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mickeyblueyes
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Way way off......................no hints till mid morning , no googling!
Next up Lil joe Cartrights side arm.
Trivia Question.
- Thread starter mickeyblueyes
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Way way off......................no hints till mid morning , no googling!
Next up Lil joe Cartrights side arm.
Texas Star
US Veteran
I'm pretty sure that Lucas McCain had a Winchester M-92 with a large loop lever. But I haven't seen the show since I was a kid.
i like the trivia questions good excuse to learn more and fun
David LaPell
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Never mind the gun used to shoot Superman, but now I am going to have to blind out my mind's eye after seeing that costume George Reeves was wearing, there are Russian male ballet dancers with more breathing room if you know what I mean!
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mickeyblueyes
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The Rifleman's Rifle
The concept of The Rifleman Television show revolves around the unique weapon wielded by the title character Lucas McCain, and his proficiency with it. Customized by James S. Stembridge, Lucas McCain's modified 1892 Winchester SRC in .44-.40 caliber features a large rounded ring that allowed him to cock it by twirling the rifle 360 degrees. While presumably, this wouldn't be any faster than the conventional cocking method, the technique itself was probably a good psychological weapon, as the move may be likened to a samurai brandishing his sword with lightning speed. This may startle (or puzzle) an adversary and cause him to drop his guard momentarily.
The Rifleman's rifle appeared in basically two different style levers. The style changed during the series to a more flattened lever instead of the large circular loop. This modified lever enabled Lucas McCain to lever the rifle in two unique fashions. He could spin dramatically in front of him and swing it by his side as seen often in the show.
The 92 Carbine used on the show was a top eject rifle, meaning the top is completely open when the lever is cocked forward and the empty shells are ejected straight up in the air when the lever is pulled towards you. When Chuck Connors spun the rifle by his side or up in front of him, the rifle cartridges would have fallen to the ground when he had it upside down. So they had a rifle with a special plunger built inside that would hold a bullet in place for this trick. The ammunition used in the show was custom made 5 in 1 movie blanks. These blanks were made in ¼ loads, ½ loads, and full load volume charges.
Another feature of the rifle was a screw pin attached to the large loop lever which was positioned so as to trip the trigger when the ring was slammed home, thus allowing Lucas to rapid-fire the rifle, similarly to a semi-automatic pistol. The trigger trip screw pin was also used in two configurations. Sometimes Chuck had the screw head turned inside close to the trigger. Most of the times he had it on the outside of the trigger guard with a lock nut on the outside to further secure its position. In some of the episodes the screw was taken out completely when rapid fire action was not needed. When properly adjusted, this screw "squeezed" the trigger when the lever was fully closed. I may also add that it is important that the breech bolt on the rifle is fully closed at the precise time that the pin screw trips the trigger. The timing of the rifle action being in sync with the trigger trip is very critical to perform the rapid-firing of a Rifleman's rifle. In other words the set screw installed through the trigger guard part of the lever must be installed and be adjusted to strike the trip of the trigger at exactly the right time-provided of course, that the action is adjusted properly to work under this kind of triggering. So configured, the lever action carbine functioned as a "slip hammer" gun, as there was no need to squeeze the trigger to fire the shot. Accordingly, Chuck Connors, as Lucas McCain could rapid fire the modified Winchester 92 S.R.C. as fast as he was able to manipulate the big loop lever. The athletic Chuck Connors practiced until he was a master at rapid-fire with either hand with his unique fast firing Rifleman's rifle. Of course Chuck could also back the screw a few turns out of the trigger guard and the special rifle functioned normally. If one attempts to operate a lever action rifle at maximum speed without this rapid-fire modification, there's a danger of serious injury should the trigger finger get in the way of the tip of the trigger as the lever is slammed shut. According to gun coach Rod Redwing, Chuck Connors practiced until he could rapid-fire his Rifleman's rifle without the device.
Since Chuck Connors was truly ambidextrous he handled the rifle left handed and right handed with the same ease. A beginner would have to be careful spin cocking the rifle because you can hit yourself in the face or chest as you are learning the Rifleman's tricks.
The concept of The Rifleman Television show revolves around the unique weapon wielded by the title character Lucas McCain, and his proficiency with it. Customized by James S. Stembridge, Lucas McCain's modified 1892 Winchester SRC in .44-.40 caliber features a large rounded ring that allowed him to cock it by twirling the rifle 360 degrees. While presumably, this wouldn't be any faster than the conventional cocking method, the technique itself was probably a good psychological weapon, as the move may be likened to a samurai brandishing his sword with lightning speed. This may startle (or puzzle) an adversary and cause him to drop his guard momentarily.
The Rifleman's rifle appeared in basically two different style levers. The style changed during the series to a more flattened lever instead of the large circular loop. This modified lever enabled Lucas McCain to lever the rifle in two unique fashions. He could spin dramatically in front of him and swing it by his side as seen often in the show.
The 92 Carbine used on the show was a top eject rifle, meaning the top is completely open when the lever is cocked forward and the empty shells are ejected straight up in the air when the lever is pulled towards you. When Chuck Connors spun the rifle by his side or up in front of him, the rifle cartridges would have fallen to the ground when he had it upside down. So they had a rifle with a special plunger built inside that would hold a bullet in place for this trick. The ammunition used in the show was custom made 5 in 1 movie blanks. These blanks were made in ¼ loads, ½ loads, and full load volume charges.
Another feature of the rifle was a screw pin attached to the large loop lever which was positioned so as to trip the trigger when the ring was slammed home, thus allowing Lucas to rapid-fire the rifle, similarly to a semi-automatic pistol. The trigger trip screw pin was also used in two configurations. Sometimes Chuck had the screw head turned inside close to the trigger. Most of the times he had it on the outside of the trigger guard with a lock nut on the outside to further secure its position. In some of the episodes the screw was taken out completely when rapid fire action was not needed. When properly adjusted, this screw "squeezed" the trigger when the lever was fully closed. I may also add that it is important that the breech bolt on the rifle is fully closed at the precise time that the pin screw trips the trigger. The timing of the rifle action being in sync with the trigger trip is very critical to perform the rapid-firing of a Rifleman's rifle. In other words the set screw installed through the trigger guard part of the lever must be installed and be adjusted to strike the trip of the trigger at exactly the right time-provided of course, that the action is adjusted properly to work under this kind of triggering. So configured, the lever action carbine functioned as a "slip hammer" gun, as there was no need to squeeze the trigger to fire the shot. Accordingly, Chuck Connors, as Lucas McCain could rapid fire the modified Winchester 92 S.R.C. as fast as he was able to manipulate the big loop lever. The athletic Chuck Connors practiced until he was a master at rapid-fire with either hand with his unique fast firing Rifleman's rifle. Of course Chuck could also back the screw a few turns out of the trigger guard and the special rifle functioned normally. If one attempts to operate a lever action rifle at maximum speed without this rapid-fire modification, there's a danger of serious injury should the trigger finger get in the way of the tip of the trigger as the lever is slammed shut. According to gun coach Rod Redwing, Chuck Connors practiced until he could rapid-fire his Rifleman's rifle without the device.
Since Chuck Connors was truly ambidextrous he handled the rifle left handed and right handed with the same ease. A beginner would have to be careful spin cocking the rifle because you can hit yourself in the face or chest as you are learning the Rifleman's tricks.
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mickeyblueyes
Member
Next up what did Lil Joe Cartwrite use to do in the bad guys on Bonanza? Answer coming up.
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mickeyblueyes
Member
Well they didn't call him the man of steel for nothin. lol
John Wayne and Yakima Canutt first came up with the large loop on the rifle for the movie Stagecoach, released in 1939.
My favorite picture of the Duke.
My favorite picture of the Duke.
Texas Star
US Veteran
John Wayne and Yakima Canutt first came up with the large loop on the rifle for the movie Stagecoach, released in 1939.
[URL="http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy345/sheepdog54/theringokid.jpg"]
My favorite picture of the Duke.
That looks a lot like the short M-92 used by jaguar hunter Sasha Siemel, but he had the std. lever, of course.
Hollywood copies itself a lot, so this rifle inspiring the one used by Connors isn't too surprising.
I think Connors played baseball before he acted. He was a big, hard-looking man who I think had a quick temper. As a kid, I sometimes thought how unlike he was physically from the smaller, quieter Audie Murphy, also a Western and detective actor. I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of either, but Murphy was the known killer in real life, inflicting many German casualties in WW II as he earned virtually every medal the US Army could award, inc. the Medal of Honor.
I tried one of those large loop levers once. I think it was at either the SHOT show or a gun show. I learned very quickly that'd I'd better stick to std. levers. I found that big one slower to operate and the spinning rifle could knock you in the head pretty easily, as someone noted above. It was purely a Hollywood thing intended to impress viewers. I could always operate a bolt action quicker than a lever actiion, anyway. And didn't have to worry about getting my finger caught on the trigger as the lever closed. Still, If I could afford a luxury gun that I didn't need, I'd like to buy a Model 92 in nice shape or a really good repro.
Texas Star
US Veteran
What was the name of that TV show about British officers in a Bengal Lancers regiment? Phillip Carey and Warren Stevens starred. I'm amazed that I remember their names, but not sure if the show was The 77th Bengal Lancers or Lives of the Bengal Lancers. The latter was also a book by an actual Lancer officer.
I liked their Webley MK VI .455's and got one for my first real revolver, when I was 13. (Mother signed the papers.)
More recently, Will Snow as Lord John Roxton had a brace of nickled Webleys that he wore in dual shoulder holsters when not carrying a Colt .45 auto. The show was, "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" filmed in Queensland, Australia. (Queensland stood in for tropical Brazil.) Did anyone else notice that the other Webleys on the show were mostly MK IV .38's, used in the 1919-1922 time period, although the MK IV .38 didn't appear until 1927? Vintage Webleys seem in short supply now, even in Aussie prop houses. Rachel Blakely had a Webley WP hammerless one in one episode, but usually had an old Iver Johnson topbreak that was probably meant to represent a S&W hammerless or the WP. Her character, Marguerite Krux, wouldn't have used a cheap revolver like the IJ. She was a money-hungry wealthy heiress and former spy. (Worked for MI-6 as a double agent in WW I.) The show was filmed from 1999-2002, and still runs in some countries.
I liked their Webley MK VI .455's and got one for my first real revolver, when I was 13. (Mother signed the papers.)
More recently, Will Snow as Lord John Roxton had a brace of nickled Webleys that he wore in dual shoulder holsters when not carrying a Colt .45 auto. The show was, "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" filmed in Queensland, Australia. (Queensland stood in for tropical Brazil.) Did anyone else notice that the other Webleys on the show were mostly MK IV .38's, used in the 1919-1922 time period, although the MK IV .38 didn't appear until 1927? Vintage Webleys seem in short supply now, even in Aussie prop houses. Rachel Blakely had a Webley WP hammerless one in one episode, but usually had an old Iver Johnson topbreak that was probably meant to represent a S&W hammerless or the WP. Her character, Marguerite Krux, wouldn't have used a cheap revolver like the IJ. She was a money-hungry wealthy heiress and former spy. (Worked for MI-6 as a double agent in WW I.) The show was filmed from 1999-2002, and still runs in some countries.
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I would be vary wary
If I were slinging a rifle that was set up like that I'd have to wonder where the bullets would go when it went off. There's potential for disaster there.
If I were slinging a rifle that was set up like that I'd have to wonder where the bullets would go when it went off. There's potential for disaster there.
If you look closely, the revolver is actually an early prototype Glock. Superman just wanted to make sure that none of the "ugly" rubs off on his face.
Alpo
Member
Couple of late thoughts on the rifle.
Onomea said, "...gonna go with a '92 in .45 Colt". At the time The Rifleman series was made, there were no rifles in 45 Colt. It was strictly chambered in pistols.
You have to be both tall and have long arms to do it right. John Wayne's rifle, in Stagecoach and later, was shortened to 16 inches. Duke was 6'4", but still needed a shorter rifle. Chuck Conners was 6'5", I believe, but he had LOOOOONG arms, and his gun was a standard 20" SRC. I've got one with a 16" barrel. I can spin it - in front of me right-handed. I've never tried it out to the side, and never tried it left-handed. Don't wanna drop my gun.
Onomea said, "...gonna go with a '92 in .45 Colt". At the time The Rifleman series was made, there were no rifles in 45 Colt. It was strictly chambered in pistols.
You have to be both tall and have long arms to do it right. John Wayne's rifle, in Stagecoach and later, was shortened to 16 inches. Duke was 6'4", but still needed a shorter rifle. Chuck Conners was 6'5", I believe, but he had LOOOOONG arms, and his gun was a standard 20" SRC. I've got one with a 16" barrel. I can spin it - in front of me right-handed. I've never tried it out to the side, and never tried it left-handed. Don't wanna drop my gun.
The Rifleman
Anybody ever consider that he may have had a lighter wooden model to spin around? Was it not Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt that easily flipped around those twin air tanks that were actually made of balsa wood ?
Bob
SAS #74179
Anybody ever consider that he may have had a lighter wooden model to spin around? Was it not Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt that easily flipped around those twin air tanks that were actually made of balsa wood ?
Bob
SAS #74179
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