Mafia of the Wildwest era

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

Is there any literaturs or videogames that mixed Sicilian originated criminal organizations with Wildwest themes? is it a good or bad mix to have Mafias wielding large calibre single action revolvers and lever action rifles rather than small caliber 'weak' double action revolver and Tommyguns of the Roaring Twenties? are they a good city pioneer or good at messing up with prospectors, West American Natives, and Hispanic Bandits or even good at being pioneers and prospectors themselves, to the point of forming the same walled Fort city like Mormons and other groups of pioneers?
or are they 'too urban' from the beginning? historically the first known 'mafia' exists in North America was in 1860s, that was Wildwest Era.

Only known computer games seemed to show so is Fallout New Vegas. a faction known as Omertas is clearly Mafia brought above ground and they could at any point using cowboy guns.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I cannot think of any.

 

[Snowygerry]

I found this,

A Cowboy Mafia War - Frontier Partisans

An old cowboy poet pal of mine was profoundly offended years ago when I referred to the Lincoln County War as a cowboy mafia war.

frontierpartisans.com

I suspect the Western genre meets the mafia theme in Las Vegas first half of the previous century,

A Brief Look at the Las Vegas Mob History

Las Vegas' history is marked by mob activity and organized crime, and it has forever shaped the city. Click here to read more about it.

www.kingvegashomes.com

 

[Birdjaguar]

Calling the Lincoln County Wars as an east coast, gangland, mafia war is a bit of a stretch. The only similarity is that there were two sides that kiled one another. The Las Vegas link was great though!

 

[EgonSpengler]

If you're looking for actual Italian mafia, I don't think you'll find any that far back. In addition to mainly being an urban phenomenon, broadly speaking, ethnic organized crime groups tended to prey on their own people, at least initially, so I think you probably wouldn't have had any Italian mafia until there was a critical population of Italians in a small area, such as New York City or Chicago. Italians didn't come to America in great numbers until the "Wild West" era was closing down. According to PBS' Destination America, there were only about 25,000 Italians in the US in 1870. But from 1880, the floodgates began to open; between 1900-1910 two million Italians emigrated here, and by 1924 it was four million.

But that doesn't mean there wasn't organized crime, in shady businesses we typically associate with gangsters, drugs, booze, prostitution, gambling, etc. I recommend looking at Ian McShane's portrayal of Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004-2006) for a good example of a gangster on the American frontier, ca. 1870. (Note that while Deadwood is based on real people and events, I suspect the writers and cast of the show felt free to take some liberties. But Swearengen was a real guy.)

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

^ And thus they tend not to use cowboy guns like Colt Single Action Revolvers. but using Late Modern era weapons like a rather weak .38 special double action revolvers, or pump action shotguns, or M1928 Thompson SMGs.

 

[Snowygerry]

That may just have to do with practicality, gangsters tended to hide their (illegal ?) guns, cowboys carried them openly, idk.

Even today US states have different gun laws..

I think you can open carry your Colt in Texas, but likely not in NYC

 

[Birdjaguar]

 

[Patine]

View attachment 695088

These would have been different laws (if regulated at all) in the late 1800's. Plus, most of the states in what was the, "Wild West," were territries at that time that had not yet achieved statement, and were under (very loose) Federal government through non-binding (or at least easily reservable or vetoed) local delegation.

 

[Birdjaguar]

These would have been different laws (if regulated at all) in the late 1800's. Plus, most of the states in what was the, "Wild West," were territries at that time that had not yet achieved statement, and were under (very loose) Federal government through non-binding (or at least easily reservable or vetoed) local delegation

Prior to statehood cities and towns often made their own rules about carrying guns openly (or at all) in public.

"What were typical gun laws in the Old West?

Openly carrying guns and knives in most populated areas was generally illegal.

In Tombstone, Arizona, for example, in the 1880s, no one — not residents or visitors — was allowed to carry a weapon. Visitors were required to turn their guns in at the local police station or another designated location, such as a hotel. Upon leaving, their weapon was returned. Abilene, Deadwood, and Dodge City had similar laws.

In 1878, when Dodge City, Kansas, was incorporated, the first city law banned the carrying of guns in town.

Even before the Wild West era, many Eastern and Southern states enacted strict gun control laws. In 1812, Louisiana and Kentucky outlawed concealed weapons. Soon after that, carrying concealed weapons became a frequent cause for arrest, along with drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Granted, there was much lawlessness and violence in new or transient frontier towns with many single men. However, despite dime-novel legends and glamorized Hollywood movies, many towns had stricter gun laws than today, and those that enforced strong gun-control had less violence and crime than those without."

 

[Patine]

Prior to statehood cities and towns often made their own rules about carrying guns openly (or at all) in public.

"What were typical gun laws in the Old West?

Openly carrying guns and knives in most populated areas was generally illegal.

In Tombstone, Arizona, for example, in the 1880s, no one — not residents or visitors — was allowed to carry a weapon. Visitors were required to turn their guns in at the local police station or another designated location, such as a hotel. Upon leaving, their weapon was returned. Abilene, Deadwood, and Dodge City had similar laws.

In 1878, when Dodge City, Kansas, was incorporated, the first city law banned the carrying of guns in town.

Even before the Wild West era, many Eastern and Southern states enacted strict gun control laws. In 1812, Louisiana and Kentucky outlawed concealed weapons. Soon after that, carrying concealed weapons became a frequent cause for arrest, along with drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Granted, there was much lawlessness and violence in new or transient frontier towns with many single men. However, despite dime-novel legends and glamorized Hollywood movies, many towns had stricter gun laws than today, and those that enforced strong gun-control had less violence and crime than those without."

Two other factoids that surprisingly deviate from the common, popular image of the, "Wild West," that surprised me.

1.) Derby hates were far more common as men's headwear than the stetson biltmore (classic, "cowboy hat").

2.) It is estimated around 25% of cowboys were recently-emancipated African-Americans.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The traditional cowboy hats was designed for the weather on the range: broad brim against the sun and to carry rain away from the face and neck. The broad front brim keeps the sun out of one's eyes for better visibility. Derbies were more a fashion item for "townies".

I've lived in NM for over 30 years and the only hats that actually help fend off the sun are broad brimmed. In the desert, rain is less of a problem, but when it comes, it usually comes hard. In the Great Plains states, you have both a sun and rain problem. The long "duster" style coats were another protection against the weather (and likely cactus too).

 

[Voidwalkin]

Red Dead Redemption 2 briefly features and old west gang dealing and scuffling with Sicilian mafia types in a city meant to represent New Orleans around 1900