Steel Frame 1851 Navy by Euroarms Brescia

[PetahW]

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According to this pic, it appears that Hickock carried a knife in his belt sash, and his pistols in a crossdraw holster on each side.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-american-cowboy-scout-professional-gambler-and-news-photo/53203222?adppopup=true

[Ohio Joe]

Seen this picture many times. 

[Winter Hawk]

One thing to remember is that the photographers back then had their own props, and most of the studio photos were made with the subject carrying what appealed to them (or the photographer) from those props. The knife may or may not have been every day carry for Hickok. If so, I would have expected to see it in a sheath. The ivory handled revolvers I would think were his own.  But again, the photo was taken when he was a scout for the Army; would he have the same armament then as later when he was a lawman?

~Kees~

[PetahW]

would he have the same armament then as later when he was a lawman?

I would think that Hickock would have danced with who brung him, and not change a thing when he was enforcing laws.

Switching would have worked against him.

.

[Ohio Joe]

He favored his .36 1851 Navy Cap & Ball Colts... The history up in Deadwood, SD is that when he was there - he would put on shooting displays quite often as he "freshened" his revolver loads...

[It's said (suggested) that this was done to send a message to anyone who might challenge his reputation... Obviously it didn't do him much good 'cause he didn't have eyes in the back of his head...]

The man simply knew "his" Revolvers like the back of his hand, and used what he knew best until that fatal day in August 1876, which is very understandable IMHO. 

[RobD]

It kinda appears that ol' Bill's knife was naked in his sash, no sheath - now that makes no sense whatsoever ... a (hopefully) sharp blade inserted in a sash and no edge protection?  I don't think so, the legend couldn't have been that careless or dumb!

Also, his '51 Navy pistols weren't carried cross draw, they were carried reverse draw.  Gotta be some kinda special fast draw artist to be able to whip out those pistolos pronto!

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[Ohio Joe]

Makes one wonder if this picture was taken with his short lived stint with Buffalo Bills, Wild West Show?

[Winter Hawk]

I think you hit the nail on the head, Joe.

Either that, or the photographer duded him up with props.  With photography in its infancy, if you wanted a photo of yourself you went to a commercial cameraman who carried guns, knives, clothes etc. for the client to put on.  That's one reason I am skeptical of old photos being used to prove that some historical person or other used a certain gun.

~Kees~

[Ohio Joe]

I could see Hickok carrying his '51 Navy Colt's, but I'm not so sure about the big butcher knife.