Outlaws of the Wild West Collectibles

What child of the last century had not heard of Roy Rogers and Trigger, Gene Autry and Champion, or Hopalong Cassidy and Topper. However these were the goodies. The ‘baddies’ were equally well known, if not more so, since these were real baddies and not made up for the movies. Again, what child has not heard of Billy the Kid and Jesse James, and it is strange that the real bad men of the west are regarded as heroes by us and our children.

Many of these famous people of the Old West were products of the Civil War, when former soldiers, or even ordinary residents of the Southern states, were uprooted and had to find some way of earning a living. Becoming an outlaw was often the easiest way to stay alive in these tough days. However, the famous outlaws gave rise to equally famous law enforcers; the marshals and sheriffs, such as Wyatt Earp and Matt Dillon.

Among the popular Wild West collectibles that many like to acquire to bring these days back to life are Wild West gun displays, showing replicas of the actual guns used by the various outlaws of the Wild West. You can get a wall plaque showing a replica of Jesse James’ or Billy the Kid’s gun, together with photographs of the outlaw himself, or wanted posters of the era. Also available are boxed sets with a replica of the gun Pat Garrett used to kill Billy the Kid, or the standard Texas Rangers issue revolver. Often these sets include items such as replica sheriff badges and other artifacts associated with the period.

Speaking of badges, these themselves are very popular, especially old sheriffs’ badges. The real things are museum pieces of courses, but there is a wide range of exact replicas, even to the antique finish. If you prefer, you can them as they would have looked new, when first presented to Wyatt Earp or Pat Garrett.

How about a spittoon for your home? Not for use of course, but it would be great for a Wild West themed room. Themed rooms are becoming very popular, as people try to outdo their friends and neighbors by presenting great settings for dinner parties. Many go for the Egyptian or Greek look, but a Wild West theme would be really great.

Spittoons at strategic locations on the floor, a few plaques displaying replicas of old outlaws' guns, sheriff’s badges and a few wanted posters. How about a reel steer skull on the wall, with the man of the house dressed in a fast draw holster and replica six-shooter. Your guests will be impressed, and it will feed the sentimental idealistic view that most still have of Old America and the ‘Wild and Wooly West.’

How about a set of Samuel Hart & Co. pharos cards for your bridge evening. These are typical of the cards used in the old saloons by the professional gamblers, and that caused so many shoot-outs through players being found with an ace up their sleeve for use at an opportune time. Doc Holliday was said to be a gambler as well as a dentist, and probably played with playing cards just like these.

Practically every aspect of the Old West can be provided for, either with genuine artifacts of the era, or with carefully fashioned replicas that exactly duplicate the real thing. Wild West collectibles are very popular the world over, and if you want a new hobby this could be it. The internet is full of sites offering a wide variety of collectibles, and some of the most popular are the outlaws of the Wild West collectibles, that regenerate the life and times of the famous outlaws and gunslingers that we all learned about as children.