Doc Holliday is nothing but trouble for Johnny Ringo. If you watch the rest of the film, you know that Holliday is telling the truth. What Holliday is saying to Johnny Ringo is that if he’s looking for trouble, Holliday’s the guy to give it to him. So what’s the truth about Holliday’s famous catch-phrase? Here’s our best explanation for the meaning of the term.Īnother Southern slang usage of huckleberry was “the right person for the job.” In both instances of Holliday using the phrase in the film, Johnny Ringo is hoping to spark violence. Second, Val Kilmer maintains that the line written in the script was huckleberry, and Kilmer even titled his autobiography I’m Your Huckleberry. First, no official copy of the script has ever been seen with the words “huckle bearer” used. There are a couple of problems with that explanation. A huckle bearer would be the person carrying a coffin, essentially a pallbearer.Īccording to this theory, what Holliday should have said in the film is, “I’m your huckle bearer.” The theory goes that Val Kilmer accidentally said huckleberry instead, and the line stuck. He might’ve said, “I’m your huckle bearer.” In the South, a huckle was a casket handle. Some folks think that Holliday may have said something else in real life. So when he’s saying, “I’ll be your huckleberry,” he could be offering to act as Wyatt Earp’s champion. Being a Southern gentleman, Doc would’ve known this bit of medieval lore, since the South glorified knights and chivalry. The knight would ride into battle with the garland draped over his lance. There are several intriguing theories about what Holliday meant by “I’m your huckleberry.” For instance, during medieval times, a knight coming to the rescue of a damsel would receive a garland made of huckleberries. sells a wide variety of shotguns, which you can see for yourself at this link, and you’ll find there’s nothing better for home-defense or duck-hunting season in the Lone Star State. Apparently, in real life, Doc had a Colt Double. In the film, Doc Holliday also had a “street howitzer,” a Meteor 10-gauge side-by-side shotgun, which he carried to the OK Corral. He shoots Ringo dead after saying it, using a pistol. Holliday says “I’m your huckleberry” again when he meets Ringo in the clearing. If your friends greet you this way, you might want to consider getting new friends. Obviously, the phrase “I’m your huckleberry” wasn’t meant as a friendly greeting. Shop All Quickdraws Robust, durable and versatile, Wild Country Session quickdraws offer easy handling and an optimized strength/weight ratioand theyre available here in a convenient 6-pack. For more up-to-date firearms, as well as classics, check out. Like Holliday, Ringo also carries a nickel Single Action Army Quickdraw. Holliday carries a nickel Single Action Army Quickdraw, along with a Colt Lightning. When Doc Holliday says the phrase, he has his hand on one holstered pistol, and he has another weapon ready to fire behind his back.

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