The
Cowboy Code or
Code of the Old West
Here
in The Last Best West we believe in the Cowboy
Code. . .and not the one Tom
Mix and his movie studio used to win over young
fans to his early western movies. . .the sentiment was
right but the code was hokey.
|
The
Code of the West was an intangible
thing born out of necessity
for survival, and is more
of an observation on how people
acted, then anything else.
. .in essence this was the
Code of the West: A true
Cowboy always helps his neighbor,
feeds a stranger and his horse,
and maintains his free and
in dependant spirit. In the
Old West you never asked a
stranger his name or where
he came from. It was considered
a slight to call another man
by his last name - and often
last names weren't even known.
A cowboy's loyalty to his
ranch, his friends, and his
abilities as a rider and a
cow hand were all that mattered.
·
Cowboys say little and complain even
less.
· To a Cowboy all women are ladies
and all ladies are respected.
· Never touch a Cowboy's hat
or try to pat his dog.
· A Cowboy never puts his hat
on a bed - it's bad luck. (Why?)
· When a Cowboy has his hat on
straight or tilted down it means he's
expectin' trouble, and when it's tipped
back, he's friendly and affable. When
his hat's off a Cowboy's eatin'. Cowboy
Hat Etiquette |
Cowboy
Hat History
· In the Old West if you wanted
to pick a fight - just tip yer hat to
a man.
· Cowboys always tip their hats
to the ladies.
- Thanks Nigel from Manchester
· Cowboy's always feed their
horses 'fore themselves.
- Thanks Michael from Calgary
· Cowboy's talk low, talk slow,
and don't say too much.
- Thanks Charlene from El Paso
· Cowboys take off their spurs
before sitting on fine furniture.
- Thanks Tom from Galveston
· Real Cowboys never squat with
their spurs on.
- Thanks Lawrence in Calgary.
· A cowboy is known for his hat.
Real Cowboys wear a
Last Best Cowboy Hat
- Thanks Brad in South Dakota.
· Real Cowboys eat Alberta Beef
- Thanks Aileen
from Longview
· With a real cowboy the bull
dung's on the outside.
- Thanks Wray from Seebe
· A cowboy needs a good boot
- Real Cowboys wear Alberta Boots.
- Thanks Wasey from Peace River
· A real cowboy would never let
a 5 buck meal ruin a 100 dollar drunk!
- Thanks Little
Duke
|
Longfellow
{wearing the Johnny
Ringo} and Sonja at the World Premier of The Assassination
of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Sept 20
2007 in Calgary. |
|
Dodge
City Peace Commission photo of 1876
Seated Left to right: Charley Bassett,
Wyatt Earp, Frank McLain, Neal Brown.
Back Row from Left: Longfellow
(recruited in 2007 and standing in for W. H. Smith), Luke
Short, Bat Masterson, and W. F. Petillon.
Want your picture blended in an archival old west photo?
More at our custom
wanted poster page - here.
|
|
Bat
Masterson
was one of the most feared and respected "Shootist's"
of the Old West. He employed a cross-draw pull,
and his skill with a hand gun was such that everyone
kept theirs holstered with Masterson around. Own
a classic custom holster inspired by Bat's simple
- yet elegant rig.
Shown in black cow hide, with heavy, plain black
belt. In the holster is a 45 Cal. Colt Peacemaker,
with 4" barrel - nickel plated. We will custom
make to accommodate the make, model, and calibre
of your firearm. Side arm is very secure when
pushed down in the holster and comes with a hammer
tie-down. Click
for our Custom Leather Page |
|
Custom
Cowboy Hats from The Last Best West
In today's world of depleting
Ozone and the rise of melanoma and skin cancer
- everyone needs a good hat to shield their
face and neck from the harmful effects of
the sun. What could be more timeless and useful
than a fine fur-felt Cowboy Hat? It will keep
your face and neck in constant shade - regardless
of the position of the sun, and your eyes
and lips will say thankee-thankee. It'll be
your friend for life and will age just as
gracefully as you!
We'll
give you what you want.
Made
to your Specifications. If you don't see what
you want - send us a picture - and we'll make
our version of that hat.
Traditional
Cowboy Hats - Authentic Designs
Longfellow
researched the designs based on historical photos
and original mail order catalogues from the
late 1800's and the early decades of the 20th
Century. Of particular help was the Smithsonian
Website, the Library, and the archives of the
Glenbow Museum in Calgary. And of course those
great Hollywood Westerns.
|
|
Cowboy
Hat Experts ::
Western
Movie Hats
:: Old West
Hats ::
Masters of Rodeo ::
Cowboy
Hat Facts |
|
Cowboy
Hat Traditions
In
the old west it was said the shape of
the crown of your hat indicated your political
views. If you wore a a flat top crown
(Boss of the Plains, Top Hats, and Derby's)
you favored conservative (republican),
law-and-order, or Monarchist views.
If
you wore a rounded crown (Bowlers, and
most cowboy hats) you favoured democracy
(Liberal/Democrat), individual freedoms,
and the such. Trust the newspapers to
make wearing a hat a political statement.
. . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Frame
is not included. Used for illustration purposes
only
|
Back
in May, 2006 we were rounded up to work on a re-enactment
of the moment when Jack McCall walked into Tom Nuttal's
#10 Saloon on Aug 2 1876, in Deadwood, Dakota Territory,
and murdered Wild Bill Hickok.
This
painting by Canadian artist Ken Dewar, was the end
result of the afternoon of filming in Heritage Park,
an authentic 19th century town, in Calgary. 130
years to the day that McCall did his cowardly deed
the painting was unveiled in front of City Hall
in Deadwood, South Dakota, on August 2, 2006.
The
Limited Edition Prints sell for 500 dollars and
up.
Own an 11" x 17" poster for 37.40 USD.
Shipping
is 7 dollars. TOTAL $44.50 ::
Order
Now ::
Check-Out
|
|
|
| |
|
Best
Cowboy Poster |
Old
West Posters |
Legends
of the West |
Old
West Badges |
|
/202_jesse_james_300.jpg) |
|
|
|
| |
|
/180_city_country_344.jpg)
