Gunfighters of the Old West Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Hatfields

The Clantons and McLaurys were cattle farmers, and sometimes rustlers, who had a long feud brewing with the Earp brothers. Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton were killed in the famous gunfight. Doc Holliday, Morgan Earp, and Virgil Earp were wounded. Ike Clanton and Wyatt Earp escaped unharmed.

Answer: The James Gang

Other than a Civil War raid on a small Vermont bank by Confederate guerrillas, never before had a bank been robbed during business hours. It took authorities four years to credit this robbery to Jesse and Frank James.

Answer: Frank James

The Confederate guerrillas were notoriously brutal. In 1863 Quantrill's band descended on Lawrence, Kansas and shot to death every man and boy on sight and then torched the town. After Frank and Jesse James joined the Anderson band, they robbed a train of $3,000 and executed 25 Union soldiers on board.

Answer: Coffeyville

The Dalton boys grew up outside of Coffeyville and made the fatal decision to rob two banks at once. The street the banks were on was undergoing repair and they had to hitch their horses half a block away. They tried to disguise themselves with fake beards but were recognized by the townspeople who commenced passing out firearms to the merchants and passersby. Two of the gang members managed to steal $20,000 from the First National Bank but across the street at Condon & Co. a quick-thinking teller convinced the remaining gang members that the vault had a time lock.

As they left the bank empty handed they were gunned down by waiting townsfolk. Four townsmen were killed along with four of the five members of the Dalton gang. Emmett Dalton served 15 years in prison.

Answer: Butch Cassidy

He changed his name to Butch Cassidy in honor of his friend and mentor, Mike Cassidy, who taught him the craft of rustling. His gang became known as the Wild Bunch but Butch Cassidy detested violence and apparently never killed a man.

Answer: Sundance Kid

While their fate is unknown, it is commonly believed that they met violent deaths in Bolivia or Uruguay.

Answer: Abilene, Kansas

Many of the lawmen of the day were as corrupt as the outlaws they sought. Almost all supplemented their income in some form. Wild Bill received $150 per month and another 50 cents for every unregistered dog he shot within town limits.

Answer: Billy the Kid

Sheriff Garrett had gone to the Maxwell's ranch in hope of finding the whereabouts of Billy the Kid. He went into Maxwell's bedroom to wake him. Billy was at the ranch at the time and when he noticed strangers he also went to Maxwell's bedroom. Entering the dark bedroom he did not notice Garrett sitting on the edge of Maxwell's bed.

When Billy asked Maxwell, "Who are they, Petey?" Maxwell said to Garrett, "That's him." Before Billy the Kid could react, Garrett killed him with a single gun shot.

Answer: Tom Horn

Tom Horn was also one of the few hired gunmen that ended his life on the gallows. He was accused and arrested for the alleged shooting death of a 14-yr old boy. The boy was big for his age, was wearing his dad's hat and coat, riding his father's horse, and was shot in the dim light of dawn.

A case of mistaken identity? Possibly Horn could have argued so, but allowed a deputy U.S. Marshall to get him drunk and then confessed to the killing as a hidden stenographer recorded the conversation. Horn later claimed he was duped and that the stenographer exaggerated his claims. None the less he died by the noose for this crime.

Answer: Colt Peacemaker .45

Samuel Colt died a decade before his company produced the classic Peacemaker. A total of over 350,000 were produced and came in different varieties; short-barrel (4 3/4"), sheriff's model, eagle-butt, peacemaker with cutaway trigger guard, among others.