Edited sentence: Many formerly settled travelers, however, were unfamiliar with the safe use of such arms, and gun-related accidents were common on the pioneer trail.One of the important pieces of equipment for the pioneer were the guns they carried.Rifles, shotguns, and pistols provided protection for the travelers and a way to hunt fresh game to help maintain their physical strength and morale.The common idea that such weapons were necessary protection from "hostile Natives" arose largely from an inflated view of the threat from tribal peoples to those on the trail; actual interactions were almost always peaceful and resulted in trade helpful to both travelers and natives