The Rifleman Chuck Connors
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This rapid fire mechanism was designed originally just to keep Chucks finger from getting punctured by the trigger as he fired and cocked the rifle very fast. The role demanded that. To have a rifle modified in this way certainly presents a safety hazard since the gun will fire in a semiautomatic fashion as the lever is cocked if the screw is turned in to initiate the trigger. The Rifleman cocked the rifle in two unique fashions. He spin cocked it and swing cocked it. These two cocking methods enabled Chuck to cock the rifle using only one hand.

On the next page titled Rifleman rifle photo, you can view The Rifleman's rifle upclose.
For more extensive information on Lucas McCain and His infamous rifle
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Chuck Connors THE RIFLEMAN
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Chuck Connors

Chuck Connors was more than just a firearms enthusiast. All of the guns in his personal collection were very important to him. Connors proudly displayed them in his home and carried a .357 revolver on his person.
 
The weapon that made the Rifleman a television legend was an 1892 .44-40 Winchester carbine. The gun itself was specially modified with a large loop and metal tab to turn his rifle into a rapid-firing machine. The modification was made giving Connors the ability to spin and cock the rifle in a dramatic fashion. The trigger guard was retooled with a screw to trip the trigger every time the lever was closed. The gun became an icon for Connors, and today is one of the most recognizable guns in the world.
 
Watch as Mike DiMuzio demonstrates THE RIFLEMANS RIFLE !

The Rifleman's Rifle Information - by Mike DiMuzio

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 Luca 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.