In the old west most people did not have a steady income. It was not unusual to barter for goods. In the case of a saloon, the price of a shot of whiskey was equal to the cost of a bullet, approximately twelve and one half cents. If you gave the bar tender a bullet, he would give you a drink in return. The bar tender in turn took all the bullets over to the local gun smith, and sold them or bartered them for what he needed. Thus a drink of whiskey became known as a shot.

to post a reply: login - or - register