not much of. Seems one tough hombre. Happens to have been Sheriff of Cochise County,AZ...a county I actually know because my grandparents lived there. So was cool reading this. An efficient and effective lawman - like we need today.

Never really knew the real story of Sam Bass. Now I do. Ain't so impressive. Seems only good reason he is included is due to the (unverified) claim he invented shoulder rigged holsters.

Been a bit since I've been here so it takes a moment to adjust to the extravagant writing words and style. However, once again quite entertaining and informative stories of famous old gunfighters. And rather a lot to absorb in the debunking of Wild Bill Hickok's fame.

Very cool to be reading about some of these characters in first person or as close to first person as possible accounts. Ah, to have been able to witness these characters and incidents would have been something.

Jim Gillett seems a tough fellow. He enjoyed a strong reputation as Ranger and Marshall, though again, his chapter really did not share anything about his actual gunfighting skills.

Ol' Bonney Boy provides the next chapter. I've read much of Billy the Kid; this was unique in that it had conversations with/by people who knew him, even rode with him. As such, it was rather cool and the least hyperbolic chapter yet. As is pointed out by the author however, Billy actually had a low body count and possibly only one that was not an ambushed or rigged killing, so he really doesn't fit as a gunfighter.

Very long chapter dedicated to a gunman who was the author's friend. Which is a very cool concept if you think about it. On the other hand, this was supposed to be a book about gunslingers, dangerous men, not just tough men. Billy Breakenridge sounds like a formidable and cool fellow, but doesn't seem to fit the book. Half of his chapter was more about the Earps and others anyway. Interesting though.

Ben Thompson seems quite the bully and asshole. I think the author muted much in his observations, wasn't as filled with the braggadishio of the previous gunmen chapters; perhaps I read between the lines but it seems he didn't like Thompson much himself. Anyway, someone should have killed Thompson long before the night he died.