# The Rifleman - Did they ever explain his backstory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286 "2012-06-25T20:38:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/21 "2012-06-26T02:31:31Z")
How many bullets did that damn thing hold, anyway? I counted eight shots in one Youtube clip. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/22 "2012-06-26T02:39:28Z")
> [@astro](#): > > He was booted out of the army, branded a coward and they broke his calvary sword so all he had left was a rifle and he made the best of it with his crazy mods of the cocking system… no wait His aim improved due to his stint pitching for Dodgers. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/23 "2012-06-26T02:44:14Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I used to love that show and watched in on channel 39 in Dallas on the weekends as a wee little baby. From what I can remember, Lucas was a Civil War veteran (Union), his wife died from smallpox, and I think he became known for his rifle skills in the Indian Territories. On occasion little snippets of McCain’s past would come out in an episode. I loved it too. Every week, he’d face a problem that could best be handled with the judicious use of a rifle. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/24 "2012-06-26T02:45:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > How many bullets did that damn thing hold, anyway? I counted eight shots in one Youtube clip. One for every letter in the title. The Model 92 holds 15 in the tube. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/25 "2012-06-26T02:55:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > One for every letter in the title. > > The Model 92 holds 15 in the tube. The prop department probably did provide a Model 92, as it was the go to rifle for TV westerns of the era. IIRC, and I probably don’t, in the context of the show it was supposed to be a Winchester 73. Even then, 8 rounds from the old. 44-40 would have been realistic. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/26 "2012-06-26T02:56:50Z")
I was rather amazed to see that [Johnny Crawford](http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/2072/johnny_crawford.jpg) became a big-band vocalist and leads a [dance orchestra in Southern California](http://www.scottstander.com/Personalities/johnny_crawford.html) these days. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/27 "2012-06-26T03:17:20Z")
One of my holy grails of TV will air tomorrow night. The episode\* Honest Abe \*has Pick Temple, the TV cowboy I watched when was a little kid, in a bit part. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/28 "2012-06-26T03:27:13Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Winchesters, in the Civil War? Would skill with the kinds of rifles they actually used in the Civil War translate to skill with a Winchester, especially that one-of-a-kind loop thing? I don’t think so. It’s perhaps not the most likely thing, but there were several units of sharpshooters in the war as well. They would have been armed with damn near anything. I imagine making the jump from the Henry to the Winchester wouldn’t have been that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/29 "2012-06-26T19:53:03Z")
Speaking of particular episodes, one that sticks in my memory from when I watched the show as a kid: Some bad guy actually manages to steal McCain’s rifle. McCain tracks him and there’s a shootout where the bad guy is up a hill (with the rifle) and McCain is at the bottom, armed with only a revolver. McCain takes a few shots and misses, and the bad guy taunts him about how McCain’ll never be able to hit him, since a handgun just doesn’t have the range/accuracy (don’t really remember which or if it was both; hey, it was years ago) of a rifle. McCain spots a very convenient board nearby, just about the length of a rifle, with a convenient knothole near one short end. So he sticks the butt of the gun into the knothole, puts the other end of the board against his shoulder, and now he’s got a makeshift rifle! And then he successfully shoots the bad guy. As I recall, that seemed a bit far-fetched, even to me as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/30 "2012-06-26T20:04:55Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Speaking of particular episodes, one that sticks in my memory from when I watched the show as a kid: Some bad guy actually manages to steal McCain’s rifle. McCain tracks him and there’s a shootout where the bad guy is up a hill (with the rifle) and McCain is at the bottom, armed with only a revolver. McCain takes a few shots and misses, and the bad guy taunts him about how McCain’ll never be able to hit him, since a handgun just doesn’t have the range/accuracy (don’t really remember which or if it was both; hey, it was years ago) of a rifle. McCain spots a very convenient board nearby, just about the length of a rifle, with a convenient knothole near one short end. So he sticks the butt of the gun into the knothole, puts the other end of the board against his shoulder, and now he’s got a makeshift rifle! And then he successfully shoots the bad guy. > > As I recall, that seemed a bit far-fetched, even to me as a kid. I remember that episode. I may be mistaken, but I think the bad guy was Vic Morrow, Sgt. Saunders on “Combat!”. The Colt .45 really was not terribly accurate, and it was effective really at close range. Whether this was because of the relatively short length of the barrel or because you just can’t aim as well with your free hand as you can when the weapon is tucked in snug against your shoulder, I can’t say. FWIW, the German Mauser was a pistol that could be fitted with a shoulder stock. I suspect it was more accurate when used that way (just like those special P38 Walthers Solo and Kuryakin used on “The Man from UNCLE”). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/31 "2012-06-26T20:10:08Z")
Did they ever say what branch of the Army Lucas was in? If he was in the cavalry, he must have carried a carbine (a Sharps?). I don’t think any rifle of the Civil War was repeating; I wonder how many breech-loaders there were? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/32 "2012-06-26T20:18:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I don’t think any rifle of the Civil War was repeating; I wonder how many breech-loaders there were? There was both the Spencer and Henry repeating rifles. Their use was rather limited but they were used. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/33 "2012-06-26T20:53:59Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Did they ever say what branch of the Army Lucas was in? Wikipedia says he was a lieutenant in the 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/34 "2012-06-26T21:05:06Z")
19th Indiana were issued Springfield muskets during the war. Doubtful Lucas would have much experience with repeaters until afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/35 "2012-06-26T22:43:22Z")
I love the show, but that kid must be the must traumatized child in all of fiction, considering all of the times he’s been kidnapped or witnessed someone being shot, sometimes both in the same episode. All I can add is what others have said. He was a Civil War vet. I believe one show mentioned that his wife died in the Indian Territory. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/36 "2012-06-26T22:45:21Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > IMDB says “There were only four episodes ever made in which The Rifleman does not make a confirmed kill.” That’s one scary rancher. “Well, I _also_ ranch.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/37 "2012-06-26T23:07:32Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Speaking of particular episodes, one that sticks in my memory from when I watched the show as a kid: Some bad guy actually manages to steal McCain’s rifle. Is that all he did, steal the rifle, and McCain _kills_ him? He was a mean son of a bitch, just looking for someone to kill. “Look, Mark! That guy’s wagon is painted funny!” ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/38 "2012-06-26T23:29:17Z")
all they needed is a hook to make a show on. he was in the war, he used a gun. people didn’t become obsessive tv weenies until Star Trek. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/39 "2012-06-27T00:50:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Model 92 holds 15 in the tube. My Model 1892 Cowboy II holds 10 rounds of .357 magnum, so I kinda doubt his would hold 15 of anything other than .22. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/40 "2012-06-27T00:53:21Z")
Well, I would think he’s a built in safety feature for the natives. If anyone difficult comes around, you just steer them in his direction and the problem takes care of itself. With his track record of murders, it’s not like anyone local is going to say anything bad about him or testify against him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286.md?page=3)