Fast Draw
The Roots of Cowboy Action Shooting
It is generally accepted that the sport of Fast Draw was founded in 1954 to satisfy the insatiable needs of a demanding public that couldn't seem to get enough of anything related to the enigmatic cowboy gunfighter persona popularized in western movies, TV shows and music of the era.
During this time, and with increasing frequency, news on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers were reporting that normally sane, rational people were outfitting themselves with the guns, gear and clothing of their favorite western gunfighter character. Not satisfied with just looking snappy in their gunfighter regalia some started loading live ammo into their Colt Peacemaker and attempted to prove that they were the "fastest gun" within their circle of friends, at times with tragic results. Negative press and "kids don't try this at home" messages were produced and distributed through the media outlets of the day but this did little to stop the behavior. Capitalizing on the opportunity to profit from this phenomena the entertainment and firearms industry started directing dollars towards the promotion of using blanks and wax bullet ammunition to shoot targets attached to timers. It was a much safer way for people to live out their ultimate gunfighter fantasy. The sport of Cowboy Action Shooting was born and Fast Draw was the first attempt at developing it as a profit making professional shooting activity.
With big dollars and western movie, TV and music stars promoting Fast Draw, clubs and contests spread across the North American continent like wild fire. It wasn't long before the activity became popular across the big pond. Fast Draw associations were created in the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany to govern the sport in Europe. In it's heyday it was not surprising to see several hundred contestants and thousands of spectators at a major contest like the famous Colt Sahara Walk and Draw Championship events that were held at the Sahara Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1959 - 1962. The golden years of Fast Draw lasted from approximately 1960 to 1980 before interest faded and Fast Draw fell out of the pubic eye.
Today the number of Fast Draw practitioners has diminished but Fast Draw Gunfighters still walk among us. The sport is alive and well throughout the world thanks to the efforts of the Ohio Fast Draw Association International, the World Fast Draw Association, the Cowboy Fast Draw Association and others.
Gunfighter Gulch was created to share the history and stories of these Gunfighters of the New West.
During this time, and with increasing frequency, news on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers were reporting that normally sane, rational people were outfitting themselves with the guns, gear and clothing of their favorite western gunfighter character. Not satisfied with just looking snappy in their gunfighter regalia some started loading live ammo into their Colt Peacemaker and attempted to prove that they were the "fastest gun" within their circle of friends, at times with tragic results. Negative press and "kids don't try this at home" messages were produced and distributed through the media outlets of the day but this did little to stop the behavior. Capitalizing on the opportunity to profit from this phenomena the entertainment and firearms industry started directing dollars towards the promotion of using blanks and wax bullet ammunition to shoot targets attached to timers. It was a much safer way for people to live out their ultimate gunfighter fantasy. The sport of Cowboy Action Shooting was born and Fast Draw was the first attempt at developing it as a profit making professional shooting activity.
With big dollars and western movie, TV and music stars promoting Fast Draw, clubs and contests spread across the North American continent like wild fire. It wasn't long before the activity became popular across the big pond. Fast Draw associations were created in the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany to govern the sport in Europe. In it's heyday it was not surprising to see several hundred contestants and thousands of spectators at a major contest like the famous Colt Sahara Walk and Draw Championship events that were held at the Sahara Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1959 - 1962. The golden years of Fast Draw lasted from approximately 1960 to 1980 before interest faded and Fast Draw fell out of the pubic eye.
Today the number of Fast Draw practitioners has diminished but Fast Draw Gunfighters still walk among us. The sport is alive and well throughout the world thanks to the efforts of the Ohio Fast Draw Association International, the World Fast Draw Association, the Cowboy Fast Draw Association and others.
Gunfighter Gulch was created to share the history and stories of these Gunfighters of the New West.