the riflemans rifle.
- Thread starter ratrodney
- Start date
Winchester 1892
Link to Wikipedia that describes the rifle as used on "The Rifleman."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rifleman
Link to Wikipedia that describes the rifle as used on "The Rifleman."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rifleman
As Tuzo said
The Winchester Model 1892 is the signature weapon of Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors). The famous opening shows Lucas firing 12 shots from his Winchester in less than 5 seconds! The rifle is fitted with a large lever loop to allow one hand reloading. There were actually 3 prop weapons used on the show, 2 true Winchesters and a Spanish El Tigre used for stunts.
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Rifleman#Winchester_1892
Always liked at the beginning of the show when he fires those 12 shots he's wearing gloves, that loop would have been heck on his knuckles without them.
The Winchester Model 1892 is the signature weapon of Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors). The famous opening shows Lucas firing 12 shots from his Winchester in less than 5 seconds! The rifle is fitted with a large lever loop to allow one hand reloading. There were actually 3 prop weapons used on the show, 2 true Winchesters and a Spanish El Tigre used for stunts.
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Rifleman#Winchester_1892
Always liked at the beginning of the show when he fires those 12 shots he's wearing gloves, that loop would have been heck on his knuckles without them.
.JT-AR-MG42
New member
Well Hawg, just try telling that to Lucas!
In several of the early Peckinpah shows, he is shown to have quite a temper.
Folks in Northfork learned to stay on his good side.
92s, I think, are the ultimate refinement of the lever action. Just the ticket for that rapid fire and Chuck was a pretty fair gun hand.
JT
In several of the early Peckinpah shows, he is shown to have quite a temper.
Folks in Northfork learned to stay on his good side.
92s, I think, are the ultimate refinement of the lever action. Just the ticket for that rapid fire and Chuck was a pretty fair gun hand.
JT
I am sitting in front of the tube right now watching Chuck and Paul in "The Surveyors Dream" (1959)
The 1873 Winchester would be the appropriate rifle for that time period post Civil War.
As for
I can load my 1894 one hand, but Chambering or cycling the action is a different thing.
The 1873 Winchester would be the appropriate rifle for that time period post Civil War.
As for
Would that more properly refer to, One handed Chambering?
I can load my 1894 one hand, but Chambering or cycling the action is a different thing.
Also, the guns used were modified, to keep the round from falling out when he "spun cocked" the gun.
Regular 92s (and most other guns) will not work right when you spin them around, the ammo tends to get mis aligned and jam.
There was a pretty good article about the guns, the show and Conners a while back in the Rifleman (couple years ago, I think...)
One of the other things that made the dramatic spin cocking work was Conner's height. Being tall, the short carbine didn't hit the ground like it could when spun by someone shorter...
Regular 92s (and most other guns) will not work right when you spin them around, the ammo tends to get mis aligned and jam.
There was a pretty good article about the guns, the show and Conners a while back in the Rifleman (couple years ago, I think...)
One of the other things that made the dramatic spin cocking work was Conner's height. Being tall, the short carbine didn't hit the ground like it could when spun by someone shorter...
It's not the ground that'd be the problem, it's the arm pit. 
Connors had a long reach that allowed him to spin those 20-inch Winchesters without hitting skin.
You can find Italian-made 92 variants with the elongated "John Wayne Style Loop Lever" here & there, and there's an expensive version you can order from DiMuzio at www.riflemansrifle.com with both correct lever configurations for the TV show rifles.
You can also find Brazilian Rossi 92 variants with the Wayne-style levers.
The Italian & Brazilian guns do not have the set-screw in the trigger bow to trip the trigger.
You can dicker with DiMuzio to get one on his guns.
Denis
Connors had a long reach that allowed him to spin those 20-inch Winchesters without hitting skin.
You can find Italian-made 92 variants with the elongated "John Wayne Style Loop Lever" here & there, and there's an expensive version you can order from DiMuzio at www.riflemansrifle.com with both correct lever configurations for the TV show rifles.
You can also find Brazilian Rossi 92 variants with the Wayne-style levers.
The Italian & Brazilian guns do not have the set-screw in the trigger bow to trip the trigger.
You can dicker with DiMuzio to get one on his guns.
Denis
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You can emulate the look of Lucas' carbine "on a budget" with a used Rossi 92. They've been available stock--or can be retrofitted with the Rossi part that's out there--with a close approximation of the rounded "D" style which was one of two of the loop-lever styles he used. Early style Rossi large loop:
He also used a more squared-off D which looked less refined/more backyard gunsmith, but must've suited him better operationally (as it was later episodes IIRC)...and would need to be custom-made now. The "John Wayne" style mentioned is more of an oval--also available at times from Rossi and the Italians (Chiappa made Taylor's and Cimarrons as the "Eldorado" for instance, and on some Win 94s over the past few decades) and will not give you as much of the larger-loop Rifleman look--like this current Wayne style Rossi:
Legacy Sport's (LSI) Chiappa-made "Puma" also had a fancy (autograph, emblem etc) Rifleman commemorative that was a reasonably precise Lucas McCain facsimile (with the more rounded/earlier style lever, not the squared-off).
Functionally, the large loop is a mixed-bag proposition, actually increasing cycle time in normal use. The plus side - greater ease of use in cold weather with gloves . I swapped a large loop from a 16" Rossi 92 trapper (which is how.a lot of the looped Rossi 92s came) to a regular 20" carbine - 1) I wanted at least one of my Rossis with the Rifleman look/cache, and the large loop seemed to suit the longer 20" gun better than it did the 16",.and 2) winter shooting.
As for the TV show's rapid fire modification (operable set screw): yes it can be--and has been--done, as mentioned. I wouldn't--just an accident waiting to happen IMHO, unless you are a very well trained--and tall--"showman" by trade...or unless you want the detail of the look of the set screw but fixed/backed-off so it can't be "actually actuated." Many episodes showed Lucas adjusting/backing the screw off for "normal" shooting (precision/slow target practice, hunting, etc). In one particular episode, a kid was shown accidentally shooting and killing a buddy by actuating the lever when the gun was already cocked--and of course chambered--with the screw tripping the trigger, as designed when "screwed in" but with tragic consequences. Noteworthy "gun safety" episode.
He also used a more squared-off D which looked less refined/more backyard gunsmith, but must've suited him better operationally (as it was later episodes IIRC)...and would need to be custom-made now. The "John Wayne" style mentioned is more of an oval--also available at times from Rossi and the Italians (Chiappa made Taylor's and Cimarrons as the "Eldorado" for instance, and on some Win 94s over the past few decades) and will not give you as much of the larger-loop Rifleman look--like this current Wayne style Rossi:
Legacy Sport's (LSI) Chiappa-made "Puma" also had a fancy (autograph, emblem etc) Rifleman commemorative that was a reasonably precise Lucas McCain facsimile (with the more rounded/earlier style lever, not the squared-off).
Functionally, the large loop is a mixed-bag proposition, actually increasing cycle time in normal use. The plus side - greater ease of use in cold weather with gloves . I swapped a large loop from a 16" Rossi 92 trapper (which is how.a lot of the looped Rossi 92s came) to a regular 20" carbine - 1) I wanted at least one of my Rossis with the Rifleman look/cache, and the large loop seemed to suit the longer 20" gun better than it did the 16",.and 2) winter shooting.
As for the TV show's rapid fire modification (operable set screw): yes it can be--and has been--done, as mentioned. I wouldn't--just an accident waiting to happen IMHO, unless you are a very well trained--and tall--"showman" by trade...or unless you want the detail of the look of the set screw but fixed/backed-off so it can't be "actually actuated." Many episodes showed Lucas adjusting/backing the screw off for "normal" shooting (precision/slow target practice, hunting, etc). In one particular episode, a kid was shown accidentally shooting and killing a buddy by actuating the lever when the gun was already cocked--and of course chambered--with the screw tripping the trigger, as designed when "screwed in" but with tragic consequences. Noteworthy "gun safety" episode.
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SFsc616171
Moderator
John Wayne used a '92 with a big loop on it, as well, in different times of his career.
His first movie shots, were him holding a saddle and a '92. He could spin it, as well.
Lastly, if you go and find your DVd of "Fistful of Dollars", one of the bad guys uses a Winchester, and in one of the final acts, he gives a different throw and comeback move.
Yes, a short-barreled 1892 Winnie, or clone, is a good rifle to own.
(the only other 'rifleman's rifle' that I know of, was a Remington 700, with a mil-spec scope mounted on it, a long time ago.)
His first movie shots, were him holding a saddle and a '92. He could spin it, as well.
Lastly, if you go and find your DVd of "Fistful of Dollars", one of the bad guys uses a Winchester, and in one of the final acts, he gives a different throw and comeback move.
Yes, a short-barreled 1892 Winnie, or clone, is a good rifle to own.
(the only other 'rifleman's rifle' that I know of, was a Remington 700, with a mil-spec scope mounted on it, a long time ago.)
Nail Shooter
New member
Hawg, do not think you are correct about the 10 rds. Do believe it's 12 or 13 rds of 44/40.
Nail
Nail
Heavy Metal 1
New member
He gets off 13 rounds, at least by my count last Saturday! I'll have to watch it again tomorrow. DF must absolutely soil herself watching that 19th century assault rifle pump out the rounds.
Heavy Metal 1
New member
I just watched it; I think it was 12 shots?? I thought 13 was an odd number given the superstition folks have about that. Then I considered that perhaps he had one up the pipe and 12 in the magazine tube. My coffee hasn't kicked in yet to make such pointed observations with any certainty.