-Stories & Lore of the Old West-

On The Money.   A term commonly used to describe someone who has done something correctly, has selected the right answer to a question, has made a correct statement, or something that is correct. “Bob is right on the money!” or “That clock is right on the money! !” The origin of this phrase is as colorful as any.

For safety reasons, six-guns of the old west were commonly loaded with only 5 cartridges. (As they are today in our Cowboy Action Shooting events, and for the same reason.) The hammer of 5-round loaded six-shooter was lowered on an empty chamber to prevent an accidental discharge should the firearm be dropped, or otherwise struck on the hammer.

Gunslingers of the old west had two major concerns, their safety in the here-and-now, and their proper burial for the hereafter. A good undertaking could be had for around 20-dollars, a truly heroic coffin and grave would run about a hundred bucks.

Those that lived by the guns of yesteryear had their own insurance policy. They would rollup a bill, (A twenty for most. A “C” note for the better off), and place it in one of the chambers of their sidearm. After they loaded their gun, they would lower the hammer on the money. They then knew their shoot'n iron was safe because they were on the money.

All the old time undertakers knew to check the firearms of a fallen gunslinger for their burial fees.

A side note to this little western lore: I knew an old gun collector who routinely traveled around to old funeral parlors, and/or looked up the descendents of old time undertakers of the old west. Many times he would find some great old guns that way.