CHEYENNE (AP) -- Buffalo Bill Cody has been known as a showman, entrepreneur, pioneer, world traveler, cowboy -- and now inventor can be added to the list.

The latest chapter in the story of the legendary frontiersman emerged after Wyoming State Library Patents and Trademarks Librarian Dawn Rohan uncovered a 1916 patent issued to a William F. Cody. The patent is for a decorative horse bit modeled after a revolver.

Rohan came across the patent while searching for Wyoming-related patents to include in the Wyoming Inventors Database, maintained by the State Library.

After finding the patent, Rohan contacted Juti Winchester at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, in Cody, to find out whether the owner of this patent -- William F. Cody -- was indeed the William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody.

The historical center was unaware that Buffalo Bill held a patent until Rohan contacted them with her question.

"The information has helped us firm up the dates of manufacture and add to the story," Winchester said.

In 1913, after accruing massive debts, Buffalo Bill was forced to sell the Wild West Show at an auction in Denver. After fulfilling a two-year travel obligation to the purchaser of the show, Buffalo Bill was desperate for money and searching for a way to restart his own show.

"At that time he did all kinds of things, he made movies and he got the bit patented," Winchester said.

Soon after the bit was patented, he gave the patent to the North & Judd Manufacturing Company.

But before he was able to establish a new show Buffalo Bill Cody died, on Jan. 10, 1917.

The historical center has several examples of the patented bit in their collection, two of which are on display in the Buffalo Bill Museum.

Winchester said she believes Cody was "distilling a Western symbol, by virtue of their shape, pistols make a pretty good horse bit", and although it was not designed to match a specific costume or show, "they matched his whole life."