Pick up the rifles

[Fox Mike]

Watching Death Valley Days today. They were attacked by indians. After the fight a number of indians were killed and laying out in the open...right next to the lever actions ... that they left lying there. Then I realized that I have never seen anyone, in any 'western', police up the weapons the bad guys had dropped. What a waste.

 

[Jeepnik]

Winchester 73. Len tells the Sarge to go pick up the rifles from the dead indians. That's how the '73 ends up in the next hands.

 

[vito]

Not just the old westerns. All sorts of TV shows and movies will have the hero overcome some bad guy with a gun, but for whatever reason he will then run off and not even hesitate the two seconds it would have taken to pick up the gun laying on the ground. "Die Hard" was an exception to that scenario.

 

[RSIno1]

One that was left behind
https://www.desertusa.com/dusablog/winchester-model-1873-rifle-recovered-great-basin-np.html

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/nevada-park-opens-exhibit-devoted-to-forgotten-winchester-rifle-1667600/

 

[wheelgun1958]

Watching Death Valley Days today. They were attacked by indians. After the fight a number of indians were killed and laying out in the open...right next to the lever actions ... that they left lying there. Then I realized that I have never seen anyone, in any 'western', police up the weapons the bad guys had dropped. What a waste.

Or check for ammo.

:?

 

[SAJohn]

The average cowboy salary in the 1870's was about $25/mo. A new Winchester 73 cost $50, A good saddle $60, and a Colt SAA $17.50. Would you walk away from something worth several months salary?

 

[contender]

Hollyweird!

 

[gunzo]

It is continuously Hollyweird.

Not just westerns, it's worse in the modern 2000 round count shoot outs of today's movies. Good guy shooting his way down a long hallway, stepping over multiple downed bad guys & their weapons, & when he gets to the end, he runs out of ammo causing him to get shot or captured.

Every now & then I see the good guy pick a few up & think, it's about time.

 

[SAJohn]

Here is the scene in the movie "Conagher" when he trades two rifles he "acquired" from some Apaches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RstVSAL_ks

 

[contender]

In the John Wick movies,, he does pick up weapons from dead bad guys when he needs too,,, mostly.

 

[Thumbcocker]

In one of the Sackett movies a younger Sam Elliot takes a trapdoor and another rifle retrieved from deceased natives into town and sells or trades them to a store keeper.

 

[bobski]

devils advocate here....

guns werent all that common due to cost. guns and holsters were fond pieces of equipment and most were custom ordered or had certain features, linking it to an owner. most gun owners had cheap guns. the movies only show high grade guns.
would you want to ride into town with a gun from a dead guy, be recognized, and be locked up for stealing it or killing him?
and what good would it be if it wasnt your caliber?
face it...you love your gun. but i dont necessarily like yours, nor could i shoot it well. people had favorites.
the batf in those days was a noose around your neck.

.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

In one of the Sackett movies a younger Sam Elliot takes a trapdoor and another rifle retrieved from deceased natives into town and sells or trades them to a store keeper.

Believe you're referring to SAJohn's post above.

:mrgreen:

 

[finesse_r]

It is even more insane when the person failing to pick up the gun is unarmed themselves!

 

[Thumbcocker]

In one of the Sackett movies a younger Sam Elliot takes a trapdoor and another rifle retrieved from deceased natives into town and sells or trades them to a store keeper.

Believe you're referring to SAJohn's post above.

:mrgreen:

Yup that is it.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

Who said he/she walked away and left it!!
Perhaps the person died there and was carried away/eaten by critters over the years... There just might be a rusty colt under the dirt nearby....