Hollywood again

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Catpop

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9EA64803-9837-4F82-9724-4B12D79FA367.jpeg Hollywood at it again!
I noticed this on a Rifleman rerun preview this morning- a left handed Winchester model 92. Wow! But I guess just a film negative reverse!
 
They used at least three of those '92's every episode... the one Chuck Connor is famous for running had a screw in the trigger guard. The insurance company said they wouldn't cover it if he hurt his hand. They probably had one without the trip screw for scenes that didn't involve rapid fire. Then there was probably a rubber dummy rifle for when it'd get dropped or thrown around.
 
I've read from several sources that the model 92 that got thrown around on the "rifleman" show was an El Tigre copycat of the Winchester made in Spain. Just over a million of these were produced from 1915 to around 1936 and were used for hunting and for militia/police work in both Spain and South America. Many were imported into the US at some point and could be had for very little money compared to a real Winchester 92. Consequently they were also put to work in Hollywood and if a gun had to be handled roughly, the El Tigre would be used if available.

Spain had some odd patent laws where one could file a patent in the country, but if the patented item was not produced in country, it was not protected by law--hence Winchester never bothered to file a patent there. Of course by 1915, the patent on the model 92 would have expired anyway. These rifles still pop up on Gunbroker and the like, but now they sell for almost as much as the real thing.

Here's a "Forgotten weapons" episode on them.

https://www.forgottenweapons.com/ria-spanish-el-tigre-winchester-92-copy/

Cheers
 
That sounds quite reasonable - couple of years ago a props guy mentioned that a new rubber molding costs about $300-400 to be made. This includes the labor, materials and the entire process of preparing the firearm, making a silicone cast and finally the molding.
 
The premise of The Rifleman was always amusing.
Gunman? Who me? No, I'm just a peaceful rancher raising my young son.
 
I know of a guy who'd love a left-hand lever action. Heck, I can see some advantages being a rightie.
 
The premise of The Rifleman was always amusing.
Gunman? Who me? No, I'm just a peaceful rancher raising my young son.
You missed the first episode. He was a gunman in the Indian Territories. His wife died and he moved to a new area to ranch and raise his son. His past followed him. He was not always the good guy he was in the show.
 
Stag Arms did some business catering to the sinister crowd, and Charter Arms still offers a snubbie that way too.
And, I own both a left handed Stag and a Charter Arms Southpaw. I also have a left handed Randall 1911A1. All of which means I refuse to ignore firearms made for folks like me just because some righthanded dolt thinks we shouldn't have all of the same advantages that they have.
 
I know it may well be my old eyes but while I see a LH loading port I don't see an ejection port. Anyone else see similar??
The 1892 was top eject. so, no ejection port on the side. By the way, he fires more rounds than the 1892 holds. They added another shot sound to make it match the music.
 
The 1892 was top eject. so, no ejection port on the side. By the way, he fires more rounds than the 1892 holds. They added another shot sound to make it match the music.

Yup, every week Lucas would shoot up Main Street in North Fork. Mica hated it but wasn't about to tell him so. McCain was just too tough, and the only casualty was the same old watering trough.
Besides, McCain was the only gunfighter who brought his own band and announcer.
Very classy. ;)
 
Ironically, the very first of the line -- the Civil War Henry -- was completely ambidextrous (having no loading gate).
 
RedLegRick writes:



..which would seriously mess me up, and I'm left-handed.

Weird thing is, I'm a rightie, but I carry and shoot my EDC left-handed because it works better, yet I shoot my Glock and rifles right handed no problem. Had an opportunity to test fire a southpaw CA and I could definitely see one in my collection because I had no issues at all with reloading.

As for a lever with a left hand loading gate, even for a rightie, it would seem easier to top it off while maintaining a positive hold on the weapon. I don't know, just seems that way to me.
 
It's all about "suspension of disbelief." OK? I had trouble was with a Charles Bronson movie. If featured a Browning machine gun that morphed briefly into a what looked like a German MG-42. What ever it was it was not a Browning at that point. It morphed back into a Browning for the latter bloody scenes. Hard to suspend on that one.
 
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The August 2008 (v30, n4) issue of Gun and Sword Collector/ Man at Arms contains an interesting trifecta of articles related to the Rifleman TV series. There is a short article on El Tigre Spanish rifle and a two-page essay on Chuck Connor's prop rifle in the NRA Museum by Philip Schreier, but best of all, a personal childhood reminiscence by editor Stuart Mowbray's in his opening column about the time he nearly amputated his middle finger trying to imitate Lucas McCain's signature moves using a Daisy Golden Eagle BB gun.

MAARiflemanColumn.jpg

I have a real soft spot for this old series. If you haven't watched the Rifleman in a long time, try going back and view the first dozen or so from the very first season. Some excellent work there by writer/director Sam Peckinpaw.
 
Weird thing is I just went to You Tube and could not find a rifleman Opening with the picture and so loading port reversed...

also ended up wasting half an hour listing to open themes of 40-11 western TV shows of the late 50's and 1960's thanks to you guys

I really like the Virginian theme even if the TV character bears no resemblance to "Smile when you say that so I'll know you're joking."

-kBob
 
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