Acoach gunis a modern term, coined by gun collectors, for adouble-barreled shotgun,generally with barrels from 18 to 24 inches (460 to 610 mm) in length, placed side-by-side. These weapons were known as "cut-down shotguns" or "messenger's guns" from the use of suchshotgunsonstagecoachesbyshotgun messengersin the AmericanWild West.
| Coach gun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Shotgun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Various law enforcement agencies StagecoachCompanies |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1858[1] |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| Produced | 1858–present |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 39 in. (991mm) |
| Barrellength | 18 in. (457mm) |
| Caliber | 10 and12-gauge |
| Action | Break-action |
| Sights | Bead |
Origins
editThe terms "cut-down shotgun" or "messenger's gun" were coined in the 1860s whenWells Fargo & Co.assigned shotgun messengers to guard its shipments onstagecoachesinCalifornia.The company issued shotguns to its guards for defense.[2]The guard was called ashotgun messengeralthough the phraseriding shotgunwas not coined until 1919.[3]Shotgun messengers guarded express shipments, not stagecoaches.
There was no single manufacturer for the traditional messenger's gun, as it was a generic term describing a class of shotguns offered in a variety of barrel lengths from 18 to 24 inches (460 to 610 mm) (versus 28 to 36 inches (710 to 910 mm) forbird hunting guns), either by the factory or from owners and gunsmiths cutting down the barrels.[4]
Early manufacturers
editThese shotguns featured external hammers and were manufactured primarily byRemington Arms,Ithaca,Colt's Manufacturing Company,Parker, L.C. Smith, and several Belgian makers. Contrary to myth, Wells Fargo shotguns were not purchased by local agents; prior to 1900 they were purchased from San Francisco gun dealers because Wells Fargo's headquarters were located in San Francisco. From 1908 to 1918 all Wells Fargo shotguns were made by Ithaca.[4][5]
Use in the Old West
editAccording to one account,Doc Hollidayused a 10 gauge Wm. Moore & Co.[6]coach gun to shootTom McLaurypoint-blank in the chest with buckshot during theGunfight at the OK Corralin Tombstone, Arizona, on Wednesday, October 26, 1881.[7]They stood in such close proximity that the town mortician was able to cover McLaury's wound with one hand.[8]Wyatt Earpalso used both barrels of a10 gaugecoach gun to killFrank Stilwellat a Tucson, Arizona rail yard and to kill"Curly" Bill Brociuspoint-blank the next year during theshootout at Iron Springs.[9]However, according to another account, both men usedGreeners.[10]
Modern makers
editModern coach guns are manufactured by ER Amantino (sold asStoeger) (Brazil),IZH/Baikal(Russia) (which is now being distributed by Remington under the name Spartan Gunworks), Huglu Armsco (Turkey), Khan (Turkey), Diamond (Turkey), and a variety of Chinese companies for US distribution throughCentury International ArmsandInterstate Armscorp.[11]
Current usage
editModern coach guns are commonly encountered inCowboy Action Shootingcompetitions, among collections ofWesternguns, as home-defense weapons, and even as "scrub guns" forhuntinggrouse,woodcock,rabbit,hare,and/orwild pigin scrub, bush or marshlands, where the 24 "+ barrels of a traditionalshotgunwould prove unwieldy.[2][5]The modern coach gun can be had in a variety of configurations suitable for both Cowboy Action Shooting competition and hunting.[12][13]
Coach guns are similar tosawn-off shotgunsbut differ in that coach guns manufactured after 1898 are offered as new with 18 "barrels and 26" overall length and meet legal requirements for civilian possession in the United States. Australia and New Zealand have slightly different laws for length, with NZ requiring a minimum overall length of 30 "(anything shorter is considered a pistol) with no minimum barrel length and Australia requiring an 18" barrel and a 30 "overall length. In the United Kingdom, however, shotguns must have a minimum barrel length of 24" to be eligible for ownership on aShotgun Certificate,and shotguns with barrels under this length (which includes Coach guns) must be obtained on the more stringentFirearms Certificate.Some modern coach guns feature internal hammers as opposed to the traditional external hammers.[5]
Legacy
editIt is because of this gun and its usage that the term "riding shotgun"came to be. Typically, a cut-down shotgun would be carried by the messenger sitting next to thestagecoachdriver, ready to use the gun to ward off bandits. Today, in American and Canadian English, the term "riding shotgun" refers to the person sitting in the front passenger seat of an automobile.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Revival of the coach gun. Popular Mechanics. (2022, March 12). Retrieved April 18, 2022, fromhttps://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gear/reviews/a206/1277346/
- ^abJones, Spencer (2004-06-01)."Revival Of The Coach Gun".Popular Mechanics. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-30.Retrieved2007-03-18.
- ^Martin, Gary."Riding shotgun".Retrieved19 April2013.
- ^abWilson, RL (1992).The Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West.New York: NAL. pp. 121, 197, 244.ISBN978-0-7858-1892-2.
- ^abcGardner, Jim (2003-01-01)."Just like grandpas EAA hammer double: a darn good traditional hammer-gun fit for all manner of uses".Guns Magazine.Retrieved2007-03-18.
- ^Joseph G. Rosa (1995).Age of the Gunfighter: Men and Weapons on the Frontier, 1840-1900.University of Oklahoma Press. p. 181.ISBN0806127619.
- ^Douglas Linder (2005)."Testimony of Virgil Earp in the Preliminary Hearing in the Earp Case".Famous Trials: The O. K. Corral Trial.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-02-03.Retrieved2011-02-06.
- ^Douglas Linder (November 30, 1881)."Decision of Judge Wells Spicer after the Preliminary Hearing in the Earp-Holliday Case".Famous Trials: The O. K. Corral Trial.Archived fromthe originalon 2005-12-11.RetrievedFebruary 11,2011.
- ^Shillingberg, William B. (Summer 1976)."Wyatt Earp and the Buntline Special Myth".Kansas Historical Quarterly.42(2):113–154. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-02-01.
- ^Graham Greener (2000).The Greener Story: The history of the Greener gunmakers and their guns.Quiller Press, Ltd., London. p. 30.ISBN1-57157-215-5.
- ^Jones, Spencer (2004-06-01)."Revival Of The Coach Gun".Popular Mechanics. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-11-22.Retrieved2007-03-18.
- ^Taffin, John (2001-01-01)."Long Guns Of Cowboy Action Shooting".Guns Magazine Annual.Retrieved2007-03-18.
- ^Kohn, Abigail (2001-05-01)."Their aim is true: Taking stock of America's gun culture".Reason Foundation.Retrieved2007-03-18.
Further reading
edit- Boessenecker, John(2012).When Law Was in the Holster: The Frontier Life of Bob Paul.University of Oklahoma Press.ISBN978-0806142852.