Thanks to generations of novels, films, and television epics, the lore and legends of the American West continue to loom large in popular consciousness. The arms that helped tame the western frontier were just as iconic as the explorers, hunters, cowboys, outlaws, and Native Americans who wielded them, and authentic Wild West guns have become one of the most sought-after genres in the arms collecting pursuit today.

Rock Island Auction Company's upcoming August 15-17 Premier Auction in Bedford Texas features an expansive range of western weapons, including frontier rifles, lever guns, pocket pistols, Old West revolvers, and every other genre of frontier firearm from this historic era. Click on the images throughout this article to learn more about each model.

The Hawken Rifle

The Hawken rifle was one of the original Western guns. As America expanded into the Great Plains, brothers Jacob and Samuel Hawken of St. Louis crafted these rugged muzzleloading percussion rifles. The Hawken became trusted a companion for a generation of mountain men, trappers, and pioneers venturing beyond the Mississippi. The rugged rifle's ability to fell large game like buffalo made it essential for survival in the untamed frontier.

Colt Dragoon

The Colt SAA’s black powder predecessors remained a prevalent force on the Western frontier through the late 19th century. Though Colt’s early attempts to gain market traction with the Paterson revolver, rifle, and shotgun proved a failure, the Colt Walker helped revive Colt’s business in 1847. The Dragoon continued that legacy and set the standard for many Wild West revolvers to follow.

With over 18,000 Colt Dragoon revolvers produced between 1848 and 1860, it’s no surprise that Colt’s "revolving horse pistol" became a common sight on the American frontier, particularly with miners and bandits during the California Gold Rush. Dragoons were also popular Western weapons with the Texas Rangers and other mounted forces in the early days of Old West, and prominently appeared in both the novel and the 2010 film version of 'True Grit.'

Sharps Rifle

A frontier mainstay since its introduction in 1848, the Sharps rifle line was favored by everyone from John Brown, Brigham Young, and the Berdan Sharpshooters of the Civil War, to the cowboys, hide hunters, Indian fighters, and outlaws who roamed the Wild West.

The first Sharps rifles, like the Model 1849 pictured below, served as a developmental milestone in the evolution of Christian Sharps' breechloading design. Suppliers like Burtis & Brother in St. Louis specifically marketed these early Sharps to emigrants headed into the frontier, earning the platform a reputation as one of the classic Wild West guns. The advertisements noted the rifles could be fired eight to twelve times in a minute, a distinct advantage over their muzzleloading competitors.

Colt 1849 Pocket

Later black powder Colt revolvers continued to refine the concept and became one of the most widely available Western guns before and after the Civil War. The Colt 1849 Pocket became the company's most successful 19th century revolver with sales figures exceeding 340,000. Where the Dragoon provided a mighty .44 caliber horse pistol, the pocket served as a concealable close-quarters option that found its away to every corner of the expanding frontier.

Colt Navy and Army

The Colt Model 1851 Navy and Colt Model 1860 Army were two of the most produced revolvers of the 19th century. Both sixguns were widely favored during the Civil War and beyond, with each model finding its way onto the frontier in substantial numbers and serving as popular Western guns in both their original black powder variations and as cartridge conversion guns.

Spencer Carbine

Wild West long guns included a plethora of muzzleloaders, breechloaders, and repeating rifle models available. After the Civil War, surplus Spencer carbines became sought-after Western weapons with both settlers and Native Americans alike. Between 1867 and 1874, 11,000 Spencer carbines were altered and refurbished by Springfield Armory for military service in the Indian Wars.

This historic example pictured below is listed by its serial number 758 on page 246 of "Springfield Research Service, Serial Numbers of U.S. Martial Arms, Volume 4" with the note "090576 FAST-HORSE (TURNED IN)" indicating it was captured and turned in by known Indian Police/U.S. Army scout Fast Horse on September 5, 1876, just over a few months after the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Henry Rifle

While the Wild West revolver earned its reputation in streets and saloons, no firearm symbolizes the American frontier quite like the lever action rifle. Winchester's predecessor, found some success in the final stages of the Civil War and eventually made its way out West.

Bison hunter Bill Comstock, who famously challenged Bill Cody for the rights to use the name "Buffalo Bill," employed a Henry rifle. Famed North Dakota hunter and rancher Frederick Rudolph Zahl, who newspapers claimed "killed more buffalo at one run than even Buffalo Bill," owned a Henry rifle as well.

Winchester Yellowboy

In 1866, the newly founded Winchester Repeating Arms Company improved on the Henry design with the Winchester Model 1866 "Yellowboy." Known for its distinctively colored gunmetal frame, the Model 1866 was the first rifle to bear the Winchester name and in many ways became the original cowboy rifle. The Model 1866 saw widespread use on the American frontier and beyond, riding in the scabbards of many lawmen, settlers, cowhands, and outlaws of the era.

Remington Rolling Block

Developed from the Remington “Split Breech” carbine, a Civil War gun designed to fire the same cartridges as the Spencer repeater, the Remington Rolling Block became the most widely used single shot military breechloader of the 19th century and one of the most prominent guns of the Wild West. The Rolling Block was produced in a variety of calibers, both rimfire and centerfire.  

Smith & Wesson No. 3

Colt wasn’t the only game in town for Wild West revolvers. Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson became an early leader in America's cartridge wheel gun market thanks to Rollin White's patent for bored-through, rear-loading cylinders, though the Smith & Wesson Model No. 1 and Model No. 2 revolvers were chambered in comparatively weak rimfire calibers. This changed in 1869 with the introduction of the hefty Smith & Wesson No. 3 Model.

The Smith & Wesson Model 3, later renamed "The American," was designed around the potent .44 Smith & Wesson centerfire round. The "First Model Russian" revolver would follow two years later, modified to chamber the stronger .44 Smith & Wesson Russian cartridge. Both the Smith & Wesson American and Russian models were widely carried Wild West arms and were toted by some of the most prominent figures of the frontier era.

Colt New Line Revolver

After Rollin White’s patent expired in December 1869, gun makers developed a plethora of affordable pocket revolvers that would go on to supplant the pepperbox. The numerous options available ranged from cheap pocket revolvers to quality platforms like the Colt New Line series. Offered in five rimfire calibers ranging from .22 to .41, the Colt New Line single action revolvers represented one of the safest and most reliable concealed carry Wild West guns.

Sharps Model 1874

Approximately 160,000 Sharps rifles and carbines were produced between 1849 and 1881. A government survey in 1887 cited the Sharps as the gun platform responsible for shooting the most bison over the previous two decades, making the Sharps one of the most pivotal Old West guns of its age. The most famous Sharps designed for big bore cartridges was the Model 1874, which was actually released in 1871.

Springfield Trapdoor

After the Civil War Springfield Master Armorer Erskine S. Allin pioneered a process to convert hundreds of thousands of surplus Civil War muzzleloaders into breechloaders. The Springfield Trapdoor provided soldiers and frontiersmen ample range, accuracy, and a firing rate of up to 15 rounds per minute, all qualities that made the sturdy weapon one of the most popular guns of the Wild West.

This historic trapdoor carbine featured below is documented as issued to Troop C of the U.S. 7th Cavalry during the Indian Wars. Captain Henry Jackson of the 7th Cavalry turned this carbine in as unserviceable in 1877, was on detached service in Washington, D.C., at the time of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and commanded Troop C for over 14 years following Little Bighorn, including at Wounded Knee.

Winchester Model 1873

Winchester refined its lever gun further with the Model 1873, one of the most recognizable Wild West guns ever made. Winchester’s first centerfire lever action rifle, the steel-framed Model 73 was more rugged and powerful than its predecessors, qualities that helped the weapon achieve immense popularity and eventually earn the title "gun that won the West."

Colt Single Action Army

If any other firearm can share the crown with Winchester as the gun that won the West, it’s the Colt Single Action Army. No collection of Wild West guns should be lacking an example of the famous Peacemaker. Released in 1873, the first Colt SAA revolvers were offered in a blue and casehardened finish, a 7 1/2 inch barrel length, and were primarily intended for cavalry. ‌

After 1880, shorter Colt SAA factory barrel length options became more widely available, including the famous 5 1/2 inch Artillery Model and 4 3/4 inch Sheriff's Model. These variants were quickly embraced by lawmen, bankers, shopkeepers, gamblers, and desperados looking for a reliable cartridge wheelgun that was easy to draw and carry. From frontier mainstays to Hollywood favorites, the Colt SAA Artillery Model was and still is the classic revolver of the Wild West.

Remington Model 1875

E. Remington & Sons were late to the cartridge revolver scene compared to their Colt and Smith & Wesson competitors, but their "New Model 1875" was offered at a more attractive price point. While this wasn’t enough to garner substantial military sales for this distinctive Wild West gun, the Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army offered a powerful six shooter with a sturdy grip and a quality finish. The revolver saw its share of use on the frontier, including in the hands of the notorious Frank James.

Smith & Wesson Schofield Revolver

George W. Schofield, a veteran of the Civil War, designed an improvement to the Smith & Model 3 revolver intended for military use. Modifications included a square butt frame with no knuckle on the backstrap, the barrel latch mounted on the frame, and a .45 caliber chambering, the .45 Schofield round.

Most of the first 3,000 Schofield revolvers were purchased by the U.S. Government in 1875, and the bulk of the 5,000 Second Model Schofield revolvers manufactured from 1876 to 1877 went to the American cavalry, state militias, Wells Fargo security agents, and police departments like the examples below.

Winchester Model 1876

Winchester offered a sized-up version of the Model 73 in the form of the Winchester 1876 "Centennial Model." One of the more popular Wild West guns among scouts, trappers, and big game hunters, the massive Winchester was designed to chamber cartridges like the .45-77 WCF, .50-95 Express, .45-60 WCF, and .40-60 WCF.

The Model 1876 is known to have been a favorite of America's "cowboy in chief", Theodore Roosevelt, during his time spent in Dakota Territory, prior to being elected president. In 'Hunting Trips of a Ranchman," Roosevelt claimed that he used his "centennial" rifle almost exclusively and that it was "the best gun for any kind of game to be found in the United States, for it is deadly, accurate, and handy as any, stands very rough usage, and is unapproachable for the rapidity of its fire and the facility with which it is loaded.”

Colt Frontier Six Shooter

Though the SAA was designed for Colt’s .45 caliber cartridge, it wasn’t long before new chamberings were offered. Among the most popular alternative to .45 Colt was the "Frontier Six Shooter" model in .44-40 WCF, the same chambering as the Winchester 1873 rifle. Being able to carry a single cartridge for both revolver and lever gun was a welcome advantage in the Wild West, and the Colt Frontier Six Shooter became a common pairing with Winchester's famous lever action as a result.

Colt Model 1877

Though double action revolvers had been on the market for decades in Europe, Colt’s first foray into the genre wasn’t until 1877. Embellished with names like “Lightning,” “Thunderer,” and “Rainmaker,” Colt's Model 1877 was offered in numerous variants and custom barrel lengths. The Lightning proved an especially popular choice in the Wild West, as it offered swiftness, power, and maneuverability, while surviving examples of the less common rainmaker have become especially valued among today's collectors.

Merwin Hulbert‌

While not as well-known as other Old West revolvers, the Merwin Hulbert revolver line offered some of the finest and most innovative firearms of the era. Defining features of the Merwin Hulbert revolver series included a twist-open barrel design and unique extraction system, more affordable nickel-plating compared to its competitors, and a beak-shaped “skull crusher” butt on select models that served as an efficient backup weapon.

Double Barrel Hammer Shotgun

No list of prominent Wild West guns would be complete without the double-barreled hammer shotgun. The trusty side-by-side offered a versatile and comparatively affordable option for hunting and self-defense, and the platform was a favored choice for protecting trains, stagecoaches, and freight wagons from bandits and other hostile forces stalking the remote regions of the Western frontier.

Winchester Model 1885

In 1879, John Moses Browning filed his first gun patent for the Browning Single Shot rifle. Four years later, Browning sold the design to Winchester, where it became the Winchester Model 1885.

The Model 1885 was first offered in the High Wall variant, chambered for large rifle cartridges. The Model 1885 Low Wall soon followed, a long gun designed for pistol calibers. Both falling-block variants saw success on the frontier, with famed hunter and writer Ned H. Roberts calling the Model 1885 "the most reliable, strongest, and altogether best single shot rifle ever produced."

Marlin Rifle

Winchester’s success in the lever action market attracted several competitors, with Marlin Firearms becoming the most prominent. Founder John Marlin registered patents in 1881 for the first lever action rifle strong enough to handle .45-70 Government.  Though the Model 1881 never achieved the reach of Winchester, the robust lever gun earned a loyal following among hunters and frontiersmen and saw its share of action in the final decades of the Wild West.

Winchester Model 1886

In late 1884, John Browning demonstrated a prototype design for a big bore lever gun to Winchester, who enthusiastically purchased the patent. Like it's Marlin competitor, the gun could chamber cartridges like .45-70 Govt, the Old West's most popular and prolific big game round.

"The New Winchester Model of 1886" would be marketed as Winchester's "Bear Gun" or "Buffalo Gun" in news reports and advertisements of the era. In 'Adventures with Indians and Game: Twenty Years in the Rocky Mountains,' author William A. Allen recounts his experiences hunting grizzly, elk, bighorn, and other frontier game with his Winchester 1886 and holding his own alongside his companions and their big bore single shot rifles.

Winchester Model 1887 Shotgun

The double barreled scattergun dominated the Wild West, but new designs would soon offer shotgunners even more firepower. Developed by John Moses Browning, the Winchester Model 1887 lever action shotgun became the genre’s first successful repeater.

Available in 10 gauge and 12 gauge, Winchester’s powerhouse platform could hold 5 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. The gun attracted interest from a number of railroads and security agencies who issued Winchester’s new weapon to guard their precious treasure.

Wild West Guns for Sale

From rolling prairies to smoke-filled saloons, Wild West guns served as tools of survival in the remote reaches of an expanding frontier. Wielded by sheriffs and outlaws, natives and hunters, preachers and pioneers, firearms from the American West all have stories to tell and legacies to share, and owning a real frontier firearm can connect us to this legendary period in American history.

In addition to the extensive number of Wild West guns covered here, other models that saw notable action out west include an array of cartridge converted black powder revolvers, surplus Civil War muzzleloading rifles and breech loading carbines, single shot cartridge rifles like the Marlin-Ballard and Peabody, and lever action long guns like the Evans, Burgess, and Whitney Kennedy repeaters. Whether you’re an arms collector, a cowboy shooter, or simply a fan of the Western genre, some of the finest Wild West guns can be found for sale at Rock Island Auction Company.

Sign up for the Rock Island Auction Company's weekly newsletter for new gun videos and gun blogs that cover the full gamut of Wild West guns. From the Hawken rifle to the Gatling gun, from some of the more elusive models from the big name manufacturers like the Colt Cloverleaf pistol, the Colt Lightning rifle, and the S&W Model 320 revolving rifle to fascinating oddities like the palm pistol, the cane gun, the harmonica gun, the LeMat revolver, and more, we explore every corner of 19th century arms development.