Major Wolcott’s List

About the Book

The Johnson County War took place in Wyoming in April 1892. At that time, a group of powerful Wyoming cattlemen created a hit list of seventy men—small ranchers, cowboys, and others they considered a hindrance to large-scale ranching interests. They planned an invasion of the county, intending to search out and kill the men on the list. But when they arrived, the locals fought back. Major Wolcott’s List does not explore the conflict itself; instead, it provides in-depth information on the firearms that participants used—the first book to provide such detail for the guns used an actual Old West gunfight. Author William N. Hockett lists the firearms surrendered at the end of the Johnson County Cattle War by name and by make and model, including calibers, serial numbers, and other important details. Hockett also offers an analysis of the firearms used, including as much information as possible about the weapons and their cartridges. Intended for historians, collections, and aficionados of Wyoming history, this study presents a thorough guide to firearms of the late nineteenth-century American West.

About the Author

For many years William N. Hockett has lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, as a retired Air Force office and pilot, he has lived in many places he called home. He has always liked the mountain west. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree in political science. Mr. Hockett has been a long-time collector of antique firearms and old west material culture. He is a member of the Winchester Arms Collector Association.