Treasures from Our West: Glass Target Balls

May 1, 2014

Originally published in Points West magazine in Winter 2007

Sharpshooter’s glass target ball

Sharpshooters in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West used clay rather than glass target balls because broken glass in the arena presented a hazard.

Outside the Wild West show, exhibition shooters preferred the glass balls. Consequently, organizers arranged contests in locations where the broken glass fell harmlessly into a body of water such as a pond.

A Treasure from Our West: Ribbed blue glass target ball. 1.69.2481

A Treasure from Our West: smooth amber glass target ball. 1.69.2590

Glass target balls: ribbed blue, Gift of Alex Kerr (1.69.2481); smooth amber, (1.69.2590); blue with cross hatch pattern (1.69.2083); amber with cross hatch pattern (1.69.1852); smooth blue, Gift of Alex Kerr (1.69.80);

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Treasures from Our West Buffalo Bill Museum

Nancy McClure

Nancy now does Grants & Foundations Relations for the Center of the West's Development Department, but was formerly the Content Producer for the Center's Public Relations Department, where her work included writing and updating website content, publicizing events, copy editing, working with images, and producing the e-newsletter Western Wire. Her current job is seeking and applying for funding from government grants and private foundations. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys photography, reading, flower gardening, and playing the flute.

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Treasures from Our West: Glass Target Balls

Originally published in Points West magazine in Winter 2007

Sharpshooter’s glass target ball

Glass target balls: ribbed blue, Gift of Alex Kerr (1.69.2481); smooth amber, (1.69.2590); blue with cross hatch pattern (1.69.2083); amber with cross hatch pattern (1.69.1852); smooth blue, Gift of Alex Kerr (1.69.80);

Written By

Nancy McClure

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