The Cowboy Code of the West......Laws to Live By

"few cowboys ever owned much. The primary reward of being a cowboy was the pleasure of living a cowboy's life."

I Love this quote...a cowboy's life is.....hard working...has simple pleasures.....working the land with your own hands.........has simple rules...

Cowboy Code of the West

-If it's not yours, don't take it.
-If it's not true, don't say it.
-If it's not right, don't do it.
-Cowboy's word is his sacred bond
-Bargains sealed with handshake are more binding than legal documents
-be loyal
-Demand square dealings
-Be proud of your occupation
-Lay down your life, if necessary, for the privilege of defending your outfit
-Grant quick assistance to friends and strangers in need
-Never tolerate cowards
-Be cheerful
-Endure hardships without complaining
-Don't make excuses
-Try to be better than the other fella
-Never quit
-Share anything you own with a fellow worker
-Be generous with your life and money
-Treat women like ladies
-Never shoot an un-armed or un-warned man
-Stealing and rustling are evil wrong doing

The cowboy code of the west meant that in the Old West a contract was sealed by a handshake. A cowboys word meant something. Good character was a valued commodity. A cowboy's reputation followed him from town to town.

The code of the west helped the cowboys to know that when a wrong was done to someone there were consequences. That people who did not follow the code were probably not of good character.

Hence why there were not that many laws in the old west...... (like today!!)

Cowboys and ranchers knew from the code what right and wrong were. It was wrong to steal a horse. Breaking into a man’s cabin and assaulting his daughter was wrong period, no excuses!

Here is a story from the old west....depicting how important and serious the code of the west was


"Two cowpunchers out looking for work rode up to a Texas ranch in time for dinner, expecting the customary offer of a free meal. The boss fed them, but afterward demanded 50 cents in payment. Outraged at this violation of Western hospitality, the men roped a three-year-old steer belonging to their host and used a saddle ring to brand on its flanks the message: "Meals—50 cts." The steer was left to roam the range and proclaim the owner's ignominy."

Today, our world is missing these basic of common sense "laws". I know today's world is much different from the world of the old west- but the values and common sense of the code of the west need to be apart of all our lives today.

There are many cowboy and cowgirl's who live by this code today........


Myself and my company, Buckaroo Leather, started over 30 years ago stand by and live the Code of the West. I strive to keep the spirit of the old west and the code alive today....
I encourage all you cowboys and cowgirls to do the same..........Ride American!!!!!!


All the photos featured in this post are of the Buckaroo John family in 1915.


Our family has been dedicated for 30 years in serving
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