Jim Bridgers Guns and Gear:

Jim Bridger (1801-1881) became one of the best known American trappers and 'mountain man' who worked well into his old age as a scout / guide.

 

 

Jim Bridgers name was first heard in American pioneering history as one of the two men who abandoned Hugh Glass to die - after he suffered terrible wounds when attacked by a Grizzlie she-bear - that fed some of his flesh to her cubs - when they stripped the badly wounded man of his equipment and left him - under threat of indian attack. Bridger was later chased-down by Glass who had crawled for days to a fort - but was forgiven due to his youth.

 

A Trade Hatchet.

 

 This description of Bridger in his sixties comes from the letters of the eighteen year old son, Caspar, of Col. William O Collins - writing to his mother on a journey from Fort Leavenworth in May 1862:

 

Colt Navy Model 1851.

 

 " These old Mountaineers are curious looking fellows... they nearly all wear big white hats with beaver around it; a loose white coat of buck or antelope skins, trimmed fantastically with beaver fur; buffalo breeches, with strings hanging for ornaments along the sides; a Mexican saddle, moccasins, and spurs with rowels two inches long, which jingle as they ride. They have bridles with , sometimes , ten dollars worth of silver ornaments on, Indian ponies, a heavy rifle, a Navy revolver, a hatchet and a Bowie knife. they have a rawhide lasso (lariat) tied on one side of the saddle, to catch and tie their ponies."

 

 

Early 'Bowie' Knife.

 

" It was amusing to see Old Major Bridger cooking his supper. He would take a whole jack rabbit, and a trout about eighteen inches long, and put them on two sticks, and set them up before the fire, and eat them both without a particle of salt; and drink about a quart of strong coffee. He says when he was young, he has often eaten the whole side of ribs of a buffalo."

 

 

 

Bridgers Hawken rifle is held in the Exhibit Room of the Montana State Historical Society at Helena.

- It is thought that he sold it for sixty-five dollars to Pierre Chien in 1865(-67?)  - as he could not see the sights any more and would not need it where he was going (home - he was retiring).

 

 

There are many instances where Bridger fed the parties he was guiding by shooting buffalo - probably with this .50" calibre rifle.

 

Bridger is known to have used other guns - including a superimposed double-barrel rifle by John Shuler, Liverpool, Pa, made 1830. (not confirmed - possible a swivel barrel?)

 

Bridgers Hawken rifle had a thirty-four inch barrel.

 

A Young JIM BRIDGER.

 

Well worth reading about Bridger and those exploration days - There were some tough people.

 

Marty K