“The Rifleman”: Things You Didn’t Know About The Classic Western Show

Published on 07/23/2019
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A Cool Coincidence

Johnny Crawford appeared in The Big Valley in the role of a sheriff. In one episode, he made a symbolic gesture by giving a rifle to an outlaw posing as a returned sheriff. The rifle looked a lot like the one Lucas McCain had in The Rifleman! However, the one on The Rifleman was an 1892 .44-40 Winchester.

A Cool Coincidence

A Cool Coincidence

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Rifle Modifications

When The Rifleman came out, Westerns were popular on the small screen. Producers wanted to make it stand out, so they added a huge ring lever to the Winchester Model 1892. It allowed the actor to cock it by spinning it with his hand. He could also depress the trigger every time he used the lever so that he could fire quickly and empty a magazine in less than five seconds.

Rifle Modifications

Rifle Modifications

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