The Guns That Made America’s Most Notorious Outlaws So Dangerous

Above, the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For some reason, Americans have been fascinated by outlaws such as Billy the Kid, Bonnie & Clyde, John Dillinger, Jesse James and others. There's even a Billy the Kid museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. I visited it two years ago.

There is also a fascination over the weapons they used, be it a rifle, shotgun or pistol. 

AOL posted an article on guns that made notorious outlaws so dangerous. 

It begins with:

America’s outlaw era has always carried a strange mix of history, violence, folklore, and fascination. While the crimes themselves were brutal and often devastating, figures like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow, John Dillinger, and Machine Gun Kelly became closely linked to the weapons they carried. Their guns were not just tools used during robberies, shootouts, and escapes. They became part of the larger mythology that turned criminals into notorious names in American history.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the most infamous outlaws in U.S. history and the firearms most associated with them. From revolvers and lever-action rifles of the Old West to the Tommy guns and automatic weapons of the Prohibition era, these firearms help explain how each outlaw operated, why they became so feared, and how changing weapons technology shaped crime and law enforcement across different eras.

To read more, go here. 

Guns Used by America’s Most Notorious Outlaws

Above, the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a little something for you crime and history buffs.

It is a collection of guns used by America's most notorious outlaws. AOL posted 15 of them.

They start with:

One of America’s best-known obsessions is guns. Even though gun crimes are horrible, there have been moments in time when famous outlaws gained massive public attention, and many of them were closely associated with a particular firearm used in their crime sprees. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most famous outlaws and the guns they used.

To read more, go here. 

What Happened To Billy the Kid's Winchester?

Above, Billy the Kid's grave in Fort Sumner, New Mexico in 2024. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Billy the Kid's Winchester: The Mystery of His Lost Rifle video by Ghosts of the Frontier.

Summary:

What happened to Billy the Kid's favorite Winchester rifle after Pat Garrett shot him in 1881? This video investigates the mysterious disappearance and sudden reappearance of one of the Old West's most famous weapons.

On April 28, 1881, William H. Bonney—better known as Billy the Kid—made his legendary escape from the Lincoln County Courthouse in Lincoln, New Mexico. After killing Deputies James Bell and Bob Olinger, he grabbed a Winchester Model 1873 rifle from the courthouse armory before fleeing. Just 77 days later, Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked him to Pete Maxwell's ranch in Fort Sumner and shot him dead in Maxwell's darkened bedroom.

According to historical records, Garrett recovered Billy's Winchester that night. But then the rifle vanished from the historical record for over a century. Unlike other Billy the Kid artifacts with clear documentation, this Winchester left almost no paper trail during the crucial years after the outlaw's death.

In 2021, a Winchester 1873 (serial number 20181, manufactured in 1876) sold at Bonhams Auction House for $300,000, claiming to be Billy's rifle. The provenance states Pat Garrett gave it to cattle baron Joseph C. Lea, who had it displayed at the New Mexico Military Institute from 1898-1925. But the earliest documented evidence is a notarized statement from 1897—sixteen years after Billy's death.

This video examines the evidence for and against this rifle's authenticity, exploring the gaps in the chain of custody, the proliferation of Winchester rifles in 1880s New Mexico, and why the documentation only becomes solid decades after Billy the Kid became a legend.

4 Iconic Guns That Made Billy the Kid a LEGEND

Above, a Winchester 1873 once owned by Billy the Kid
at the Billy the Kid Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2024, I took a little trip to Fort Sumner, New Mexico to see the Billy the Kid Museum. 

It was a museum with plenty of historical items besides those of Billy the Kid. I highly recommend a visit.

I also visited Billy's gravesite. 

Here is a video on the guns used by Billy the Kid by Clean Caliber.  

Summary: 

Billy the Kid became more than an outlaw—he became an idea wired into metal. In a brief, violent arc through New Mexico, he moved with pistols, carbines and shotguns that together wrote the story people still read today. We’ll follow four weapons closely tied to his life, and stay to see which one sold for over $6 million.

 

Guns Every Smart Investor Should Know

Above, a Winchester 1873 rifle once owned by Billy the Kid on display at the
 Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People collect just about anything. 

Whether it is coins, tapestries, toys, furniture, political memorabilia or other items, collectors will seek out items that may be worth investing in.

This also goes for guns.

Collectors look for rare and vintage firearms at estates sales, auctions, classified ads and even pawn shops.

AOL has posted an article on guns that every smart investor should know.

They begin it with:

Your grandfather’s old service pistol from the war, carefully wrapped in cloth and stored with reverence, might have seemed like mere family memorabilia. More central to this article, that piece could be worth far more than anyone realized at the time.

The most expensive vintage gun ever auctioned, a single-action army Colt revolver owned by Pat Garrett, which was used to kill the outlaw Billy the Kid, sold for $6.03 million in 2021. While not every historical firearm will reach such astronomical heights, the vintage gun market has quietly become one of the most intriguing alternative investment sectors for those who appreciate both history and financial growth.

Historical firearms collecting isn’t just about nostalgia, though there’s plenty of that for those who grew up watching Westerns and war movies. It’s about recognizing that these pieces of American and world history can serve as tangible assets that often outperform traditional investments. The value of a historical firearm depends on several key factors: rarity, condition, provenance, and historical significance. When these elements align, the appreciation potential can be remarkable.

Disclaimer: Before considering any firearm investment, thorough research into local and federal regulations is essential. Market fluctuations can affect values, and proper legal compliance is non-negotiable.

To read more, go here. 

Book: "Billy the Kid, His Real Name Was..."

Above, the grave of Billy the Kid. Or is it? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I paid a visit to Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Fort Sumner is famous as where outlaw Billy the Kid met his end at the hands of Pat Garrett and is buried there. 

Or was he?

I came across a book by Jim Johnson titled, "Billy the Kid, His Real Name Was..." 

Here's the Barnes & Noble summary:

He was gunned down at the tender age of twenty- or was he? You've probably heard the legend of William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid, at one time or another. Most folks have. But when it comes to the Kid, few things are completely certain - not his real name, not his parents' names, not even where he was born or just how many people he killed. Sheriff Pat Garrett is commonly credited with killing Billy. He even wrote a wildly popular and somewhat sensational book about it. But there are many scholars who dispute the claim of this bartender and former buffalo hunter because the details of Garrett's story just don't add up. Add to this the fact that throughout the following decades old men from Mexico all the way to England were declaring themselves to be the real Billy the Kid, having cheated death that warm night in New Mexico. Among these many claimants, however, are two men with somewhat credible stories: John Miller and Brushy Bill. Both men seemed to be the right age, the right size, and had stories that certainly sounded authentic. But only one of these men could possibly be the real Billy the Kid. Author Jim Johnson has made an in-depth study of the outlaw's life, and presents here two very plausible accounts. Did Billy the Kid grow to be an old man, or was he killed by Pat Garrett? Read the evidence, and judge for yourself.

When I was in Fort Sumner, I visited Billy's grave and toured the Billy the Kid Museum. Was Billy actually buried there or was someone else (claimed to be Billy) buried there. The book sounds interesting enough. I just might get the book and see.

Summer 2024 Travel

Above, at Billy the Kid's grave in Fort Sumner in June.

Now that summer 2024 is over and done with, I can now look forward to the next few weeks of autumn and then winter. We tend to get early snows in autumn.

At least I made some good travel use out of the summer months.

In June, I headed to Fort Sumner to see the Billy the Kid Museum and gravesite. This was a camping trip in the motorhome. It was educational as well as fun.

Above, Jessica Tseang and I at G-FEST in July near Chicago.

In July, I headed to the Chicago area (by plane) for G-FEST, the annual Godzilla/kaiju convention by Daikaiju Enterprises. It was enjoyable and I got to see some friends for the first time since 2019.

In August, the cruise to the Bahamas was made with Norwegian Cruise Lines. I went with a friend I've known since junior high. We made several stops including Freeport, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay. We jet skied at Great Stirrup Cay. I even managed to win $60 in roulette in the cruise ship's casino.  

Above, Mitch Geriminsky and I in Nassau, Bahamas in August.

A camping trip to Ridgway, Colorado for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation Grit Series marathons and Monument Valley, Utah closed out the summer. The Autumn Equinox arrived during the trip. I did some horseback riding in Monument Valley. That was the first horseback ride I took since 1974. That was fun. 

Above, horseback riding in Monument Valley in September.

Autumn travel, so far, will be for a clampout in Arizona with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus. Beyond that, I have no plans for autumn travel. But one never knows what may come up on the spur-of-the-moment.

Billy the Kid Museum

Above, a Winchester Model 1873 .44 cal rifle once owned by Billy the Kid. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

This summer, if you find yourself in the eastern half of New Mexico, a trip down to Fort Sumner to the Billy the Kid Museum would be worth your while.

Along with artifacts relating to Billy the Kid, the museum has other artifacts of history including automobiles, guns (Winchester is well represented), appliances and other things. 

Last month, I took a little trip to Fort Sumner. I stayed at the Valley View Mobile Home & RV Park. 

Getting there is relatively easy. Just take Interstate 40 to Santa Rosa and then south 38 miles on US Highway 84 to Fort Sumner. 

Here is the museum's flyer:

 

Valley View Mobile Home & RV Park Review

Above, at Valley View Mobile Home & RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Campground review number 72 has been posted at RV Life Campgrounds website. It is my review of Valley View Mobile Home & RV Park in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.  

As advertised, it is a "no-frills" campground. It doesn't mean it's bad, it just means that in these days of inflation, camping can still be had at $30/night. It is so spartan, there are no showers or toilets.

To access the reviews of mine and others, go here.

Billy the Kid Museum Rifles

The Billy the Kid Museum has a nice collection of firearms of various makes.

Since Winchester made the "guns that won the west" or helped to settle it, the museum had a nice representation of them. They had more than what is shown here.

Here's some photos:

Above, a collection of Winchester lever rifles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Billy the Kid's 1873 Winchester .44 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, 1895 Winchester 30-06 take model. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, various rifles of different makes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, different models of Winchester lever rifles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Billy the Kid Museum Part Three

This morning, I walked over to the Billy the Kid Museum (only a block away) to see what they had inside.

While Billy the Kid was the focus of the museum, they had other things to see along with antique furnitures, appliances, cars, guns, buggies, carts and many other things. They had a replica of Billy's grave. At least the headstones were a lot more readable than the real ones.

The museum was surprisingly big

Since I took many pictures, I will divide them up in multiple posts.

Billy the Kid Museum Part Two

 This morning, I walked over to the Billy the Kid Museum (only a block away) to see what they had inside.

While Billy the Kid was the focus of the museum, they had other things to see along with antique furnitures, appliances, cars, guns, buggies, carts and many other things. They had a replica of Billy's grave. At least the headstones were a lot more readable than the real ones.

The museum was surprisingly big.

Since I took many pictures, I will divide them up in multiple posts.

Billy the Kid Museum Part One

This morning, I walked over to the Billy the Kid Museum (only a block away) to see what they had inside.

While Billy the Kid was the focus of the museum, they had other things to see along with antique furnitures, appliances, cars, guns, buggies, carts and many other things. They had a replica of Billy's grave. At least the headstones were a lot more readable than the real ones.

The museum was surprisingly big.

Since I took many pictures, I will divide them up in multiple posts.

A Visit At Billy The Kid's Grave

Above, Billy the Kid's Grave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After a drive of about 290 miles, I arrived in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Fort Sumner is famous for the location of Billy the Kid's grave. He is buried with two others. The gravesite has a steel cage around it. I guess it is to keep them from leaving and voting Democrat. 

The graves are covered with coins from other visitors. 

Even though I planned on making this trip this week for some time, oddly enough, I got a call last Sunday from an ex-Noble Grand Humbug from the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus asking about getting information on Billy the Kid for a possible plaque in 2026. After the told me what the call was about, my reply was, "Funny that you called. I am heading to Billy's grave in Fort Sumner this coming week..."

To help accomplish that, I stopped at the Fort Sumner Chamber of Commerce to make arrangements to meet with the Chamber president tomorrow. Their office is at the cemetery where Billy the Kid is buried.

It was a good thing I went there today. It looked like rain may be coming (it did, it sprinkled as I am writing this).

Some photos:

Above, the grave of Joe Grant. He was shot and killed by Billy the Kid. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Stop At Sierra Blanca Brewery

Above, yours truly enjoying a glass of Alien Amber Ale.

While on my way to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, I stopped at the Sierra Blanca Brewery in Moriarty. Since it was just off Interstate 40, I didn't go out of my way.

Sierra Blanca Brewers makes my favorite beer, Alien Amber Ale.

The brewery has a small beer bar in front and a beer garden in back. While I was there, there was only a couple partaking in adult beverages at the beer garden.

After looking over the beer garden (photos below), I went back inside to the beer bar. Along with a glass of Alien Amber Ale, I bought a growler and a t-shirt. They no longer have the Alien Amber Ale baseball caps. I was lucky to buy mine when I did about five years ago.

After finishing the glass of beer, I headed back on the Interstate to head to Fort Sumner. I may stop there again on my way home.

Some photos: