Facts About Billy the Kid

There is a ton of misinformation about him out there.

Creative Commons: Boston Public Library

First of all, Billy the Kid is generally portrayed as a good-looking guy. For heavens sake, Paul Newman played him. However, based on the picture I found of him, he wasn’t terribly photogenic. More about that picture later.

Billy is perhaps the most romanticized personality of the Old West. There is a ton of information about Billy available. Some of it may even be accurate. I’ve actually read quite a bit about the Old West and Billy thew Kid but took another look at him. So, here are some things you might Billy the Kid.

1: Pick a name, any name.

Billy’s real name is a source of debate. Possible real names include Henry Antrim, Henry McCarty, and William Bonney. There is speculation that the name variance comes from the possible name of his biological father and stepfathers. Or maybe he was trying to evade bill collectors.

2: He was probably right-handed.

The above image shows Billy as a lefty. However, that was probably because the image was improperly reproduced and flipped. I’m not sure why he seems to be shaped like a pear.

3: His reputation is likely exaggerated and that’s a good thing.