How Well Do You Remember the TV Series, The Rifleman?

By: Carolyn Brooks Fleming
Estimated Completion Time
1 min
How Well Do You Remember the TV Series, The Rifleman?
Image: ABC

About This Quiz

In "The Rifleman," Lucas McCain would rather use his words than his weapon. Of course, the show wouldn't be much of a Western without a fair share of shooting, right? How much do you remember about this classic TV show?
Who is the Rifleman?
Lucas McCain
Lucas McCain is the Rifleman. He is a widowed rancher.
Frank Sweeney
Mark McCain
John Wayne

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Which actor played Lucas McCain?
Michael Landon
John Wayne
David Canary
Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors played the title role, Lucas McCain, in "The Rifleman." Did you know he also appeared as The Sarge in the 1982 comedy film "Airplane II: The Sequel"?

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How is Mark McCain related to Lucas McCain?
Lucas is Mark's son.
They aren't related - just happen to have the same last name.
Mark is Lucas' son.
Mark McCain, son of the Rifleman, was played by Johnny Crawford. Back in 1955, Crawford was one of the original Disney Mouseketeers!
The two are brothers.

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What sort of rifle does Lucas McCain use?
Winchester
Lucas' signature rifle is a Winchester. However, he prefers to work things out with words whenever possible.
Smith & Wesson
Colt
Browning

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Lucas McCain is a veteran of which war?
WWII
War of 1812
WWI
Civil War
Lucas McCain is a veteran of the Civil War. Eleven states left the Union to support slavery during "The War Between the States." We all know how that turned out - thank goodness.

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Where is "The Rifleman" set?
South Park
Forks
North Fork
The show is set in North Fork, in the New Mexico Territory, back in the 1880s. New Mexico didn't become a state until January 6, 1912.
Frankfurt

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Who is the town marshal?
Lucas McCain
Micah Torrance
Marshal Micah Torrance was played by actor Paul Fix. In addition to many TV appearances, Fix was featured in the movies "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "El Dorado."
Rooster Cogburn
Matt Dillon

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Who owns the General Store?
Miss Milly
Milly Scott, known as Miss Milly, owns the General Store for most of the show's run. Actress Joan Taylor, who played the part, can also be seen in 1956's "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers" and 1957's "20 Million Miles to Earth."
Good Golly, Miss Molly
Thoroughly Modern Milly
Milli Vanilli

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Which actor made a guest appearance on "The Rifleman"?
Dennis Hopper
Lon Chaney Jr.
Michael Landon
All of the above
So many well-known actors appeared in the show! In addition to those mentioned above, famous visitors included Robert Vaughn, Agnes Moorehead, Robert Culp, James Coburn and Vic Morrow.

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In what year did "The Rifleman" debut?
1948
1958
"The Rifleman" debuted in 1958. It ran for 168 episodes, over five seasons, until it went off the air in 1963.
1972
1962

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Writer Sam Peckinpah originally wrote the pilot for "The Rifleman" as an episode of what other show?
Let's Make a Deal
My Favorite Martian
Gunsmoke
It was written for the only other Western in the list - "Gunsmoke." In that script there was no son, and Lucas McCain had the first name John. So how similar was it, really?
The Flintstones

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How many shots are fired during the opening credits of "The Rifleman"?
77
None
One
12
Twelve shots are fired each episode, during the opening credits. That's before the real action even starts!

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What part of McCain's rifle allows him to spin it in his hand?
A spinning wheel
A spin doctor
A ring lever
McCain's Winchester has a ring lever. That's a special modification that wasn't even available during the years the story takes place. Oh well.
A fidget spinner

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Does Lucas McCain shoot left-handed or right-handed?
Left
Right
Both
Lucas McCain fires both left- and right-handed. He could have left the ranch to be a stunt-shooting star.
He never fired a weapon

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Who is the town doctor on the show?
Doctor Seuss
Doc Burrage
Doc Burrage was played by several actors, including Ralph Moody in 12 episodes. Moody later appeared in "Bonanza."
Dougie Howser, M.D.
Dr. Phil

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You Got:
/15
ABC