Making Davis Tutt Famous

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Trouble is you can't tell anything from a photography studio photograph, which that is. They supplied the "props". Does anyone really think even someone known as Wild Bill really carried a 12" knife, stuck in the front of his belt? No sheath? What else was supplied?

It is a typical photograph of that time.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Other gunscribes have compared the ballistics of a Colt's Navy to those of a modern .380, rather than a 9.
The 'pair of Navies, in his sash' seems pretty standard; it's either true, or has been repeated enough that it's thought to be true.
I'll opine that a Walker seems unlikely, as a belt gun...they are a big sonafagun, and were normally carried in pommel holsters, rather than belt rigs. Dragoons aren't much better.
Again, the Navy was noted as the 'gunfighters' gun' for its relative handiness, compared to contemporary .44 revolvers.
Have a .36, and it does have a wonderful feel in the hand.
By the time of Hickok's death, cartridge arms were extant, though it's not clear to me how universally the guns, or their cartridges, were available in 1876. That Hickok was carrying a cartridge Smith at the time of his death, isn't surprising.
Interesting discussion.
Moon

 

[Eddie Southgate]

It is also said that he owned a 1860 conversion and a large caliber S&W of some form . The picture with the single gun with wood (?) grips could be the 1860 conversion. There was also the rifle that is said to have been buried with him.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Trouble is you can't tell anything from a photography studio photograph, which that is. They supplied the "props". Does anyone really think even someone known as Wild Bill really carried a 12" knife, stuck in the front of his belt? No sheath? What else was supplied?

It is a typical photograph of that time.

I have no doubt that the Colts are his . As far as the knife , not unusual to carry a big knife but like you I think the knife in this picture is absolutely staged . No sheath , stuck where it is you would cut yourself about every 5 minutes unless you just sat still and didn't move your arms .

 

[walkin' trails]

Can you tell what kind of gun he is carrying in that photo

Based on my technical expertise in digital manipulation (two fingers on my phone screen to expand), I think they're Colts. At least the one one his right somewhat resembles a Colt grip.

 

[WR Moore]

I've got a tattered copy of Cody's autobiography. The back portion is biographies of some of his contemporaries, including J.B. Hickok. I expect it was ghost written and also expect that it might not qualify for a G Washington level totally truthful account. However, Cody and Hickok were close friends. I'm not going to excavate the book and court allergies to find the exact wording, but it largely agrees with the account in the link in post 24. But, some details on the watch stuck in my mind. Cody's version has the watch given as surety for a card debt. However, the watch was supposedly an engraved watch presented by a Union General for his war service and Hickok was shamed at the loss. He supposedly asked Tutt to keep possession of the watch private as he was expecting funds. Tutt allegedly stated that he'd wear the watch to breakfast in the morning, Hickok allegedly stated that if he did, he'd kill him. Hickok was supposedly waiting for Tutt in the morning.

The account in post 24 casts some doubt on this version, if the accounts are accurate rather than something pieced together after the fact. As we all know, newspaper writers have a history of not being entirely factual themselves-as do witnesses. Or, the ghost writer/Cody was exercising some dramatic license. I don't recall the range being mentioned, but handguns had a history of being used at ranges longer than we commonly believe.

 

[BillinAlamo]

One does not whip out a Walker or Dragoon and get off a snap shot in an instant. With a Navy, it would be feasible.
Many thanks to Smith 469 for the link to the Green County article.

 

[Smoke]

Tutt allegedly stated that he'd wear the watch to breakfast in the morning, Hickok allegedly stated that if he did, he'd kill him. Hickok was supposedly waiting for Tutt in the morning.

The fight happened right around 6:00 p.m. in the evening. Did Hickok wait all day?

 

[WR Moore]

I just reported what I read (OK, what I remember reading), talk to Cody/his ghost writer. OTOH, given that it involved ramblin, gamblin men, maybe 6 pm was their morning.

 

[Smoke]

I just reported what I read (OK, what I remember reading), talk to

I have the same book but it's packed for moving

OTOH, given that it involved ramblin, gamblin men, maybe 6 pm was their morning.

That's not that far out there

 

[Terry G]

I've read quite a bit about this time in History and the bad guy's. The version (s) I read say yes, Hickok owed the money and gave the watch as security, with admonition not to show it anyone because Hickok was embarrassed by not having the money to cover the debt. He warned Tutt not to brag to anyone or show the watch he'd won from "Wild Bill". I think it's fair to say both men might not have been completely sober. At any rate Tutt was parading around town bragging about his win and Hickok called him out from across the street. Tutt drew and fired and missed by yard or by ten yards and Wild Bill drew and fire one shot from "a Navy Colt" that pierced Tutt's chest killing him instantly. The distance was either 25 feet or 25 yards, take your pick. I also read the distance was 75 Yards. This I doubt. I have a .36 Colt copy and a one handed heart shot at that distance would mean incredibly bad luck for poor Dave.

 

[HDSERVATT]

When Geronimo took the Train to DC for Teddy's inauguration,
At every stop, he sold Buttons which he cut from his coat.
Then sewed on more buttons between stops.

Hmmm. Sometimes, we "White Eyes" ain't so smart, eh?

 

[fatcat3]

a one handed heart shot at that distance would mean incredibly bad luck for poor Dave.

What about the Ton-han-kah that Billy Dixon knocked off his pony at 1500 yards with a Sharps 50, 600-grain bullet driven by 125 grains of black powder, at Adobe Walls? Poo Happens.