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 practised every minute of his spare time, but he knew that he wasnโt 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 standing at the bar who in his day had the reputation of being the fastest gun in the West.
The young cowboy took a place next to the old-timer, bought him a drink and told him the story of his great ambition.
โDo you think you could give me some tips?โ he asked.
The old man looked him up and down and said, โWell, for one thing, youโre wearing your gun too high.
Tie the holster a little lower down on your leg.โ
โWill that make me a better gunfighter?โ asked the young man.
โSure will,โ replied 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.
Thatโs terrific!
โ said the hotshot.
โGot any more tips for me?โ โYep,โ said the old man.
โCut a notch out of your holster where the hammer hits it.
Thatโll give you a smoother draw.โ
โWill that make me a better gunfighter?โ asked the younger man.
โYou bet it will,โ said the old-timer.
The young man took out his knife, cut the notch, stood up, drew his gun in a blur, then shot a cufflink off the piano player.
โWow!
โ exclaimed the cowboy.
โIโm learninโ somethinโ here..
Got any more tips?โ The old man pointed to a large can in a corner of the saloon.
โSee that axle grease over there?
Coat your gun with it.โ The young man went over to the can and smeared some of the greases on the barrel of his gun.
โNo,โ said the old-timer, โI mean smear it all over the gun, handle and all.โ โWill that make me a better gunfighter?โ asked the young man.