What Does it Mean to Go Heeled?

In one of the more memorable quotes from Tombstone, Wyatt Earp—played by Kurt Russell—responds to Johnny Tyler’s bold question in the Oriental Saloon.

“For a man that don’t go heeled, you run your mouth kinda reckless, don’t ya?” Tyler asks.

“No need to go heeled to get the bulge on a dub like you,” Earp replies before taking a pull on his cigar.

Earp was correct: he didn’t need to be heeled to remove Tyler from the Oriental’s faro table. He simply tossed the bully out after dragging him by the ear through the empty saloon.

Over the years, many Tombstone viewers have wondered what it means to “go heeled,” which was a popular term in the mid- to late-1800s, particularly in frontier towns across the West.

To find out, let’s dive into some primary sources from the time.

What Did it Mean to Go Heeled?

In the American West, to “go heeled” simply meant to carry a weapon—typically a revolver or pistol—on one’s person. It could also refer to carrying any kind of weapon, like a knife or even a shotgun.

Behind this seemingly straightforward Wild West term lies a rich tapestry of historical and cultural significance, encompassing self-defense, social norms, and the still-present tension between personal freedom and public safety.

The term likely originated as a metaphorical comparison to being well-shod or equipped. Just as a person wouldn’t venture onto the rugged plains without sturdy boots, one wouldn’t risk traveling—or stepping into a dangerous situation—without the protection of a firearm. In a time when survival often depended on quick reflexes and the ability to defend oneself, being armed was often essential.

In the Wild West, being “heeled” became synonymous with preparedness. Whether you were a cowboy driving cattle, a miner seeking fortune, or a gambler plying your trade in a smoky saloon, carrying a gun in many towns (concealed carry was eventually outlawed in many towns and areas) was as much a part of daily life as wearing a hat or spurs.

According to lore, the term “go heeled” is based on an interesting etymology rooted in cockfighting. Originally, “heeled” referred to strapping spurs onto gamecocks to give them an advantage during a fight. Similarly, in the context of the American West frontier, being “heeled” meant being equipped with a weapon that could provide an edge in potentially dangerous situations.

Being “heeled” was a sign of readiness, self-defense, or even aggression, depending on the context.

Going Heeled Meanings & Uses

To learn more about the way “go heeled” was used in context, we can look at newspapers of the 19th century frontier.

There are thousands of cases of the term and its derivatives showing up in newspapers around the West, so it was considered a common colloquialism that most people back then would’ve understood.

Here are a few examples of how “go heeled” was used back then.

• In a Deer Lodge City, Montana newspaper from 1870, an article recounted how someone asked Major C.E. Cullen what it meant to go heeled. “I have my Derringers; carry them next to my Bible by day, and sleep with them on my pillow at night,” Cullen answered. “In the service of my Master, I have often to use these against the bandits, whisky sellers and cut-throats who wish to steal from the poor Indians.”
• An 1871 Arizona newspaper article notes that the Gila River is pronounced “Heel-a, from the fact perhaps that every traveler along it is expected to go ‘heeled.'”
• In 1874, a St. Louis newspaper blamed a needless death on “the infamous practice of carrying deadly weapons,” when a man named Miller killed someone accidentally only because he was part of the ruffian groups that “go ‘heeled’ for blood-letting.”
• After several students were caught with pistols, the Oregonian reported in 1874 that “Olympia school boys appear to go ‘heeled’ for any little difficulty that may arise with their teacher or schoolmates.”
• In a “fatal encounter” between two Omaha men, one “had frequently been warned by Keeler to go ‘heeled,’ and he went armed with a Winchester rifle, a sixteen shooter, and Keeler carried a double-barreled shot gun and a revolver.”
• “The Indians have stolen many horses from this part of the frontier,” reported The Emporia News in 1875. “But for several moons they have made themselves scarce. Still when a person is traveling around he has to go ‘well heeled,’ that is with plenty of shooting arons [sic] about him, in the shape of a Winchester and a pair of pistols.”

“Nevadans go ‘heeled,'” declared the Weekly Oregon Statesman on July 4, 1874:

The other day at Truckee, a group of five able-bodied individuals were conversing about fire arms. One offered to wager the drinks that there were not three revolvers in the crowd. The bet was taken, and the result was six revolvers, three derringers, and a horse pistol. And it was not a good day for pistols, either.

And in the Black Hills, where being “heeled” caused the death of Wild Bill Hickok, social commentary from Deadwood Pioneer in March 1882 wrapped up with “two inelegant but expressive words—’go heeled.'”

The Importance of Going Heeled

Contrary to popular myth, the West wasn’t as gun-crazy as movies would have you believe. But in some cases, it was important to go heeled and be protected in order to provide yourself or your family with an additional layer of security.

Being well heeled helped with:

• Self-defense. The Old West was a dangerous place, rife with threats from outlaws, hostile encounters, and even wild animals. For many, carrying a firearm was less about aggression and more about ensuring personal safety. Towns often lacked robust law enforcement, and justice was frequently meted out on an individual basis. Going heeled was simply a matter of survival.
• Prestige and power. In a world where disputes were sometimes settled with a duel, being armed also conveyed a sense of authority and respect. A person who was visibly heeled might avoid unnecessary confrontations simply because they were perceived as capable of defending themselves.
• Cultural expectations. In many frontier towns, carrying a gun was part of the social fabric. Guns were tools, not just for self-defense but also for hunting and protection against the elements. To go unarmed in certain parts of the West could be seen as foolish.
• Occupational necessity. For some, being armed was an occupational requirement. Lawmen, bounty hunters, and stagecoach drivers were expected to go heeled, as were saloon owners in rowdy boomtowns. Even some shopkeepers kept a gun under the counter as insurance against robbery.

While Hollywood has exaggerated the frequency of these events, the notion of going heeled was closely tied to the reputation of a gunslinger.

Legends like Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, and Bat Masterson were known to go heeled at all times, projecting an aura of control and competence. For many, the ability to “quick draw” from a hip holster was more than a skill; it was a ticket to fame—or infamy.

Even ordinary citizens carried guns for potential disputes, though most confrontations ended in threats rather than actual gunfire.

Despite the popular image of a lawless frontier, many towns attempted to regulate the carrying of firearms. Tombstone, Arizona, famously required visitors to check their guns with the local marshal upon entering town limits. Signs like “No Firearms Allowed” were common outside saloons and dance halls, where alcohol-fueled disputes could quickly escalate into deadly confrontations.

These ordinances were often contentious: while some residents saw them as a necessary step toward civilizing the West, others viewed them as an infringement on personal freedoms. The infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881 stemmed, in part, from a dispute over enforcing Tombstone’s no-gun policy between the Earps and Ike Clanton.

What it Meant to Go “Unheeled”

In Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is interestingly “unheeled”—or unarmed—when he confronts Johnny Tyler. To be “unheeled” in some situations could put a person at a significant disadvantage.

Without a weapon, one risked becoming a victim of robbery, assault, or worse. While not everyone carried guns at all times—especially in more settled towns—many felt uneasy without the means to protect themselves.

In some cases, being unheeled could also carry a social stigma, especially among men. A person who chose to go unarmed might be seen as overly trusting, weak, or unprepared to handle the realities of frontier life.

The Rise and Fall of “Going Heeled”

As the American frontier became more settled, the need for everyone to “go heeled” eventually diminished. The expansion of law enforcement, the establishment of courts, and the growth of towns into cities all contributed to a more structured society where disputes were increasingly resolved without firearms.

By the early 20th century, the phrase “going heeled” had largely faded from everyday language, becoming a relic of a bygone era. Instead of finding it in local newspapers, readers could now find the slang in dime novels of the West that romanticized an era not all that far in the rearview mirror of America.

Today, the phrase “go heeled” survives as part of the mythology of the Old West, evoking images of dusty trails, saloon brawls, and the larger-than-life figures who tamed the frontier.

While the realities of the Old West were often harsher and more mundane than the stories we tell, the phrase “going heeled” remains a powerful symbol of the era’s spirit. It speaks to the challenges, dangers, and opportunities of a time when every person had to be their own protector—and, sometimes, their own law.