Les armes de John Wesley Hardin

"I never killed anyone who didn't need killing."
JW Hardin



This five-inch barreled, nickeled and engraved, pearl-handled .41 Colt “Thunderer” was taken from Hardin in May 1895 by Deputy Sheriff Will Ten Eyck for “unlawfully carrying a pistol” in the Gem Saloon in El Paso, Texas. It was never returned to him, and Ten Eyck later repaired the cracked grip.


Displayed with assorted John Wesley Hardin memorabilia—including playing cards that Hardin shot and signed, original photos, a business card, gambling paraphernalia and a pocket watch presented to him by his cousin by marriage, “Killin’” Jim Miller—are two of Hardin’s personal weapons—(top) his five-inch, engraved and pearl-gripped .41 Colt “Thunderer,” taken in an arrest, and the 2 ½-inch, pearl-stocked, ejectorless .38 Colt “Lightning” Miller gave Hardin. Both were sold at auction in 1996.
– Courtesy Bonhams & Butterfield –


his image by R.J. Onderdonk appeared in Hardin’s autobiography and depicts the gunfighter’s charge






Although Hardin was an expert pistoleer who used handguns for close range work, he knew the value of a scattergun. This 12-gauge, percussion W.&C. Scott & Son English shotgun was owned and used by Hardin to kill Jack Helm, the sheriff of DeWitt County, Texas, and a deadly rival in the Sutton-Taylor feud, in July 1873. Hardin later gave the piece to Sheriff J.C. Jones of Gonzales County, Texas.
–Courtesy Buckhorn Saloon & Museum in San Antonio, Texas –



This illustration, by noted artist R.J. Onderdonk, was created for John Wesley Hardin’s autobiography. It shows Hardin and his accomplice, Jim Taylor, gunning down Sheriff Jack Helm. Hardin used a 12-gauge caplock shotgun to broadside Helm; then Taylor fired several shots into Helms’s head with his six-gun.



Phil Spangenberger believes that Hardin used his .41 caliber Double Action 1877 Colts to shoot holes through faro cards during shooting exhibitions.
– Replication of playing card



This well-used 1851 Navy Colt and accompanying cut-down military holster came with a handwritten letter from Hardin’s cousin Joe Clements. Joe wrote to his daughter, Amanda, that Hardin gave him the .36 caliber six-gun after Joe had broken up a fight in Gonzales, Texas.
–Courtesy Ryan McNellis, El Paso Saddlery Collection –



This mirror was hanging in El Paso’s Acme Saloon the night of August 19, 1895, when Constable John Selman killed John Wesley Hardin. Hardin was reportedly facing the mirror, rolling dice for drinks. His last words were “You have four sixes to beat.” The bullet that went through Hardin’s head supposedly bounced off of this mirror and was recovered.
– Courtesy Phil Spangenberger Collection –



A deadly duo of six-guns! At top is the Smith & Wesson .44-40 Frontier Double Action revolver taken from Hardin’s body (next slide) after he was shot by Constable John Selman (inset). Selman used the 1873 Colt Single Action .45 (above) to end the life of one of the West’s most notorious and dangerous shootists.

Le personnage au centre de la photo serait John wesley Hardin

Digtal Portrait of John Wesley Hardin by Cain and Todd Benson.