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One of the most beloved Western series, often hailed as the greatest ever made, is available to watch now on Amazon Prime. Released in 1958, The Rifleman follows the story of Lucas McCain, a widower and devoted father who works to maintain order in an often-lawless Wild West town while raising his son, Mark. Set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, Lucas is forced to confront several different challenges and often finds himself forced into using his rifle to solve issues.

Yet despite the constant threats, Lucas remains the community's moral anchor, using every challenge as an opportunity to teach Mark the difference between right and wrong. The show highlights their powerful father-son bond while placing a single father at its center, a rare focus for television at the time.

Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford starred as father and son Lucas and Mark McCain for five seasons across 168 episodes before the ABC series concluded in 1963.

Explaining why they chose to arm Lucas with a rifle as opposed to a regular gun, Connors said: "In our show, the rifle is a symbol, not a trademark. It's a symbol of dignity and the way it's used indicates very strongly that it is meant for hunting animals, not men. The only time Lucas uses the gun against men is when he has to defend himself."

The actor, who died aged 71 in 1992, added that Lucas was never comfortable using his gun against another person, and he made sure that reluctance was reflected in his portrayal of the character throughout the series.

Though it certainly wasn't the first ever made, The Rifleman is considered as a defining series that helped shape the Western genre.

The series still resonates with fans decades later, with many claiming it still holds the title for the greatest Western of all time.

"The Rifleman may be television's greatest western," wrote one fan as another penned: "The Rifleman is the greatest Western of all time."

Expressing admiration for the show on IMDb, a third said: "I'm 43 and have loved this show since I was a kid - and it was in reruns then. It's special in so many ways. The open affection between father and son (a rarity in the '50's). The moral lessons that are woven into the narrative - without seeming preachy. In addition to this, there's the writing! I tend to drift with modern shows, even my favorites - but I always pay attention when I'm watching The Rifleman."

Another posted: "A young Johnny Crawford was outstanding playing his son, and the obvious affection between these two was a big reason for the shows success, I enjoyed it on Australian TV when I was young, and now at 76, I'm enjoying it all over again. A lasting tribute to the great Chuck Connors, and one of the best western series ever produced!"

An additional fan echoed: "The Rifleman is a timeless masterpiece that transcended the limitations of its genre."