Making the Hickok-Tutt Shot

[duelist1954]

I’ve been fascinated by Wild Bill Hickok since I was a kid, I’ve read all of Joseph Rosa’s books on Hickok, along with a lot of less well-researched books and articles. His shot in the Davis Tutt fight is one of history’s iconic shots. It is to Colt Navy revolvers what Billy Dixon’s one-mile shot at Adobe Walls is to Sharp’s rifles.


At six o'clock on the evening July 21, 1865, Wild Bill Hickok made the most famous cap and ball revolver shot in Western history, by shooting Davis Tutt through the heart, at a distance of 75 yards, during their gunfight across the city square in Springfield, Missouri.


In this video I'll discuss the history of that fight, and I'll dispel some persistent rumors that have been associated with the affair. After that I'll attempt to re-create Wild Bill's 75-yard heart shot. This video is a bit on the long side, so I hope you’ll stick with it. Let me know if you like it.

 

[red rick]

Nice video and good shooting , but not quite in Will Bill's class and I bet few are .

 

[Crawdad1]

Another great video Mike.

Here is another one that recreates that shot,



I think that most people don't realize that Wild Bill Hickok was such a great shot because he practically grew up with the Colt Navy in his hand.

 

[1861]

Hey Sir, nice to see you here too! I watched a lot of your videos this summer and learned a lot. The best BP-revolvers-related videos on the internet!

 

[duelist1954]

Tame Bill, A.K.A. Stuart Barber is a friend of mine. He shot it better than I did, for sure!

 

[Crawdad1]

I still have not found any contemporary sources including Miller and Snell's 'Great Gunfighters of the Kansas Cowtowns' where anyone states that Hickok had any pistols other than his two '51 Navy Colts.

I understand that at the Pony Express home stations they had some Dragoon revolvers supplied by the company but there is no mention of a Dragoon only "Hickok's Colt Revolver" and not specifying which Colt revolver. But it could have easily been a Colt Navy as a Dragoon.

https://worldhistoryproject.org/1861/james-butler-wild-bill-hickok-joins-the-pony-express

"James Butler Hickok, who became famous as the legendary gunfighter and lawman Wild Bill Hickok, was never a rider for the Pony Express. However, in March 1861, he was an assistant station tender at Rock Creek Station where, in a still disputed gunfight with station agent David McCanles where McCanles and three other men were killed by Hickok."

 

[rodwha]

Another excellent video Mike!

 

[rodwha]

I'm a bit curious now about his load. Did he, like many of us, experiment and find an accurate load? And anyone know what it may have been?

 

[Crawdad1]

He could have used a conical also.

 

[rodwha]

He could have used a conical also.

Has there been any documentation that he loaded anything other than ball? Seems that's all I ever read others say.

 

[Crawdad1]

I don't know but, I never read anywhere where it specifically said what he used.

Mike what load did you use?

 

[daboyleroy]

Very good video Mike
He was a very interesting character

You have educated a lot of us with them
Please keep them coming

Check out
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/western/wild-bill-hickok

 

[Loyalist Dave]

It's been demonstrated that the .36 navy revolvers can reach out and touch somebody at those long distances, and with the second video we see an even farther shot, first try, that hits the target in the heart. (Doesn't mention the point of aim on the target ). Folks don't mention anything other than Tutt drawing first, when if that's true then Tutt expected he'd be able to hit Hickok at that distance. Either Tutt was a fool, or there was a reason Tutt opened fire at that range, no? Since the townsfolk were amazed, I submit that Tutt knew he could hit a target on a level street at 75 yards and "went for it", and his foolishness wasn't the distance, since he probably like the rest of the townsfolk thought that range was beyond what almost all pistoleros could do..., Tutt's error was assuming Mr. Hickok could not also be accurate at that distance.

I don't recall anybody having interviewed Mr. Hickok after the event. He might not have been surprised to have hit Tutt, but might have been a bit surprised the first shot struck Tutt in the heart . We'll never know if Mr. Hickok expected more rounds to be exchanged and instead Tutt dropped like a sack of sand. It's not like there was a conversation written down just after, akin to..., Reporter: "Mr. Hickok that was an amazing shot!" Mr. Hickok: "Well I was aiming for his head, but I'm happy with the results."

LD

 

[eastbank]

years ago I did a lot of shooting with a 1860 steel framed .44 army colt and I shot quite a few ground hogs from several feet to a few at 50 yards or so with round balls and often was able to hit a gallon milk jug at 50 yards four out of six shots. and I am no Hickok. eastbank.

 

[JeffG]

Coincidentally, I am reading the Buffalo Hunters, by Mari Sanoz, again. She details quite a bit about Hickock's career, and insights as to why he was able to make shots like that one.
https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Hunt...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4M3KSHTR8EEF64F885AZ

 

[Crawdad1]

There is a coroner's report on the fight as Hickok was charged with manslaughter.

http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm/ref/collection/mack/id/1530

 

[daboyleroy]

https://truewestmagazine.com/joseph-rosa/
Interview with Joseph Rosa about Wild Bill

 

[JeffG]

I’ve been fascinated by Wild Bill Hickok since I was a kid, I’ve read all of Joseph Rosa’s books on Hickok, along with a lot of less well-researched books and articles. His shot in the Davis Tutt fight is one of history’s iconic shots. It is to Colt Navy revolvers what Billy Dixon’s one-mile shot at Adobe Walls is to Sharp’s rifles.

Excellent video, Mike.

 

[Crawdad1]

https://truewestmagazine.com/joseph-rosa/
Interview with Joseph Rosa about Wild Bill

Interesting conversation.

"But his brother Horace’s reference to the Civil War is probably the most likely explanation. Indeed, William Pound, the prosecutor in McCall’s trial at Yankton, stated in 1877, that Hickok won the name “Wild Bill” for his actions against Confederate guerrillas and bushwhackers in Missouri during the war. Pound is believed to have based his information on conversations with men who had known or fought with Hickok during that conflict. But whatever the origin of the name, it was to immortalize James Butler Hickok."

It was in these fights where they fought almost exclusively with revolvers and more likely than not '51 Navy Colts. .

Richard S. Brownlee, 'Grey Ghosts of the Confederacy'
O.S. Barton, 'Three years with Quantrill' A True Story as told by his scout John McCorkle.

 

[AJumbo]

Has there been any documentation that he loaded anything other than ball? Seems that's all I ever read others say.

In Hickok's day, the word "ball" was used generically for revolver projectiles, conical or spheroidal. The coroner's report on Jesse James' death mentions that the "ball entered below the ear," for example. See also "Minie' ball," which is about as far from a ball as you can get.

I won't speculate on what Hickok's load was, or whether he actually did fire over his forearm.

 

[Crawdad1]

Not much detail in the trial transcripts either, State of Missouri vs. William Hickok, which is disappointing.

http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/mack/id/1543/rec/3

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Great video Mike! As usual

 

[whughett]

Well the video has inspired me to give it a go. My normal shooting distance is 12 to 25 yards My normal target a 12x18 shoot and see silhouette. With the 1851 Navy, Lee 1.3 cc 3f, .380 round ball. Next Monday Ill set the target frame up at 75 yards and give it a go. Standing Weaver stance. Frankly I don't expect much, all though at 12 yards a below the belt line hold results in a nice center of mass group on the silhouette.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I enjoyed both videos. Mike's for the education I received and the one Crawdad linked to for the quick 'n dirty answer.

 

[Crawdad1]

Great video Mike now make some more.