John Ringgold aka Johnny Ringo's famous Colt SAA Revolver S/N 222

[Miguel Loco]

LOL.....it's Hollywood. The truth is an after thought. Doc never used a holster when in Tombstone and Wyatt never carried a Buntline either. Ringo was no "gunfighter" as we know them from Hollywood. There were few (if any) "quick draw" type shoot outs at all. You shot gunned them on a dark street or shot them through a pool hall window. So pistol barrel length would not be that big of issue for any of them, except BP seems to prefer a longer barrel.

[Hawg]

There are lots of tree in close proximity...just pick one. Not sure it actually still survives but the trees here are very old...so I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of them.

I'm wondering if the stone pillar is supposed to be where the tree stood. The Tombstone Epitaph ran a story on July 22nd 1882 that said he was sitting on a large stone and was leaning against a tree.  https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95060906/1882-07-22/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1880&index=0&rows=20&words=JOHN+John+RINGO+Ringo&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=Arizona&date2=1900&proxtext=John+Ringo&y=12&x=4&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1  It goes on to say what he was wearing, describing the wound etc. It's a good read.

[Bishop Creek]

LOL.....it's Hollywood. The truth is an after thought. Doc never used a holster when in Tombstone and Wyatt never carried a Buntline either. Ringo was no "gunfighter" as we know them from Hollywood. There were few (if any) "quick draw" type shoot outs at all. You shot gunned them on a dark street or shot them through a pool hall window. So pistol barrel length would not be that big of issue for any of them, except BP seems to prefer a longer barrel.

How true, among the very few real fast draw shootists were Bill Hickok and John Wesley Hardin, with Hardin the leader by far. Even their gunfights were few and far between. Some historians believe that Holiday was carrying a Colt 1851 Richards conversion and that Wyatt had a Smith & Wesson American in his coat pocket at the OK Corral shootout.

[Miguel Loco]

Doc would have has his Lightning if he was carrying a pistol...and yes Wyatt liked the Model 3 Smith. I'm not sure if a Model 3 would fit in a coat pocket though....I've never tried. I know my Schofield is too big for even my period coat pockets.

But you have to remember, Tombstone was quite metropolitan....and firearms were not allowed to be carried in the city limits. Only the local constabulary carried guns.....usually.

[Miguel Loco]

There are lots of tree in close proximity...just pick one. Not sure it actually still survives but the trees here are very old...so I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of them.

I'm wondering if the stone pillar is supposed to be where the tree stood. The Tombstone Epitaph ran a story on July 22nd 1882 that said he was sitting on a large stone and was leaning against a tree.  https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95060906/1882-07-22/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1880&index=0&rows=20&words=JOHN+John+RINGO+Ringo&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=Arizona&date2=1900&proxtext=John+Ringo&y=12&x=4&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1  It goes on to say what he was wearing, describing the wound etc. It's a good read.

That's probably the best description we have to go on. If there was another party involved it may explain a few things. If one of Ringo's enemies ran into him out there, they could have forced him off his horse, made him remove his boots to make it more difficult to run away....walked him to that tree....put the gun in Ringo's hand and pulled the trigger....then set the stage (so to speak) for a suicide.

[Miguel Loco]

Jeezzz.....I guess I've given away the fact that this is where my interests lie. Lol

[Hawg]

Jeezzz.....I guess I've given away the fact that this is where my interests lie. Lol

It used to be one of mine but as with most historical mysteries there's more questions than answers.

[Marshal Will]

Jeezzz.....I guess I've given away the fact that this is where my interests lie. Lol

You're living in the right place, then. I find the history of the old West most fascinating.

[Zulch]

Doc would have has his Lightning if he was carrying a pistol...and yes Wyatt liked the Model 3 Smith. I'm not sure if a Model 3 would fit in a coat pocket though....I've never tried. I know my Schofield is too big for even my period coat pockets.

But you have to remember, Tombstone was quite metropolitan....and firearms were not allowed to be carried in the city limits. Only the local constabulary carried guns.....usually.

Schofield huh? Wow. I'm jealous Mick. The Schofield will be my next purchase. Someday.

[45 Dragoon]

Hmmmm .  .   .  seems  a 45C would be hard to hold onto after shooting ones self in the head. I think I remember learning that hand guns are usually not in the hands of suicide victims.

aside from that,  everybody knows it was Doc with a shot to the forehead!!!  Didn't y'all see the movie?!!!   


Interesting nonetheless!

Mike

[Zulch]

Yeah, that is interesting Mike.  I also read in some article that he had a "firm grip" on it when pulled from his hand?? 

[Captainkirk]

Great addition to this topic, Tim! And Mick, you go on as long as you like! I'm learning a whole bunch on this one, things I didn't know. 

[Hawg]

Yeah, that is interesting Mike.  I also read in some article that he had a "firm grip" on it when pulled from his hand?? 

That would actually make sense. Rigor mortis would have had time to set in before they found him. It might have been exceedingly difficult to remove it.

[Zulch]

Yeah, that is interesting Mike.  I also read in some article that he had a "firm grip" on it when pulled from his hand?? 

That would actually make sense. Rigor mortis would have had time to set in before they found him. It might have been exceedingly difficult to remove it.

Hawg, That's most likely true, I never even considered that.

[Hawg]

Now y'all have gone and piqued my interest again. I've been doing some online reading to try and refresh my memory. I have/had some books on the subject but if I still have them they're still at the old house. I don't know if I had Traywick's book or not. While it is possible Wyatt killed him I don't think he did. Doc was in court in Colorado so he couldn't have killed him. In my mind if anybody killed him it would have been Buckskin Frank Leslie. Frank killed Billy Claiborne and as he lay dying Billy said he saw Frank kill Ringo. Later on while he was in prison he supposedly told a guard he killed Ringo. I still think it was suicide.