TWO YOUNG COWBOYS "GUNS, BOWIE KNIVES, RIFLES" ca. 1880 These two Cowboys have all the accouterments for the Wild West and the location "New Mexico, Territory". Man on left: Over and under shotgun, Bowie knife, cartridge belt with six-shooter. Man on right: Winchester, Bowie knife, cartridge belt with six-shooter and also long rifle cartridge belt. These cowboys are ready for action. Whittick & Son, photographers, Albuquerque, N. M.

And clean shaven with clean clothes to boot.

Maybe they are brothers.

Thinking they are brothers alsp.

shiny boots too

Actually I think that’s a over and under double rifle, a muzzleloader at that, like this one sometimes referred to as a swivel barrier as the barrel rotates, shoot the top and swivel the bottom around to the top

It's a cool pic but whoever wrote the info got the knives wrong, neither are bowie knives and I don't think the firearm description are correct either. Anyway, Like I said, cool pic of cowboys back in the day.

It's a good representation of the photography business of the time and IMO a staged photo using the photographer's props. The two guys are wearing identical well pressed shirts and pants, and identical hats. Also carrying way too much armament to be realistic. Not an empty loop in the cartridge belts. Probably city boys posing.

Most of these old photo where taken at the end or beginning of a drive. New clothes supplies, a bath and shave. Not a lot of choices in style, most shirts and pants were one size fits all at certain times of the supply chain.

Another cool photo.

Probably no need to shave yet.

cool pic! Looks like the barrel on the double might be slightly rotated in the pic.

Perhaps getting your picture taken in those days meant looking your best

You can see a ramrod between the barrels.

Looks like the 2 brothers we all saw at = Abilene Texas trapping convention! LoL !!!

I have a picture of me, looks very similar . I just had to put my head thru the hole in the plywood sign.