Pistol Fanning in the Old West

Trigger? I don't need no stinking trigger!

Someone asked recently how common it was for people to “fan” their revolvers in the Old West.

If you’re not familiar, fanning is when the shooter holds down the trigger and rapidly slaps or “fans” back the hammer with his free hand. Here’s a great example of a guy on YouTube demonstrating the technique.

That said, records indicate that fanning wasn’t as common as the movies would have us believe. Indeed, Texas Ranger/El Paso Marshal James B. Gillet certainly wasn’t a fan (pun intended).

James B. Gillett

"Fanning," like carrying two guns, was pretty much a piece of show business, though there were men who could "fan." To "fan" a gun the person gripped it in his left hand and with rapid passes of his right hand knocked back and released the hammer. The gun used in fanning had, of course, no trigger. A man might "fan" for pastime, but seldom for his life.

Wyatt Earp was another Old West legend who didn’t put much stock in fanning his revolver. He allegedly told biographer Stuart Lake, “In all my life as a frontier police officer, I did not know a really proficient gunfighter who had anything but contempt for the gun-fanner, or the man who literally shot from the hip.”

Wyatt Earp

That said, I know of at least two instances where legit badmen used the fanning technique. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out all that well for them.

First up is “Long Hair” Jim Courtright.

Jim Courtright

In February 1897, Courtright squared off with the equally deadly Luke Short outside Fort Worth’s White Elephant Saloon. An eyewitness would later state the following:

"Jim [Courtright] sent someone home for his guns, and his wife sent him a single action [revolver]. He had to fan it, and while he was fanning, Luke got him. It's too bad Jim's wife sent him the wrong gun. If he had the double action, Luke wouldn't have been able to give him a haircut."

And then there’s Bass Outlaw (not to be confused with the outlaw Sam Bass).

Bass was a former Texas Ranger and Deputy Marshal who operated out of El Paso. He modified his Colt revolver by removing the trigger so it could only be fired by fanning.

Bass Outlaw’s revolver

On April 5th, 1894, Bass got drunker than Cooter Brown and decided to rapid-fire his revolver in the general direction of El Paso Constable John Selman Sr.

Although Bass did manage to wound the crooked lawman, Selman was able to return fire and deliver a fatal round to Bass’ chest.

Bass Outlaw

So yes, fanning a revolver did occur during the Old West, but it wasn’t very effective. The increased speed meant losing a good deal of accuracy, and when it comes to sending bullets downrange, accuracy can often mean the difference between life and death.

Just ask Bass Outlaw and Jim Courtright.

Miscellaneous Musings

In case you missed the recent announcement, there was no new episode of The Wild West Extravaganza last week, and there will not be a new episode next week.

Don’t worry. I’m fast at work researching and writing new material, and things will return to normal in the first week of May. Until then, feel free to check out an older episode I did on John Selman (in which I also discuss his showdown with the aforementioned Bass Outlaw).

Till next time, adios!