# A question about "Cowboy"(1958) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2019, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393 "2019-01-08T05:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/1 "2019-01-08T05:58:38Z")
This was the other day- an old oater starring Jack Lemmon and Glenn Ford. Ford is the head cowboy. The crew is laying around a campfire, and Lemmon wants to go into town, against orders from Ford. As he walks away, Ford reaches down by the fire and picks up a crowbar which he throws at the back of Jack’s legs. A fight ensues. My question is: what’s a cowboy doing with a crowbar? I mean, maybe one would be in the wagon with the rest of the tools. But just laying on the ground by the campfire? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/2 "2019-01-08T06:13:14Z")
It was a iron brander. For them lil’doggies. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/3 "2019-01-08T06:19:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > It was a iron brander. For them lil’doggies. Well now, that makes sense. But I could have sworn Jack referred to it as a crowbar. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/4 "2019-01-08T06:47:34Z")
I’ve seen the movie several times. I don’t remember a mention of a crowbar. That doesn’t mean they didnt mention it. Maybe they were using it to stir up the coals. Could happen. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/5 "2019-01-08T06:58:57Z")
Maybe it was a cowbar? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/6 "2019-01-08T07:13:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’ve seen the movie several times. I don’t remember a mention of a crowbar. That doesn’t mean they didnt mention it. Maybe they were using it to stir up the coals. Could happen. OTOH, crowbars have been around a long time for things like repairing wagons. No reason why a cowboy couldn’t have one lying around. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/7 "2019-01-08T12:37:03Z")
I’m personally more confused later in the film by the brief appearance of a Mazda Miata. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cowboy-1958/827393/8 "2019-01-08T13:34:18Z")
Fire irons aka pokers are common implements for managing fires. In a rustic setting any old piece of iron bar would do. Keeping a branding iron in a fire while the crew is lying around doesn’t make sense.