Cobol2Java
Member
I'm a fan of the 50's black & white Old West TV shows, and I've been wondering whether gunslingers suffered hearing loss from shootouts, especially in saloons.
From doing some casual research, I learned that both Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley complained of hearing loss later in life. Of course, one could argue that most gun fighters in the Old West may not have lived long enough to notice hearing loss, LOL.
Also, there are some historians who say that black powder ammunition is not as loud as today's powder. But, if not from handguns, then more likely hearing damage would have come from rifles and shotguns - such as .50 caliber Sharps rifles, Springfields, or Remington Rolling Blocks. All were large caliber and extremely loud.
And of course, the Old West was not really as "Wild" as depicted on the TV shows. Despite what you may see on "Gunsmoke", Dodge City had a strict ordinance against carrying weapons in town - you turned them in to the Sheriff and got them back when you left. I'm sure Kitty would have actually seen more fistfights in the Long Branch than gun fights, I guess, heh...
Finally, I wonder if anyone in the Old West stuffed wax or something else in their ears. Don't know.
From doing some casual research, I learned that both Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley complained of hearing loss later in life. Of course, one could argue that most gun fighters in the Old West may not have lived long enough to notice hearing loss, LOL.
Also, there are some historians who say that black powder ammunition is not as loud as today's powder. But, if not from handguns, then more likely hearing damage would have come from rifles and shotguns - such as .50 caliber Sharps rifles, Springfields, or Remington Rolling Blocks. All were large caliber and extremely loud.
And of course, the Old West was not really as "Wild" as depicted on the TV shows. Despite what you may see on "Gunsmoke", Dodge City had a strict ordinance against carrying weapons in town - you turned them in to the Sheriff and got them back when you left. I'm sure Kitty would have actually seen more fistfights in the Long Branch than gun fights, I guess, heh...
Finally, I wonder if anyone in the Old West stuffed wax or something else in their ears. Don't know.