If you close your eyes and think of 1950s television, you probably hear it. That rapid-fire succession of shots—eleven of them, to be exact—echoing through a dusty street in North Fork. It was the signature opening of one of the most unique Westerns ever made. But when people ask who played the rifleman on tv, they aren't just looking for a name. They're looking for the man who brought a strange, towering presence to a role that could have been just another cowboy caricature.
The answer is Chuck Connors. He was Lucas McCain.
Standing 6'6" with a jawline that looked like it was carved out of granite, Connors didn't just play the role; he inhabited it. He was a former professional athlete, a guy who actually played for both the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Think about that for a second. The man was a dual-sport pro before he ever picked up that modified Winchester 1892. That athleticism translated into the way he handled the rifle. It wasn't just a prop. It was an extension of his body.
Why Chuck Connors Wasn't Your Average Cowboy
Most TV dads in the late 50s were wearing cardigans and solving minor neighborhood disputes. Lucas McCain was different. He was a widower raising a son, Mark (played by Johnny Crawford), on a ranch in the New Mexico Territory. The show was violent—surprisingly so for the era—but it was grounded in a very real, very tender father-son relationship.
Connors brought a raw, physical intensity to the screen. You believed he could kill a man. You also believed he could cry over his son’s fever. That range is why we're still talking about him decades later.
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Interestingly, Connors wasn't the first choice. The producers originally looked at several other actors, but they needed someone who could handle that specialized rifle with a "spin-cocking" motion. Because of his massive hands and athletic coordination, Connors could whip that lever-action rifle around like a baton. It became his trademark. It also became a point of controversy for parents who thought the show was a bit too "trigger-happy" for family viewing.
The Famous Rifle: More Than Just a Gimmick
You can't talk about who played the rifleman on tv without talking about the gun itself. It was a Winchester Model 1892 with a large ring lever. A screw was added to the trigger guard so that every time Lucas slammed the lever shut, the screw would hit the trigger.
It was basically a semi-automatic weapon in a 19th-century skin.
During the show's five-season run from 1958 to 1963, that rifle fired hundreds of rounds. Fans used to count them. In the opening credits alone, he fires those eleven shots in a matter of seconds. It set a tone. This wasn't Father Knows Best. This was Father Knows How to Defend His Land.
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But here’s the thing: Chuck Connors was actually a very funny, gregarious guy in real life. On set, he was known for being a bit of a prankster. He wasn't the grim, stoic figure he played. He was a showman. He understood that the rifle was the "hook," but the heart was the relationship with Mark. Without that chemistry between Connors and young Johnny Crawford, the show would have been forgotten by 1965.
The Legacy of the 6'6" Star
After The Rifleman ended, Connors found himself somewhat typecast. It’s the curse of a successful TV run. He did other shows, like Arrest and Trial and Branded, and he played some truly terrifying villains in movies like Soylent Green. But to the public, he was always Lucas.
He leaned into it, though. He’d show up at charity events and celebrity rodeos, often bringing a version of the rifle with him. He knew what the fans wanted. He remained close friends with Johnny Crawford until his death in 1992. Crawford actually spoke at Connors' funeral, which tells you everything you need to know about the bond they formed on that set.
There have been rumors of reboots for years. Various actors have been floated to take over the mantle. But how do you replace a guy who was literally a pro basketball player and a pro baseball player? The physicality is impossible to replicate. Most modern actors look like they’re playing dress-up in a cowboy hat. Connors looked like he had been born in the saddle.
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How to Re-watch The Rifleman Today
If you're looking to revisit the work of the man who played the rifleman on tv, you have a few solid options. The show isn't just a relic; it’s actually surprisingly watchable because the episodes are tight—usually only 30 minutes long.
- MeTV: They have been the primary home for classic Westerns for years. It usually airs in blocks during the "Western Overseas" hours.
- AMC+ and Roku Channel: Digital streaming has made the entire series available in high definition. Seeing the New Mexico landscapes (mostly filmed in California, honestly) in HD really changes the experience.
- DVD Collections: For the purists, the "Producers' Edition" sets are the way to go because they include interviews with the cast and crew about how they rigged the rifle.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan of classic TV or just curious about the history of the Western genre, don't just stop at the name Chuck Connors.
- Watch the pilot episode, "The Sharp Shooter." It was actually written by Sam Peckinpah. Yes, that Sam Peckinpah. You can see the seeds of his gritty, violent style even in this early TV work.
- Look up the "spin-cock" technique. There are plenty of breakdown videos on YouTube from firearms historians explaining exactly how the 1892 Winchester was modified for the show.
- Check out Chuck Connors' stats. Seriously, look up his baseball and basketball cards. It adds a whole new layer of respect for the man’s physical talent.
The show remains a masterclass in how to build a character around a single physical attribute—a rifle—while maintaining a sense of moral groundedness. Chuck Connors was the only person who could have pulled it off. He was a giant in every sense of the word.