The Rifleman
"Welcome to the McCain Ranch"

 North Fork's Blacksmith

First name.....Nils/Niles/Nels 
Last name.....Swenson/Svenson aka The Blacksmith

  How many actors played Nils or was it Niles or Nels?  Was it Swenson/Swensen or was it Svenson?  There were seven different actors who played Nils or Niles or Nels. 

Here is a list of all of the actors who played the blacksmith and any conflicts in the episodes - to who's who????? 

*Any questions/comments ~ I sure would like to hear them!


 

John Dierkes — 1958

Duel of Honor as Nels Svenson

The Sister the Blacksmith's sign reads - Nels Svenson.  (See above)
The credits name him as Blacksmith Nels 

This picture and the one above is from The Sister

*When Lucas says his name in The Sister it sounds like he's saying Niles?
 

  

Frank Hagney — 1959

 In the beginning of the episode The Money Gun Sanderson says.....
"Care for a drink Nels/Nils?"
 
The credits list him as Blacksmith









 

as Nels in The Baby Sitter

Karl Swenson — 1960 (check out the last name)

The Vision — The credits list him as Svensen
The Jailbird — as Chris Mance

  I think this is where some of the confusion comes in with the Nils/Niles/Nels  Last name..... Swenson/Svensen ~ This is Nils Svensen ~ Farrier & Veterinarian ~ in this episode Nils has a Mrs. Svensen.

 

 
 

 

These pictures are from The Vision

 

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Joe Higgins — 1960 - 1963

You would think Nils would know how to spell his own name, wouldn't you?  But then again on the sign above it reads Nils Swenson.

How many times has Joe Higgins appeared on The Rifleman?
Do you think this breaks any records?

Joe also appeared in 4 other episodes as a different character.

Strange Town (25 October 1960) - Bartender
The Wyoming Story - part 2 (7 February 1961) - Rafe (uncredited)
Short Rope for a Tall Man (28 March 1961) - Henry Schneider (uncredited)
Stopover (25 April 1961) - Scotty the Stagecoach Driver

*Stopover was the only episode to run one day over schedule.