John Wesley Hardin

John Wesley Hardin

The Terror of Texas

Poster of John Wesley Hardin

John Wesley Hardin Poster

John Wesley Hardin rode through Texas, leaving 24 dead men behind him.

So say some historians – and others said it was more. Hardin was so feared during his heyday that Texas mothers used to frighten unruly children with the threat, “Be careful – ‘case ole Wes Hardin gets ya!

But how tough was he? Hardin was violently unstable, and wisely most people stayed clear of this unbalanced son-of-a-buck. But no matter how tough you are – sooner or later you will meet up with someone tougher. And in the old west there was always a Sheriff/Marshal/Ranger tougher than the outlaws they chased.

In Hardin’s case there may have been two: Special Ranger Jeff Milton and US Marshal George Scarborough. It happened in 1895 in El Paso.

Wes had been out of jail for a about a year (after serving 17 years for killing Sheriff Webb) and was trying to establish himself as a lawyer – having studied the subject in prison. Soon he was strutting the streets with a married woman, Mrs. McRose.

At the time Mister McRose was holed up on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. Seems the Texas Law wanted to talk to him about some herds of steers disappearing. Months later the law finally caught up with McRose and the gang he rode with and they got shot up good – killing McRose.

Hardin was drinking hard at the time, and not happy with haveing the grieving widow all to himself, he had to start running his mouth. Wes told all that’d listen that’d he’d paid Ranger Milton and Marshal Scarborough to take care of Martin McRose. 

When Special Ranger Jeff Milton heard that, he went looking for Hardin, and found him in Con Ryan’s Parlor Saloon.

MILTON: Hardin, you’ve been telling people you paid me to kill McRose. You’re a god-damned liar!

HARDIN: You can talk to me like that when I’m not armed.

MILTON: You’re lying again…You’re always armed. And you can go for your gun right now or tell all these men here and out loud that you lied.

HARDIN: Gentlemen, when I said that about Captain Milton I lied.

Scarborough got a written apology.

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Texas Rangers badge

Texas Rangers Company D – Frontier Battalion

In the old west Texas’ most violent citizen was John Wesley Hardin. After killing Sheriff Charley Webb in 1874 he went on the run, until on August 23, 1877, Frontier Battalion Lieutenant, John Armstrong, caught up with him in Pensacola, Florida. Ranger Armstrong, with drawn Colt boarded the train and entered the car in which Wes Hardin and four companions were sitting.

Upon seeing the Ranger, with drawn pistol and big-brimmed western hat, Hardin, is reported to have yelled, “Texas by God!” which prompted the men to go for their pistols.

When the smoke cleared, one of Hardin’s companions was dead, Wes was out cold from a blow to the head, and Armstrong was staring down the other three with his smoking six-shooter.

High quality replica badges. Comes in gift box with story card.

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  • Texas Rangers Company B Badge - The Texas Rangers were first formed in 1823 to keep law and order throughout Texas and the Southwest. In the 1870s the Rangers were combating rampant lawlessness, fighting the raiding Comanche's, struggling against Mexican border disputes and battling the feuding cattlemen and desperados that were terrorizing the State of Texas. Our Old West replica badges are crafted out of steel and brass. We double-stamp them and then they are silver plated. Finally each Old West badge is hand finished for that worn, antique look. Heavy safety pin closure on the back of each badge. Badges arrive in a small gift box complete with story. Depending on the badge, size range is 1 5/8" inches to 3 1/8″ H. Buy any TWO Badges Buy any THREE Badges
  • Texas Rangers Company D Badge - Frontier Battalion Few will argue that the most violent Texan from the Old West was John Wesley Hardin. After killing Sheriff Charley Webb in 1874 Wes Hardin was on the run, until on August 23, 1877, Frontier Battalion Lieutenant, John Armstrong, caught up with him in Pensacola, Florida. Our Old West replica badges are crafted out of steel and brass. We double-stamp them and then they are silver plated. Finally each Old West badge is hand finished for that worn, antique look. Heavy safety pin closure on the back of each badge. Badges arrive in a small gift box complete with story. Depending on the badge, size range is 1 5/8" inches to 3 1/8″ H. Buy any TWO Badges Buy any THREE Badges

  • Marshal Deadwood Badge - After the murder of Wild Bill Hickok and the inexplicable acquittal of Jack McCall, the leading citizens of Deadwood decided they needed some law and order, and to that end set up the position of Town Marshal on Aug 5, 1876, just 3 days after Wild Bill went down. Our Old West replica badges are crafted out of steel and brass. We double-stamp them and then they are silver plated. Finally each Old West badge is hand finished for that worn, antique look. Heavy safety pin closure on the back of each badge. Badges arrive in a small gift box complete with story. Depending on the badge, size range is 1 5/8" inches to 3 1/8″ H. Buy any TWO Badges Buy any THREE Badges
  • U.S. Marshal (Fancy) Badge - This is the type of badge worn by Wyatt Earp, after the Gunfight at the OK Corral. Our Old West replica badges are crafted out of steel and brass. We double-stamp them and then they are silver plated. Finally each Old West badge is hand finished for that worn, antique look. Heavy safety pin closure on the back of each badge. Badges arrive in a small gift box complete with story. Depending on the badge, size range is 1 5/8" inches to 3 1/8″ H. Buy any TWO Badges Buy any THREE Badges

  •   Masterson Single Action Holster 

    Classic Cross Draw Holster - Simple, elegant and functional

    Masterson Belt if you order the Rig is 1 1/2" - to accommodate belt loops on today's britches. We made sure it fits Levi's jeans, and when worn with a sport coat or longer coat, is the perfect holster for people with the conceal & carry permit. Holster works equally well as either a cross draw or strong hand draw style. If you'd like the cut out star concho on the holster, please request it in the production notes below. 250_white_filials
  • Johnny Ringo leather holster hand made by the last best west A classic Hollywood holster and gun belt- from Tombstone. {1993} This closed toe design is made for quick draws with it's trigger guard fully exposed from the holster. We're showing our Johnny Ringo in our classic old mahogany color .  Movie rig is black.

  • Augustus Custom Handmade Hat

    $355.00$770.00
    augustus custom handmade hat style from the classic mini-series, Lonesome Dove (1989) Loveable old Ranger Augustus McCrae is the scalawag that keeps the Hat Creek Cattle Company loose and is a great counter balance to the salty Woodrow Call.  This style of old west crown with it's 3 pinch cavalry creasing was first called the "Tom Mix" after the early movie star, and then became known as "The Gus" crease because of  Lonesome Dove. This is a great look for both men and women! 250_white_filials
    • CROWN: 6 inches
    • BRIM: 4"
    • Crown: Modified 3 pinch cavalry
    • Brim: Hand worked and rolled
    • Hatband: Custom 1/2" leather twist
    • Color shown: Sand
    • hats ship in 12-14 weeks
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
  • Captain Call Handmade Hat

    $355.00$770.00
    A custom cowboy movie hat from Lonesome Dove (1989) Our take on the hat style worn by Tommy Lee Jones The Tommy Lee Jones cowboy hat from Lonesome Dove. The Captain Call Handmade Hat is like the character simple, unrefined, and basic. A classic Boss of the Plains with a heavy dip front and back on the bound brim.
    • Crown: 6 inches
    • Brim: 4"
    • Crown: Open - uncreased
    • Brim: Bound Hand shaped dipped front and back.
    • Hatband: 1" grosgrain ribbon with bow
    • Color shown: Black in 20X fur-felt
    • hats ship in 6-8 weeks.
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
    • Hatband not sold separately

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