# 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:** 3
**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 27, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/41 "2012-06-27T00:56:34Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > My Model 1892 Cowboy II holds 10 rounds of .357 magnum, so I kinda doubt his would hold 15 of anything other than .22. I was taking the info from wiki. They are wrong (gee, what’s new?) Winchester says [10](http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/itemdetail.asp?id=534190140) in the tube. Still enough for the 8 shot opening sequence. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/42 "2012-06-27T13:34:35Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > 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. Back then, we had The Season & then Reruns. Occasionally syndicated shows would be shown–but you didn’t see many of them until UHF stations proliferated. Also, homes had no videotape players or recorders. So, what was on TV was what you saw. \*Star Trek \*was one of the first shows to benefit from never-ending reruns, years after its cancellation… ETA: The Good Old Days sucked. Long live Netflix streaming! ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/43 "2012-06-27T13:48:29Z")
I could be remembering this wrong, but I could have sworn “The Rifleman” was a different show than “Branded.” One being about a rancher single-father with a slick rifle and awesome skills, while the other was about a disgraced civil war soldier whose calvery sword was broke in half, and who subsequently sharpened the stub into a fearsome weapon. But it was a long time ago… ---
**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 27, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/44 "2012-06-27T13:58:43Z")
> [@OtisCampbellWasRight](#): > > I could be remembering this wrong, but I could have sworn “The Rifleman” was a different show than “Branded.” You are correct, Sir. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/45 "2012-06-27T14:01:02Z")
I remember a Mad Magazine takeoff of The Rifleman, drawn with the face of madman Lucas McCain, in which everyone he saw he murdered. “I’m quiet and peace-lovin’. 'Cause there’s nothing more peaceful than a dead man.” Blam Blam Blam. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/46 "2012-06-27T14:35:32Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > I remember a Mad Magazine takeoff of The Rifleman, drawn with the face of madman Lucas McCain, in which everyone he saw he murdered. > > “I’m quiet and peace-lovin’. 'Cause there’s nothing more peaceful than a dead man.” Blam Blam Blam. It was called, “The Rifle, Man!” I seem to remember a panel where he pitched his rifle at some bad guy. (As noted above by **Rick** , he spent some time pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers.) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/47 "2012-06-27T14:42:20Z")
Was he supposed to be a sharpshooter? If so, why did he need to modify his rifle? The only reason to do that kind of mod is to get a higher volume of fire. But if he’s a crack shot, why does he need to spray the area with slugs? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/48 "2012-06-27T14:45:51Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > I remember a Mad Magazine takeoff of The Rifleman, drawn with the face of madman Lucas McCain, in which everyone he saw he murdered. And I remember a Mad treatment of “Branded.” It opened with some precursor of Gallup taking a survey in a small Western town. He asked people who the current President was, and nobody knew. He asked them who Queen Victoria was, and nobody knew. He asked them who Jason McCord was, and everybody said, “That’s the dirty mangy coward who deserted his men at Bitter Creek!” ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/49 "2012-06-27T14:51:17Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Was he supposed to be a sharpshooter? > > If so, why did he need to modify his rifle? The only reason to do that kind of mod is to get a higher volume of fire. But if he’s a crack shot, why does he need to spray the area with slugs? He didn’t spray; he shot quickly and accurately, frequently killing three or four armed men in as many seconds. He made Leone’s Man With No Name look like a pussy. He would have given Chuck Norris some trouble. ---
**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 27, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/50 "2012-06-27T14:52:24Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > The only reason to do that kind of mod is to get a higher volume of fire. But if he’s a crack shot, why does he need to spray the area with slugs? Because if he didn’t, at least one of the half-dozen guys he’s mowing down might manage to get a shot off himself. 😃 I remember one episode where he was in a target shooting contest. He emptied a whole magazine in about three seconds, firing from the hip. When the judge examined the target (of course, every round was a bulls-eye) he said something like “You could cover that spread with a silver dollar! I think we have us a winner here, folks!” ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/51 "2012-06-27T14:53:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > How many bullets did that damn thing hold, anyway? I counted eight shots in one Youtube clip. Pretty much every cowboy star (including Roy Rogers) routinely shot 8 or 9 bullets from a 6-shooter before reloading. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/52 "2012-06-27T16:14:28Z")
Chuck Connors athletic career is interesting, but he never pitched for the Dodgers. He was in the Dodgers minor league system but had only one major league at bat. He finally asked to be traded and was, to the Cubs, where he played first base before being sent to the minors in Los Angeles. It was there he was discovered by Hollywood. Chuck also played professional basketball for many minor league teams and the Boston Celtics. He was the first NBA player to break a backboard, which he did in pre-game warmup. One of only 12 guys to play major league baseball and in the NBA. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/53 "2012-06-27T17:39:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You are correct, Sir. 🙂 Thank you. Good to know a few brains cells still fire in sequence. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/54 "2012-06-27T17:59:43Z")
> [@denquixote](#): > > Chuck Connors athletic career is interesting, but he never pitched for the Dodgers. He was in the Dodgers minor league system but had only one major league at bat. He finally asked to be traded and was, to the Cubs, where he played first base before being sent to the minors in Los Angeles. It was there he was discovered by Hollywood. Chuck also played professional basketball for many minor league teams and the Boston Celtics. He was the first NBA player to break a backboard, which he did in pre-game warmup. One of only 12 guys to play major league baseball and in the NBA. When Connors and Crawford were on “The Rifleman” together, they would often play in pickup baseball games. When Connors came to bat, however, the games would usually come to an end, because they difficulty finding the baseball afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/55 "2012-06-27T23:10:23Z")
> [@OtisCampbellWasRight](#): > > I could be remembering this wrong, but I could have sworn “The Rifleman” was a different show than “Branded.” One being about a rancher single-father with a slick rifle and awesome skills, while the other was about a disgraced civil war soldier whose calvery sword was broke in half, and who subsequently sharpened the stub into a fearsome weapon. But it was a long time ago… Yeah, “Branded” was a different, later show also starring Chuck Conners. But I don’t remember him sharpening the broken sword into a weapon. In the opening credits he picks it up and looks at it sadly after he walks out of the fort, but I don’t remember ever seeing it in an actual episode. > [@TonySinclair](#): > > He didn’t spray; he shot quickly and accurately, frequently killing three or four armed men in as many seconds. He made Leone’s Man With No Name look like a pussy. He would have given Chuck Norris some trouble. I recently saw an episode where Mark is taken by Mexican banditos (led by Martin Landau, no less). When McCain catches up to them when they’re in a bar, he rushes in, shoots one with the handgun he has, then grabs his rifle off a nearby table and shoots the other two (or three?) before they can get off a shot. It was definitely portrayed as quick, accurate shots, not spraying. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/56 "2012-06-27T23:37:38Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Yeah, “Branded” was a different, later show also starring Chuck Conners. But I don’t remember him sharpening the broken sword into a weapon. In the opening credits he picks it up and looks at it sadly after he walks out of the fort, but I don’t remember ever seeing it in an actual episode. You are mistaken about that; he used it so frequently that it was practically his trademark in the series. He even used it as a throwing knife, which was patently ridiculous given the enormous handguard, but it made for good TV. ---
**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 28, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/57 "2012-06-28T00:05:55Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > I recently saw an episode where Mark is taken by Mexican banditos (led by Martin Landau, no less). Lot’s of great guest stars on the show. The first episode had Dennis Hopper, and he was in at least one other. Many 50s and 60s character actors and future stars appeared on the show. ---
**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 29, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/58 "2012-06-29T01:12:10Z")
When I was a kid, we used to sing a parody of the “Branded” theme song. It was about someone stuck in the john with no toilet paper. I can’t remember the words except the concluding couplet: “What do you do when you’re stranded/ and you can’t find the roll?” ---
**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 29, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/59 "2012-06-29T01:44:02Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > When I was a kid, we used to sing a parody of the “Branded” theme song. It was about someone stuck in the john with no toilet paper. > I can’t remember the words except the concluding couplet: > “What do you do when you’re stranded/ > and you can’t find the roll?” You got most of it. “Stranded/Stuck on the toilet bowl/What do you do when you’re stranded/and you can’t find the roll?/Wherever you go for the rest of your life/you must prove/you’re a man/Use your hand.” ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286/60 "2012-06-29T03:16:00Z")
> [@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. Oh, man, I LOVED the [Channel 39 Western Weekends](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KXTX-TV). I was glued to the TV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rifleman-did-they-ever-explain-his-backstory/626286.md?page=4)