Buzz
The Old West gave rise to some of the most vivid characters in American folklore, from rugged cowboys and lawmen to notorious outlaws. Both heroes and villains came from this era, solidifying their places in history as larger-than-life figures. After the Civil War, the western territories saw a boom in cattle ranching, drawing a crowd of horsemen and bank robbers who took justice into their own hands.
While many of these figures are celebrated as heroes, it's important to remember they were all killers. In the Old West, becoming a legend required skill with a gun. Whether you were a lawman or an outlaw, survival was all that mattered. The victor lived, the defeated met their end. With that in mind, here’s a countdown of the deadliest cowboys to ever roam the western frontier.
10. King Fisher
John 'King' Fisher was born in October 1853, near Dallas, Texas. His first arrest came at the age of eighteen for stealing a horse, a crime that earned him a two-year prison sentence. Upon his release, Fisher worked as a cowboy, breaking horses. The increasing frequency of raids, thefts, and violence from bandits targeting Texas ranches led him to join posses. He quickly earned a reputation for his fast gun skills.
In 1878, Fisher became involved in a heated confrontation with four Mexican cowboys. The story goes that he struck the closest one with a branding iron. When one of the others drew a pistol, Fisher quickly responded, drawing his own weapon and shooting the man dead. He then turned around and shot the remaining two, who, it seemed, had not drawn their guns and were simply watching the altercation from the fence.
In March 1884, a dispute arose while Fisher was out with a friend. This led to a violent gunfight, in which both Fisher and his companion Thompson suffered fatal wounds. At least two others were wounded, some seriously. Fisher and Thompson died on the spot, and Fisher openly admitted to having killed 37 men.
9. Bass Reeves
Bass Reeves was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1848. His owner moved to Texas while Reeves was still a young boy. The details of his activities during the Civil War remain unclear, though one theory suggests he attacked his owner and fled. Regardless, he became one of the first African-American U.S. Marshals after the Civil War and one of the most formidable gunslingers in the West.
Though Bass Reeves was a man of integrity who fought for justice, his pursuit of lawbreakers was relentless. Over his career, he is said to have killed 14 outlaws and captured more than 3,000, including his own son. After retiring in 1907, he became a police officer in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Many believe Reeves was the inspiration for the legendary figure 'The Lone Ranger,' leading to the creation of a TV series based on his adventures.
8. Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James, one of the most notorious outlaws in the history of the American Old West, led a gang of criminals in the mid-1800s. Born in September 1847 in western Missouri, he and his brother, Frank James, fought for the pro-Confederate cause as part of a guerrilla group called the 'bushwhackers' during the Civil War. Under the leadership of William Quantrill and 'Bloody Bill' Anderson, the brothers were accused of committing heinous acts against Union soldiers and anti-slavery civilians, including the infamous Centralia Massacre of 1864.
After the war ended, Jesse and Frank James allied with the Younger family, creating the notorious James-Younger Gang. Throughout his violent life, Jesse is said to have killed at least 17 men, though some sources claim the number is far higher. Eventually, Jesse was betrayed by a fellow gang member and met his end when he was shot in the back of the head while adjusting a picture on his wall.
7. Tom Horn
Born in 1860, Thomas Horn Jr. was a highly skilled gunslinger and a controversial lawman of the American Old West. His reputation grew after his involvement in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, where he worked as a hired gun for the cattleman John Chisum. Known for his sharpshooting and fearless nature, Horn earned the nickname 'Tommy' as a feared adversary. His career as a Pinkerton detective later cemented his status in Western history. Tom Horn became notorious for his unconventional methods and his willingness to bend or break the law to achieve his goals, making him both admired and condemned by his contemporaries.
Yet, it was Tom Horn's controversial conviction and execution for the murder of 14-year-old Willie Nickell that solidified his place in Wild West legend. Many believe that Horn was wrongly accused, pointing to the lack of solid evidence and the possibility that he was framed due to his role as an adversary to powerful cattle and mining interests. To this day, the story of Tom Horn remains clouded in mystery and debate, illustrating the complicated and often harsh realities of frontier life.
6. James 'Killin' Jim' Miller
Known as 'Killin’ Jim', James Miller was a notorious outlaw and gunfighter who allegedly killed 12 people in various shootouts. Born in Van Buren, Arkansas, in October 1861, he grew up in Texas. At 19, he was living with his widowed mother, siblings, and brother-in-law. On July 30, 1884, after a heated argument, Miller shot and killed his brother-in-law. A legal loophole allowed him to avoid a life sentence for the crime. His next victim was lawman Joe Townsend.
Following his travels, 'Killin' Jim' became a saloon owner and a lawman in Pecos. Eventually, he joined the Texas Rangers but later became a hired killer. In 1909, he was contracted for an assassination job, leaving behind witnesses. He was arrested shortly thereafter. Fearing another acquittal, the locals formed a mob, breaking into the jail early on April 19, 1909, to hang Miller and his three accomplices.
As his fellow prisoners begged for mercy, Miller made two final requests: that his diamond ring be returned to his wife and that he be allowed to wear his black hat during the hanging. Both requests were granted. Miller reportedly shouted, 'Let 'er rip!' before leaping off the box, embracing his fate.
5. Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp, one of the most iconic figures in American history, has inspired countless films and has been portrayed by numerous Hollywood stars. Born on March 19, 1848, Earp lived until January 1929. Known as both a lawman and a gambler, he worked in places like Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp is most famous for his involvement in the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral, where he and his fellow lawmen killed three notorious Cochise County cowboys.
Though Wyatt Earp is often portrayed as the central figure in the shootout, his brother Virgil Earp played a key role as Deputy U.S. Marshal and Tombstone City Marshal. Virgil had far more experience in law enforcement, having served as a sheriff, constable, and marshal. While Wyatt is remembered as a hero, he was responsible for the deaths of between eight and thirty men during his career as a lawman. Earp passed away in Hollywood at the age of 80, after battling prostate cancer (though the exact cause of his death remains uncertain), with his common-law wife by his side.
4. 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Born James Hickok on May 27, 1837, in Homer, Illinois, 'Wild Bill' Hickok became a legendary figure in American folklore. He appeared in a wide range of films, TV shows, novels, and comics. Known for his time on the frontier as a soldier, scout, lawman, cattle rustler, gunslinger, gambler, showman, and actor, Hickok was involved in numerous iconic gunfights. Throughout his life, he held a variety of roles, starting as an outlaw and ultimately ending his career as a sheriff.
Hickok is credited with taking the lives of over 100 men in various gunfights throughout his life. One of his most renowned duels occurred with Davis Tutt, where Hickok managed to shoot Tutt from a distance of 75 yards—an impressive feat by any measure. However, in the summer of 1876, while playing a game of five-card stud, Jack McCall shot Hickok in the back of the head. At the time of his death, Hickok held two pairs: black aces and black eights. This particular hand has since become known as the 'dead man’s hand.'
3. Annie Oakley
Born in August 1860 in Greenville, Ohio, Annie Oakley may not have been a killer, but she was undoubtedly one of the most skilled gunslingers of the 19th century. At the age of eight, she made her first kill when she shot a squirrel from her front porch. Unlike many of the other notorious figures of the Old West, Oakley used her shooting talents to provide for her family, hunting game and even using the proceeds from the animals she sold to help pay off the mortgage on their home.
At just fifteen years old, Annie Oakley defeated the nationally renowned sharpshooter Frank Butler. Despite their age difference, the two married the following year and remained together until their deaths, which occurred just three weeks apart. After witnessing one of Oakley's performances, Chief Sitting Bull adopted her, bestowing her with the name 'Watanya Cicilla,' meaning 'Little Sure Shot.'
In the spring of 1898, as the possibility of war with Spain loomed, Annie Oakley boldly offered President McKinley a company of fifty female sharpshooters, stating, 'In case of such an event, I am ready to place a company of fifty lady sharpshooters at your disposal.' The outlaws of the Old West were fortunate she wasn’t a marshal, for Annie Oakley was one of the fastest and most accurate gunfighters of her era.
2. John Wesley Hardin
Born on May 26, 1853, in Texas, John Wesley Hardin was infamous as an outlaw, gunfighter, and folk hero. From an early age, he had trouble with the law. Regarded as one of the most skilled gunfighters in history, Hardin killed over 21 people in various duels and ambushes between 1868 and 1877. Raised in the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, he developed a strong hatred for African Americans and Yankees.
At just 15 years old, Hardin shot and killed his first man, an ex-slave, allegedly in self-defense. This marked the beginning of his life filled with violence, gambling, and drinking. Over the years, he gunned down at least eight Union soldiers and four Black policemen who were after him for murder charges. Eventually captured in Pensacola, Florida, Hardin was returned to Texas for trial, where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 1877. Pardoned in 1894, he relocated to Gonzales, but was shot in the back of the head the following year while standing on the Acme saloon’s porch by a former enemy.
1. William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid, perhaps the most infamous outlaw of the Old West, became a legend in New Mexico. However, his origins trace back to New York City, where he was born before his family journeyed west. Billy fell into a life of crime, joining several notorious gangs and becoming embroiled in the Lincoln County Cattle War. In December 1880, he was captured by Sheriff Pat Garrett, and in the following year, stood trial for murder in Mesilla, New Mexico. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang.
Billy the Kid managed to evade capture on April 28 after killing two deputies. He remained free until Garrett tracked him down and ambushed him, shooting him in the back. Although rumors suggested that Billy the Kid had killed 21 men, historians typically agree the actual number was closer to ten. The film Young Guns II explores the idea that Billy the Kid was actually Ollie L. “Brushy Bill” Roberts, who escaped from prison, lived in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, participated in Wild West shows, and passed away in 1950 in Hico, Texas.
