# Expertise in the Old West - dress and mannerisms

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expertise-in-the-old-west-dress-and-mannerisms/550543>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 17, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expertise-in-the-old-west-dress-and-mannerisms/550543 "2010-08-17T17:16:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expertise-in-the-old-west-dress-and-mannerisms/550543/1 "2010-08-17T17:16:29Z")

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I am writing a novel, which has some scenes take place in the Old West (in New Mexico/California/Death Valley area).

I am looking for someone that is well-versed in the commonalities for this time - fashion, buildings maybe some language. Any help is welcome…

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**Author:** ![jboyler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jboyler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jboyler)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expertise-in-the-old-west-dress-and-mannerisms/550543/2 "2010-08-17T20:22:45Z")

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There are lots of good books available for this. I remember seeing an entire book devoted to telling writers the minutae of western life. I think it is “How to Write Western Novels” by Matt Braun. One book I liked is “What they Didn’t Teach You About the Wild West” by Mike Wright, which has lots of anecdotes about how it really was.

I am not an expert myself, but Googling “Cowboy Action Shooting” will put you in touch with many cowboy enthusiasts and like-minded clubs. If you have a specific question I recommend the SASS Wire at [www.sassnet.com](http://www.sassnet.com)