Back in the days of the Wild West, there was a young cowboy who wanted more
than anything to be the greatest gunfighter in the world. He practiced every
minute of his spare time, but he knew that he wasn't yet first-rate and that
there must be something he was doing wrong.
Sitting in a saloon one Saturday night, he recognized an elderly man seated
at the bar who had the reputation of being the fastest gun in the West in
his day. The young cowboy took the seat next to the old timer, bought him a
drink, and told him the story of his great ambition.
"Do you think you could give me some tips?" he asked.
The old man looked him up and down and said, "Well, for one thing, you're
wearing your gun too high. Tie the holster a little lower down on your
leg."
"Will that make me a better gunfighter?" asked the young man.
"Sure will," said the old timer. The young man did as he was told, stood
up, whipped out his .44 and shot the bow tie off the piano player.
"That's terrific!" said the cowboy. "Got any more tips for me?"
"Yep," said the old man. "Cut a notch out of your holster where the
hammer hits it. That'll give you a smoother draw."
"Will that make me a better gunfighter?" asked the younger man.
"You bet it will," said the old timer.
The young man took out his knife, cut the notch, stood up, drew his gun
in a blur, and shot a cufflink off the piano player.
"Wow!" said the cowboy, "I'm learnin' sumthin' here! Got any more tips?"
The old man pointed to a large can in a corner of the saloon. "See that
axle grease over there? Coat your gun with it."
The young man went over to the can and smeared some of the grease on the
barrel of his gun. "No," said the old timer, "I mean smear it all over the gun, handle and
all." "Will that make me a better gunfighter?" asked they young man.
"No," said he old timer, "but when Wyatt Earp gets done playin' the
piano, he's going to shove that gun up your ass, and it won't hurt near as
much."