VINTAGE TV

Memories of Lucas McCain as The Rifleman

And his son Mark

Photo Associates, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

∘ VINTAGE TV
· Lucas knew how to handle a rifle
· Larger than life
· People deserve a second chance
· Back in the early sixties, I watched The Rifleman religiously

Mark was a good kid and a lucky one, too. Even though he didn’t have a mother, Mark was fortunate to have a father like Lucas McCain, who had the whole town of North Fork, New Mexico, as his support system.

I was never sure what Lucas and Mark raised on their ranch, but it must have earned some money to stay afloat. They were pioneers in the early Western days, and crime was a big issue. And as a result, he spent more time dealing with criminals and displaying his gun skills than caring for his ranch.

Lucas knew how to handle a rifle

I’ve never seen anyone shoot a Winchester rifle like Lucas McCain, played by Chuck Conners. He was a rapid-fire shooter, twelve bullets in a row, mowing down the bad guys while walking the dirt streets in his pointed boots. He made it look so easy. It was a technique called “spin-cocking,” which allowed him to shoot with one hand. No one in Western TV land could handle a gun like Lucas…