How did unreliable or dishonest tradespeople come to be called "cowboys"?

Question

Eg "cowboy plumbers"

Answer 1

Seen on a van:

Patel and Son - Plumbers.

Forget the cowboys - try the Indians.

Answer 2

Looking at their name I'm guessing they descended from cows.

Answer 3

sorry dont know and press c has already given my reply

Answer 4

Yes good question.  I think it means 'people who work slightly outside the law, are accountable to noone and may move on without a word and often work alone without licence or permission and without proper qualifications'.  Cowboys of the old West were somewhat like that so somehow the name stuck.

cng