The gunifights of Jesse James - The Ayoob Files

American Handgunner, July-August, 2003 by Massad Ayoob

Almost certainly, at least one of the guns Jesse took off moments before his death was a Smith; historians argue whether its mate was a twin, or a Colt Single Action Army, or a Merwin & Hulbert. In the end, it doesn't matter, because contrary to the popular legend that he was shot with his own gun, evidence indicates that Bob Ford brought his own weapon with which to do the deed.

The Fords both admitted later they came to Jesse's house with the intention of killing him and collecting the bounty on his head if he gave them an opening to do so. Both habitual armed criminals, it is almost certain they brought their own weapons. Bob Ford was emphatic he did so. On February 12, 1884, Ford wrote the exact following words to the Missouri Republican newspaper: "I had the proper orthority to bring Mr. James to Justice which I did but did it in no ones presence but my Brother Chas. & I did it whith my own Revolver which I payed for..." (15) He did not mention the brand. However, authoritative S&W historians Jim Supica and Richard Nahas wrote, "(A New Model) #3 is reported as the gun used by Bob Ford to kill Jesse James, serial number 3766." (16)

Incidentally, there is reason to believe Ford aimed rather than pointed the fatal shot. Autopsy showed the fatal bullet entered the occipital, behind and slightly below James' right ear, and lodged inside his skull at the location of his left ear. This is only a slight upward angle. The victim was 5'l0" tall, and standing on furniture; his assassin was a shorter man standing on the floor. The shallow upward angle of the wound track is consistent with the death weapon being at the shooter's eye level when the shot was fired.

Obviously, one lesson is that bunted men shouldn't turn their backs on people they don't trust; Jesse had made it clear to his cohorts, including Charley Ford, that he didn't trust Bob. However, the lessons go deeper than that. An important learning point is, being unarmed when your life is at all at risk is hazardous to your survival.

Even though both had brought their own guns, it is almost certain that even with his back turned, Jesse wouldn't have been shot if he had kept his guns on. Stiles found the following quotes to confirm this. " 'My brother and I had made it up to kill him,' Charley said. 'I knew he was quicker than I, and I would not try it when he had his arms on. He was so watchful no man could get the drop on him.' Bob agreed. 'We waited a long time to catch Jesse without his revolvers,' he noted, 'knowing that unless he put them off we could not fetch him.'" (17)

Yet there's another, even more subtle warning for us to heed in the death of Jesse James. His own reputation for ruthless vengeance likely brought about his own demise. Bob Ford knew he was implicated in the murder of Jesse's beloved cousin Wood Hite, and felt it was only a matter of time before Jesse found out and killed him for it. His mortal fear of Jesse James led him to kill the famous outlaw, not just for the reward money, but as a preemptive strike to save his own life. Fear creates hate. Hate can lead to murder. It's a formula as old as mankind.