The father–son relationship at the heart of The Rifleman remains one of the most beloved bonds in television history—still powerful more than 60 years after the show first aired.
For viewers growing up in the late 1950s and early 1960s, this classic Western was required viewing in many households. Beyond gunfights and frontier drama, The Rifleman quietly taught timeless values such as honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion.
Yet behind its heartfelt storytelling and iconic moments, the series also contained a surprising number of behind-the-scenes quirks, historical slip-ups, and fascinating trivia that even devoted fans may have missed. Let’s take a closer look at the hidden stories behind this legendary show.
A Western With Heart
Like many early Westerns, The Rifleman played fast and loose with historical accuracy—but that was never the point. What set it apart was its emotional depth. Each episode delivered a meaningful lesson, often wrapped in moral dilemmas that felt surprisingly modern.
 |
| Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images |
The series starred Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher and deadly sharpshooter raising his young son Mark, played by Johnny Crawford. Together, they captured audiences with a rare mix of warmth, discipline, and adventure that made their bond feel authentic and deeply moving.
Even though The Rifleman is often ranked among the greatest TV series of all time, it wasn’t immune to mistakes or amusing inconsistencies.
Lucas McCain: A Fashion Trendsetter
Lucas McCain may have lived in the 1880s, but his wardrobe was decades ahead of its time. In the episode End of a Young Gun, sharp-eyed viewers can spot a “W” stitched on the back pocket of his jeans—Wranglers, to be exact.
 |
| Screenshot |
The problem? Wrangler jeans didn’t exist until the 1940s. That makes Lucas McCain not just a skilled cowboy, but a frontier fashion icon who somehow beat modern denim trends by half a century.
Chuck Connors’ Real Son Appeared on the Show
The father–son theme extended off-screen as well. In the episode Tension, Chuck Connors’ real-life son Jeff Connors appeared as Toby, the son of a family friend whose funeral Lucas and Mark attend. Jeff had two lines in the episode. He later passed away in 2014.
Casting Chuck Connors Wasn’t Easy
Landing Chuck Connors for the lead role wasn’t guaranteed. He initially turned it down because ABC’s salary offer was too low—he could earn more freelancing.
 |
| Screenshot |
Everything changed after the producers took their children to see Old Yeller, where Connors played a strong father figure. Impressed—especially after hearing their kids’ reactions—the producers returned with a better deal that included a five-percent ownership stake in the show. Connors accepted.
The Iconic Winchester Rifle
Each episode famously opened with Lucas McCain firing a rapid series of shots from his saddle-ring carbine while staring down the camera. The sequence wasn’t trick photography—Connors was genuinely that fast.
Two identical 1892 Winchester rifles were used during filming. Connors’ athletic background in professional baseball and basketball gave him the coordination needed to perform the moves flawlessly, though the rifle was modified for rapid firing.
A Rifle With a Hollywood Past
The show’s timeline makes the 1892 Winchester an impossibility—it didn’t exist during the era depicted. But the rifle had already made history.
Producer Arnold Levin later revealed that the very same rifle had been used by John Wayne in the 1939 classic Stagecoach, giving Lucas McCain’s weapon a legendary Hollywood pedigree.
The Madera Hotel Mystery
The Madera Hotel was a staple of North Fork throughout the series—except in the pilot episode, The Sharpshooter, where it was called the California House. No explanation was ever given for the name change, and it remains one of the show’s small mysteries.
 |
| Public Domain |
Johnny Crawford Was Once “Blacklisted”
Johnny Crawford’s acting career nearly ended before it began. At age three, he appeared in a film where Rosalind Russell handed chocolate bars to refugee children. When the scene had to be reshot, Crawford refused to give back his chocolate bar.
“I think I got blacklisted after this film,” he joked in a 1973 interview, recalling how his stubbornness landed him on the cutting-room floor.
Casting a Love Interest Was “Hazardous”
When Joan Taylor’s character Milly Scott left the series, producers searched for a new romantic interest for Lucas McCain. Chuck Connors personally interviewed over 60 actresses but struggled to find the right chemistry.
 |
| Public Domain |
Eventually, Patricia Blair was cast as Lou Mallory, completing the role after months of trial and error.
Baseball Legends on the Show
Connors was a talented athlete, but he couldn’t match guest star Duke Snider, who appeared in The Retired Gun. Other baseball greats, including Don Drysdale, also made appearances throughout the series.
Family Connections Continued
Johnny Crawford’s brother, Bobby Crawford, appeared in the episode Second Witness. Both brothers earned Emmy nominations in 1959. Bobby later starred in Laramie and is still alive today.
Protecting Johnny On and Off Set
Chuck Connors took his role as mentor seriously, remaining protective of Johnny Crawford throughout filming. Actor Paul Fix, who played Marshal Micah Torrence, was equally vigilant—especially around firearms.
 |
| On The Rifleman (1961), L-R: Ziva Rodann, Johnny Crawford and Chuck Connors / Wikipedia Commons |
Fix’s concern stemmed from a childhood accident in which a misfired gun nearly killed him, making safety a personal priority.
Surprising Casting Choices
In one episode, Buddy Hackett played the father of an actor who was actually four years older than him—a classic example of Hollywood bending age logic for storytelling.
Even the Baby Wasn’t What She Seemed
In The Baby Sitter, the infant girl Fancy was played by a baby boy named Robert Anacher—one of many unnoticed casting tricks common in early television.
Famous Guest Stars
Sammy Davis Jr. appeared as outlaw Tip Corey in Two Ounces of Tin, performing all his gun tricks himself with no stand-in—impressing the entire crew.
 |
| Sammy Davis Jr. wearing a cowboy hat, a suede shirt, and holding a marshal’s badge. Davis was in costume for an appearance in the ‘Two Ounces of Tin’ episode of the television show, ‘The Rifleman.’ (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
Hairstyles From the Wrong Era
Despite being set in the 1880s, most hairstyles and wardrobe choices reflected 1950s and 1960s fashion. Button-down shirts worn by male characters didn’t even exist until decades later.
Chuck Connors’ Final Resting Place
Chuck Connors, one of only twelve athletes to play both Major League Baseball and in the NBA, passed away in 1992 from lung cancer. His headstone proudly displays the logos of the Boston Celtics, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Rifleman remains a timeless classic—rich with heart, action, and lessons that still resonate today. Its legacy lives on through reruns, memories, and generations of fans who continue to cherish the bond between Lucas and Mark McCain.
If you loved The Rifleman, you’re not alone—and you probably still watch the reruns, too. ❤️
Post a Comment