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...Artwork Inspired by the Sharps Rifle and the Buffalo Hunters...
- Thread starter ParadiseRoad
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Keep in mind, Sharps rifles were also used for combat against wild native americans, too. They were pressed into service as sniper’s rifles when needed. Billy Dixon should and killed a mounted indian whom was hundreds of yards away, with his Sharps rifle. Some see these as nothing more than a hunting rifle, but during the time, they were used for defense as well.
OP
ParadiseRoad
Member
...Billy Dixon's shot was 1538 yards if I remember correctly...
Highhawk1948
Member
Against the Comanche at Adobe Wells, Texas
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Larry
THE PILGRIM
Member
If you love the History of the West like I do,
The Billy Dixon shot at Adobe Walls has to be high on your list!
Here’s where the 1,538 yd number came from.
Obviously those Army Surveyors could measure distance.
Where was the shooter? They could probably nail that down pretty close.
Ok, exactly where was the target? Are you sure!
Baker and Harrison are two researchers who wrote a book.
Controversy prevails over the exact range of Billy Dixon's shot. Baker and Harrison set it at about 1000 yards, while a post-battle survey by a team of US Army surveyors, under the command of Gen. Nelson A. Miles, measured the distance: 1,538 yards, or nine-tenths of a mile. For the rest of his life, Billy Dixon never claimed that the shot was anything other than a lucky one; his memoirs do not devote even a full paragraph to "the shot"
The Billy Dixon shot at Adobe Walls has to be high on your list!
Here’s where the 1,538 yd number came from.
Obviously those Army Surveyors could measure distance.
Where was the shooter? They could probably nail that down pretty close.
Ok, exactly where was the target? Are you sure!
Baker and Harrison are two researchers who wrote a book.
Controversy prevails over the exact range of Billy Dixon's shot. Baker and Harrison set it at about 1000 yards, while a post-battle survey by a team of US Army surveyors, under the command of Gen. Nelson A. Miles, measured the distance: 1,538 yards, or nine-tenths of a mile. For the rest of his life, Billy Dixon never claimed that the shot was anything other than a lucky one; his memoirs do not devote even a full paragraph to "the shot"
Exactly. He refers to it as a "scratch shot." It's also important to note he was not aiming at a specific Indian, but a group of Indians mounted on horseback.
Very nice artwork!
Ever wonder if the herd turned and went towards the shooters, two in the case of the artwork? Never read or heard of it happening, but given the size of bison herds back then, one has to wonder? Animals have been known to do the unexpected!
Ever wonder if the herd turned and went towards the shooters, two in the case of the artwork? Never read or heard of it happening, but given the size of bison herds back then, one has to wonder? Animals have been known to do the unexpected!
vonn
US Veteran
Takes a pretty healthy fella to lug a Sharps around!
That's why they rode horses and mules. Don't forget the Remington rolling block rifles. They were also popular with the buffalo hunters.
Buffalo Bill Cody used a Springfield .50-70 rifle. It was called a "needle gun" due to the long firing pin.
OP
ParadiseRoad
Member
BearBio
Member
"Buffalo Bill" got his name when he was chased (on foot) back to camp by a buff he had wounded.
One of the "young" hunters at Adobe Walls was Bat Masterson. 28 buffalo hunters, a couple of wives and storekeepers held off several hundred Comanches & Cheyenne for ten days. Only casualty was the owner of the trading post who slipped coming down a ladder and shot himself. Also the hunter's dog, who killed several Indians and was scalped as a trophy because of his ferocity!
Billy Dixon is one of few civilians to win the Medal of Honor (He served as a civilian scout; that's where they surveyed his shot on a later trip).
On the trip out, they found where their messenger had been shot. There was over 100 Sharps' cartridges around the body.
Read Mari Sandoz's The Buffalo Hunters" for an intriguing history of what she called "...the most dangerous men who ever lived...."
One of the "young" hunters at Adobe Walls was Bat Masterson. 28 buffalo hunters, a couple of wives and storekeepers held off several hundred Comanches & Cheyenne for ten days. Only casualty was the owner of the trading post who slipped coming down a ladder and shot himself. Also the hunter's dog, who killed several Indians and was scalped as a trophy because of his ferocity!
Billy Dixon is one of few civilians to win the Medal of Honor (He served as a civilian scout; that's where they surveyed his shot on a later trip).
On the trip out, they found where their messenger had been shot. There was over 100 Sharps' cartridges around the body.
Read Mari Sandoz's The Buffalo Hunters" for an intriguing history of what she called "...the most dangerous men who ever lived...."
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