The Rifleman
First name.....Nils/Niles/Nels Last name.....Swenson/Svenson aka "The Blacksmith" ~ trivia question -
How many actors played Nils or was it Niles or Nels? Was it Swenson or was it Svenson? There were six different actors who played Nils or Niles or Nels. Here is a list of all of them - who played them and any conflicts in the episodes - to who's who?????
*Any questions ~ corrections ~ I sure would like to hear them!
John Dierkes ~ Nels Svenson
'Duel of Honor' ~ episode 7 ~ 11/11/58 ~ credits - The credits name him as Nels Svenson
'The Sister' ~ episode 9 ~11/25/58 ~ the Blacksmith's sign reads - Nels Svenson. The credits name him as Blacksmith Nels ~ These pictures are from 'The Sister'
*When Lucas says his name in 'The Sister' it sounds like he's saying Niles?
Frank Hagney
In the beginning of the episode 'The Money Gun' - Sanderson says....."care for a drink Nels/Nils?" The credits list him as Blacksmith
'The Money Gun' ~ episode 33 ~5/12/59
Henry Rowland ~ The credits 
list him as Nels
'The Baby Sitter' ~ episode 52 ~
12/15/59
Karl Swenson (check out the last name)
'The Vision' ~ episode 66 ~ 3/22/60 ~ The credits list him as Svenson
'The Jailbird' ~ episode 73 ~ 5/10/60 ~ starred as Chris Mance
I think this is where
some of the confusion comes in with the Nils/Niles/Nels Last name.....Swenson/Svenson ~ Th
is is Nils Svensen
~ Farrier & Veterinarian ~ in this episode Nils has a
Mrs.
Svenson.
These pictures are from 'The Vision'
Joe Higgins - Nils Swenson
'Strange Town'
as the bartender ~ episode 81 ~ (10/25/60)
'The Wyoming Story' (part 1) ~ episode 96 ~ (2/7/61) ~ starred as Rafe
'The Wyoming Story' (part 2) ~ episode 97 ~ 2/14/61) ~ starred as Rafe
'Short Rope for a Tall Man' ~ episode 103 ~ 3/28/61 ~ starred as Jerry Schneider
'Stopover' ~ episode 107 ~ 4/25/61 ~ starred as Scotty
'First Wages' ~ episode 112 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 10/9/61
'Honest Abe' ~ episode 118 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 11/20/61
'Long Gun From Tucson' ~ episode 121 ~ 12/11/61
'Gunfire' ~ episode 126 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 1/15/62
'The Day the Town Slept' ~ episode 139 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 4/16/62
'The Man from Salinas' ~ episode 130 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 2/12/62
'Quiet Night, Deadly Night' ~ episode 146 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 10/29/62
'Death Never Rides Alone' ~ episode 147 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 10/22/62
'I Take This Woman' ~ episode 148 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 11/15/62
'The Anvil Chorus' ~ episode 154 ~ 12/17/62 ~ in this episode Nils has posted a sign for no guns in town. Here he has signed his name as Nils Swenson.
'Suspicion' ~ episode 157 ~ Nils Swenson ~ Nils Swenson ~ 1/14/63
'The Sidewinder' ~ episode 158 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 1/21/63
'End of the Hunt' ~ episode 162 ~ Nils Swenson ~ 2/18/63
