# Who's the toughest TV cowboy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2013, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210 "2013-01-24T11:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/21 "2013-01-24T22:55:44Z")
Your word choice makes it hard. “Toughest”…just what do you mean? I mean, Cheyenne was without a doubt the strongest. Matt Dillon could take so much punishment and still come back and shoot four or five people. Paladin has that air of potential evil about him. I think Yancy Derringer was the sneakiest. Now that I think about it…Probably Shotgun Slade…or maybe Johnny Yuma…or… ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/22 "2013-01-24T23:10:02Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Lucas McCain killed more people than small pox. Yup, in the gun control debates, when people bring up the violent video games kids play today, I always counter with The Rifleman. It was really a family values show, with the single father laying down good morals for his young son. But somehow, living on a farm ten miles away from a one-horse town, Lucas managed to kill two or three people a week. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/23 "2013-01-24T23:14:44Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > The classic TV westerns were all way before my time, and too “white hat/John Wayne”-style for me… I have heard, but don’t know as it it was before my time, that the first year or two of Gunsmoke was much grittier and more violent, and Matt Dillon’s hat had a distinct tinge of gray. It evolved into a more standard story because the idea of an ambiguous hero was too weird for audiences of the day. But yeah, I’d say Matt Dillon as toughest. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/24 "2013-01-25T00:00:12Z")
James West. At least he had the coolest partner, and the coolest train. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/25 "2013-01-25T00:29:12Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Cowboy Curtis in a walk. Damn you! This is what I thought when I saw the thread title. > [@TonySinclair](#): > > But somehow, living on a farm ten miles away from a one-horse town, Lucas managed to kill two or three people a week. That soil wasn’t going to fertilize itself, son. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/26 "2013-01-25T00:43:03Z")
I’ve watched Shane so many times on TV I want to count him, but it has to be The Rifleman, he takes his shirt off way more than any of the others and is always real sweaty. Also, Adam was the real badass gunfighter on Bonanza. And if Gus was so deadly why didn’t he take out The Blue Duck when they parlayed down at the crick? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/27 "2013-01-25T01:08:30Z")
> [@slowlearner](#): > > And if Gus was so deadly why didn’t he take out The Blue Duck when they parlayed down at the crick? The Duck of Death? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/28 "2013-01-25T02:04:30Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Yup, in the gun control debates, when people bring up the violent video games kids play today, I always counter with The Rifleman. It was really a family values show, with the single father laying down good morals for his young son. > > But somehow, living on a farm ten miles away from a one-horse town, Lucas managed to kill two or three people a week. I caught a rerun just a few weeks ago. I didn’t remember it that well. I was shocked to see how much violence there was. And in the episode I watched, hardcore anti-Mexican racism. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/29 "2013-01-25T02:21:59Z")
The Vigilante, _Justice League Unlimited_ ---
**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:** [January 25, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/30 "2013-01-25T02:48:05Z")
> [@toast\_pakora](#): > > C’mon, it was the Rifleman. > [@campp](#): > > Second The Rifleman. He pretty much wacked at least one guy per episode. > [@Zeldar](#): > > None of those series guys, including Cheyenne Bodie, held a candle to the _Lonesome Dove_ main charcters played by Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall. They were modeled on some real-life men who were even tougher. > [@White SIFL](#): > > Which is why I disallow him. Lucas didn’t allow himself to get shot so capriciously. Nick Barkley was a bit of a badass. I loved Gil Favor but not aggressive enough. Early Lucas is a winner hands down. > [@Loach](#): > > Lucas McCain killed more people than small pox. > [@PlainJain](#): > > McCain. > [@Missy2U](#): > > Yup. > [@TV\_time](#): > > Your word choice makes it hard. “Toughest”…just what do you mean? I mean, Cheyenne was without a doubt the strongest. Matt Dillon could take so much punishment and still come back and shoot four or five people. Paladin has that air of potential evil about him. I think Yancy Derringer was the sneakiest. Now that I think about it…Probably Shotgun Slade…or maybe Johnny Yuma…or… > [@TonySinclair](#): > > Yup, in the gun control debates, when people bring up the violent video games kids play today, I always counter with The Rifleman. It was really a family values show, with the single father laying down good morals for his young son. > > But somehow, living on a farm ten miles away from a one-horse town, Lucas managed to kill two or three people a week. > [@slowlearner](#): > > I’ve watched Shane so many times on TV I want to count him, but it has to be The Rifleman, he takes his shirt off way more than any of the others and is always real sweaty. Also, Adam was the real badass gunfighter on Bonanza. And if Gus was so deadly why didn’t he take out The Blue Duck when they parlayed down at the crick? It is unquestionably the Rifleman. Bodie was bigger and stronger looking than the rest, but we all knew he was dumb as a post. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/31 "2013-01-25T02:51:35Z")
My two candidates are Max Sand (Steve Mcqueen) and Eastwood in “Hang 'em High.” ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/32 "2013-01-25T04:16:54Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gUGVF1Dj99Q/hqdefault.jpg "THE LEGEND OF LUCAS McCAIN....THE RIFLEMAN") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUGVF1Dj99Q) ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/33 "2013-01-25T04:21:01Z")
Raylan Givens. He wears a Stetson so qualifies as a cowboy in my book. And he’s a US Marshall. That sounds vaguely cowboy-ish. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/34 "2013-01-25T04:43:59Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > “…It is unquestionably the Rifleman…” Unquestionably. Chuck Connors is a card carrying Bad Ass\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/35 "2013-01-25T04:44:35Z")
Great thread, BTW. Here’s a classic scene between ‘Lucas’ and Lee Van Cleef : > **[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/?app=desktop)** > > Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Gots to lurve cowboy badassery. Raylan’s great too. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/36 "2013-01-25T05:22:55Z")
Not to take anything away from Chuck Connors in the TV show, but if you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at [The Big Country (1958)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051411/?ref_=sr_1) in which Gregory Peck beats the total shit out of Connors’s character. Great movie. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/37 "2013-01-25T05:28:44Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Not to take anything away from Chuck Connors in the TV show, but if you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at [The Big Country (1958)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051411/?ref_=sr_1) in which Gregory Peck beats the total shit out of Connors’s character. Great movie. I’ve always felt sorry for Connors for having to play that part. He also did Cowboy in Africa. Life can be cruel sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/38 "2013-01-25T07:32:50Z")
First in with **Will Sonnet** t… Not the badest but he can shoot. **Hoss** is the best fighter! ymmv…tsfr ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/39 "2013-01-25T09:32:10Z")
Michael Landon as Little Joe was badass enough. “Z!” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210/40 "2013-01-25T11:48:21Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > James West. That’s who I was going to nominate. Robert Conrad broke his freakin’ skull on that show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-toughest-tv-cowboy/648210.md?page=3)