The Rifleman, what gun did Chuck Connors have?

[Phillyfan]

I used to watch that show everyday after school, old reruns of course. Can you really shoot it as fast as he did on the show?

 

[Phillyfan]

Can you guys tell I have some X-mas money smoldering in my pocket?

 

[Bad Droid]

Is this it?

snip:

Westerns were popular when The Rifleman premiered, and producers struggled to find gimmicks to distinguish one show from another. The Rifleman's gimmick was a modified Winchester Model 1892 rifle with a trigger mechanism allowing for rapid-fire shots. Despite the anachronism, Connors demonstrated its rapid-fire action during the opening credits as McCain dispatched an unseen villain on North Fork's main street.

The Rifleman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[saxon]

yes that is it
on the winchester it has a safety that the lever has to be pressed in by the lever to fire
they modified it by making the safety the trigger
so that when squezed it would release the hammer
look close
YouTube - The Rifleman (Westlich von Santa Fee) - Intro

 

[pakrat57]

A description of the rifle with pics. Riflemans Rifle photos, The Riflemans Rifle
When I was a kid I had a toy Winchester that had a small lever on the trigger guard that would swing out and do basically the same thing. Wish I still had that gun, actually shot plastic bullets.

 

[Phillyfan]

yes that is it
on the winchester it has a safety that the lever has to be pressed in by the lever to fire
they modified it by making the safety the trigger
so that when squezed it would release the hammer
look close
YouTube - The Rifleman (Westlich von Santa Fee) - Intro

That clip is just Badass! The look on his face after he does the little spin action is priceless. One interesting thing I saw on a related clip that came after this one was over is that it shows him firing 12 times even though the gun only held 11 rounds. And I did notice that he never touches the trigger. So cool.

 

[Phillyfan]

A description of the rifle with pics. Riflemans Rifle photos, The Riflemans Rifle
When I was a kid I had a toy Winchester that had a small lever on the trigger guard that would swing out and do basically the same thing. Wish I still had that gun, actually shot plastic bullets.

Wow, there was a lot more to it than I thought! I have a lot more respect for Chuck Connors and the smithing that was involved to pull this off. Great link, thanks.

 

[Spitpatch]

I watched The Rifleman when it wasn't reruns. When I watch it now, I still get a chill up and down my spine when Chuck reaches into his shirt pocket for more shells and delivers that icy-cold stare into the camera. He really doesn't need those cartridges...that look turns any bad guy into a wimpering milk-sop.

 

[marty8587]

I to remember them as new episodes and enjoy them as reruns whenever I can. Seemed like the kid was always doing the dishes!

 

[Mark W.]

Winchester Model 1892 in 44-40 the reason it held 12 rounds instead of 11 is that blanks have no slug to take up room. Allowing one more cartridge to fit in the mag tube.

IIRC

 

[Silver Fox]

Spit/Marty-

thanks for posting, I feel younger this morning.

SF-

 

[qtcoupe]

Anybody notice Chuck was ambidextrous?

 

[Mark W.]

Anybody notice Chuck was ambidextrous?

Yea most likely he was born left handed then in school taught to be right handed. VERY common back in the day tends to leave a person ambidextrous. This combined with his basket ball would have taught him excellent either hand eye cordination.

I was born left eyed left handed in the First grade the teacher wouldn't have any of that and taught me how to write with my right hand.

As a 15 year old I broke my right thumb and had to have surgery to repair it. In the 6 weeks I was in a cast I wrote (printed which all I do anyway) with my left hand quick enough to take notes in class and stay up with the others.

Took about a week and I was using my left hand quite well.

 

[marty8587]

Spit/Marty-

thanks for posting, I feel younger this morning.

SF-

Common now, I was very young when they came out. I also loved Paladin and his custom hair trigger revolvers!

 

[theduke]

About 1;39 into this clip shows the trigger actuator. Simple yet Genius.

YouTube - Rifleman Massacre

 

[61henry]

I thought it was his wife that he was shootin' at the beginning.......

 

[fred c. dobbs]

,,,interesting bit about Chuck Connors, he was also pro baseball and basketball player, played for LA Dodgers, did a couple years on thier farm team in the 40's.

 

[cheesehead]

Chuck Connors real name was Kevin Connors.

 

[cowbikinlogger]

He was chasin his wife and the 11 dwarfs out of town. I had one of those rifles when they came out new . Was the rifle or one of the handguns that used the "greenie stickum " caps???

 

[CavVet]

Mares leg is an even better 1892.