"Hi, my name is Lucas McCain......this is my son Mark. 'Welcome to the McCain Ranch'."  "Mark and I came here to North Fork, New Mexico from Oklahoma in 1881 to buy a ranch and to settle. My wife Margaret passed away when Mark was six years old. Mark and I decided to come to this newly settled land.  Not looking back.....just remembering back, we've come too far. This was new and mighty fine country. We needed a fresh start in a new place."

"We came to North Fork in hopes of winning a 'Turkey Shoot' contest with the 1st prize being $500. With this kind of prize money we could make the first payment on the Dunlap Ranch which is for sale and has 4,100 acres." 

Mark and I rode into North Fork and checked into the California House.  I asked the lady behind the desk how I go about entering the 'Turkey Shoot.'   She referred me to Judge Hanavan.  He looked down at my rifle.  He informed me that it was a draw and fire proposition with a five second time limit.  "Your not gonna enter with a rifle?" He asked.  I told him I'd take a try at it.  "Ten dollars entrance fee and five hundred dollars first prize."  I told him that Mark and I decided this part of the country was for us.  We were discussing the Dunlap Ranch when Wes Tippert,  the uncle of a young sharpshooter walked in. 

 He asked if I would be competing against his nephew and if anyone wanted to bet money on the pistol shoot.  The Judge told him that I had just entered the contest.  He told me he'd bet me that his boy could out shoot me or anyone else 5 to 3.  I told him I'm not a betting man.  He said....."A man that won't bet ain't much of a man."  I turned back to look at him, his face suddenly cold and expressionless.  He looked away suddenly a little afraid.  "No offense," he said.

I told Mark to go ahead into the restaurant and order our supper for us.  While he was ordering, Vernon, Wes's nephew came in and Mark invited him to join us for supper. They got to talking about how fast Vernon was and Mark told him how fast I was with my rifle.  "No man with a rifle is as fast as a man with a six gun," said Vernon.  "My Pa is. While we were living in the Nations they used to call him 'The Rifleman'," said Mark.

Marshal Fred Thomlinson was sitting at the next table looking over the menu when he overheard Mark telling Vernon how fast I was.  This caught the Marshal's attention.  He didn't bother ordering, he was too eager to tell the Judge the news.  This was just what they were waiting for.  The Judge headed on over to the Last Chance Saloon to put his money on me.  Big Jim Lewis was taking the bets.

Big Jim and his men came over to the hotel to size me up.  When I wasn't interested in what they had to say, one of his men grabbed me.  I hit him in the stomach with the barrel of my rifle and hit him with my fist.  He fell to the floor.  I flipped my rifle around, ready for any action.  I told them that they might be running this town, but that meant nothing to us.

Vernon, the young 'sharpshooter' was the favorite to win according to his big mouth Uncle Wes. Big Jim stood to win a lot of money if Vernon beat me.  He had covered all the bets on this young 'Sharpshooter'.  Big Jim Lewis practically ran North Fork.  He owned everything in town except the hotel and Judge Hanavan.

When it looked as if I'm about to win the contest, Big Jim threatened Mark's life to convince me, "The Rifleman" to throw the contest. It came to a tie between Vernon and me.  Big Jim Lewis called my attention to him having his hands on Mark, just to remind me of his threat.  So I threw the match.  Mark and the people of North Fork were disappointed that I lost the match; they didn't know I had no other choice.  The judge even told me the Dunlap Ranch wasn't for sale anymore.

Big Jim, his men and Wes went over to the saloon to celebrate.  After buying a round of drinks, Wes wanted his money.  "Alright Mr. Lewis.....how about paying Wes Tippert what you owe him!"  "You got your five hundred dollars for winning the match, what else do you want?" Asked Big Jim.  Big Jim had no intentions of giving Wes any money.  Wes took the letter out of his pocket that Big Jim had sent him. The letter read that Big Jim would give him five hundred dollars plus half of all the money won.  Big Jim had collected over ten thousand dollars in bets.  Wes wanted five hundred dollars plus his five thousand dollars from the bets.  Wes told him if he didn't pay up he would call his boy and turn him loose on them.  Big Jim made Wes a bet.  He told him if he could put a forty-five slug threw the picture above the bar he would get his money besides another thousand.  Wes agreed and when he drew his gun Big Jim shot him in cold blood.

Vernon came over to the hotel to ask me if I threw the match.  Mark told him I would never do that. But he wasn't satisfied with that, he had to ask me face to face.  He waited for me to come down from my room.  "Listen Mr. McCain.....there's something I want to ask you and I'd like a straight answer".  I ignored him.  He told me about the talk around town,  that I threw the match.  "My Pa doesn't lie!" Said Mark.  Just then Carl, one of Big Jim's men walked in and told Vernon to come over and get his uncle's body, he just got himself killed.  He told Vernon that his uncle tried to outdraw Big Jim.  Vernon didn't believe him.  He said he'd be over.  When Vernon started to leave, Mark pleaded with him not to go.  I turned to Vernon and said....."You asked me if you beat me fair and square in that match.  Do you still want an answer?"  "Yes," said Vernon.  "Why you wet nosed, two bit little punk, you couldn't whip me in ten years. So don't go spouting off about going into that saloon!"  He tried to get away from me but I grabbed him.  I told him I wanted him to stay here.  "If I don't come back.....that boy of mine is your responsibility. You get on our horses and get out of here. Do you understand? I'm not askin' you Vernon.....I'm tellin' ya'."  He agreed.  I went over to Mark and told him to get the horses packed and to wait for me.  I headed for the saloon.

 They we're waiting and watching for Vernon.  Carl told Big Jim that it was McCain coming to face him.  They had a plan in order.  When one of his men passes me a drink they were suppose to fire on me. 

I walked into the saloon, walked up and laid my rifle on the bar.  I told Big Jim I came for the boy's money.  He told me I had a choice.  I could walk out of here and walk out of town or hang tuff and face a shoot out.  I told him a proposition like that deserved a little thought.  I started to size up of the situation.  He offered me a drink.  I agreed.  Just then one of his men slid the bottle down the bar.  I shot the bottle and it shattered into pieces.  Carl then drew on me and I shot him.  The cowboy sitting at the table took a shot at me, I then shot him; while the third man ran out the side door, I shot at him but missed.  I hid behind the bar.  It was just Big Jim and I.  I shot big Jim, but only wounded him.  Then the man who ran out came out from behind the door and started shooting at me.  I heard a shot come from behind, it was Vernon, he shot the guy behind the door.  Just then Big Jim shot Vernon.  I then shot Big Jim again, this time finishing him off.  I hurried over to help Vernon.  He was shot in the wrist.  It looked like Vernon's shooting days might be over.  Vernon insisted it would be alright.  As I turned to leave, Vernon called to me....."Mr. McCain. Will you do me a favor? If that boy of yours.....Mark.....ever gets any funny ideas.....you tell him that I said he was the lucky one."  "Alright I will. Good Luck to you son!"    

In the mean time, Mark was anxiously waiting outside the saloon for the outcome of this fight. You can imagine what all is going through my son's head when the shots rang out. As I stepped out of the saloon, you could see the relief in Mark's face as he rushed to me and we embraced each other.   Mark and I were about to leave town when Judge Hanavan approached us and told us that North Fork could use people like us in this new growing town. With that I knew we could work something out for our 'Home Ranch.'

---

"Everybody's welcome to come along with us as long as you abide by the law. Speaking of the law - I'm sure Micah, our town Marshal will be stopping by from time to time. We might even head on into town from time to time and meet some of the town folks."

I do have a several scripts.....not many.....but I will add the piddlin' stuff.....from them as I go along!

Most of my information, of course, is from the television series "The Rifleman" which this website is based on
and some info from CHUCK CONNORS....."The Man Behind the Rifle"
"I wish to thank David Fury for all the work and consideration he has put into this book. It truly is a great book! I really enjoyed it!"

"It is a must for all "Rifleman fans!"

---

*Sam Peckinpah was the creator of "The Rifleman" and wrote 'The Sharpshooter' ~ 'Home Ranch'
 He wrote & directed 'The Marshal' ~ 'The Boarding House' ~ 'The Money Gun' ~ 'The Babysitter'

 piddlin' stuff.....Leif Erickson played Big Jim Lewis in this episode of 'The Sharpshooter' and later went on to star in his own TV Western ~ "High Chaparral" as Big John Cannon. He and Chuck Connors appeared together in "Branded" ~ 'Barbed Wire'.  Before "The Rifleman" and "Branded" they also appeared together with John Wayne in "Trouble Along the Way."
A tall, beefy, deep-voiced character actor who was a band singer and trombone player before getting into movies in 1935. His debuted (as a corpse) in the "Zane Grey Western" ~ 'Wanderer of the Wasteland.' 

Dennis Hopper  played Vernon Tippert in this episode of 'The Sharpshooter,' he was the young sharpshooter.  He also played in another episode — 'Three-Legged Terror' — where teenager Johnny Clover wrecks the classroom in the North Fork school.  I'm sure we all know who he is!  Does anyone remember him in "Cool Hand Luke?"  How about "True Grit" ~ "Giant" or "Rebel Without a Cause"  Oh I know - "Easy Rider" ~ maybe "Speed"- he sure was a mean dude in "Speed"  ~ what part do you best remember him in?

Sidney Blackmer played Judge Hanavan.  He played the Judge in three episodes.  He was in ~ 'The Sharpshooter' ~ 'The Safe Guard' & 'The Photographer' ~ I really liked this character.  Too bad he didn't do more on "The Rifleman."
Remember him in "Tammy and the Bachelor?"  How about "Rosemary's Baby?"   Or maybe it was one of the Shirley Temple movies? 
He was a Tony-award winning actor who played Teddy Roosevelt in seven movies, he is best remembered for his role as the warlock/coven-leader, Roman Castevet in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby (1968).
Sidney has done so many things, I'm sure you've seen him in several of them.

Charles Arnt played Wes Tippert.  Vernon's Uncle.  In the original script Wes was described as a tall, wiry old man, grey-haired, dust-grayed clothes, dirty hands, red drinker's face (as if we could tell in black & white), flabby stomach—an old fat man growing thin.
Charles Arnt was the president of the Triangle Club at Princeton University (1929) and founded the University Players with Henry Fonda, Josh Logan and Jimmy Stewart.
He started show business in 1933 until 1962.  Nothing on him from 1962 until his passing in 1990.  Wonder what he was doing all that time?  He appeared in several show.....such as "The Californians" ~ "Black Saddle" ~ "The Texan" ~ "Maverick" ~ "Bourbon Street Beat" ~ "Sugarfoot" ~ "Hawaiian Eye" ~ "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" ~ "Maverick"

R.G. Armstrong played Marshal Fred Thomlinson in this episode of
'The Sharpshooter' and 'The Marshal'.
  Do you remember what happened to him in 'The Marshal'?
The roles I remember him best in are "Friday the 13th"-
the series ~ "The Predator" and "Purgatory."  Love "Purgatory!"   How about
you?  He has done so many, many things.

Kathleen Mulqueen played Nancy Hanavan in the 'The Sharpshooter'.
 In this episode she was Judge Hanavan's wife/sister/daughter [?] and the clerk at the hotel. 
In the original script — Nancy Hanavan was suppose to be Judge Hanavan's daughter. Her description was to be a good looking young woman, competent and vital.  In the original casting Nancy Hanavan is a much older woman, no way she could be his daughter?  They must have been thinking of the episode 'The Marshal' where Abby Dalton played Nancy Moore - the Marshal's niece who tended the desk at the hotel.
Kathleen Mulqueen also appeared in three more episodes ~ 'Angry Gun' as Mrs. Peterson - the lady who was on the stage ~ 'Eddie's Daughter' as the woman standing outside the stage depot.  She was talking to Eddie before the stage came in - she gasped when she saw Lil stepped off the stage & 'The Actress' as the Landlady - she was the lady who tended Jacob until Lucas could fetch his wife.
She played Mrs. Mitchell, Henry's Mother in Dennis the Menace.

Mickey Simpson ~ played Carl Lamprey in this episode of 'The Sharpshooter' - he's the one that got Lucas' rifle barrel in his stomach. 
He also played Tub in 'The Indian.'  He was one who grabbed Mark and called him a liar when Mark left it slip and tried to cover up it up that their new Deputy United States Marshal was an Indian.  
He was a well-muscled, former 1935 New York City heavyweight boxing champ who was typically cast as a villain in numerous low-budget auctioneers, adventures, and Westerns of the '40s, '50s, and '60s.  Before making his screen debut with a bit part in Stagecoach, Simpson had been Claudette Colbert's personal chauffeur. He served with the military during WWII and then returned to Hollywood to continue his busy onscreen career. ~ Sandra Brennan

Virginia Aldridge as the waitress.  She has appeared in such shows as "Cheyenne" ~ "Zane Grey Theater" ~ "Wagon Train" ~ "Star Trek" and movies such as "High School Big Shot" ~ "Riot in Juvenile Prison" and "The Gnome-Mobile"

---

*The Sharpshooter' was an episode from the "Zane Grey Theater."  This particular episode was the pilot for "The Rifleman". "The Rifleman" made its debut in the fall of 1958. The first episode was written by Sam Peckinpah. He originally done this script for Gunsmoke, but was turned down and was told it was a piece of crap! He had thought that this was one of the best things he had written. So he took it back and reworked it.  Dick Powell at Four Stars Production bought it as the pilot for "The Rifleman". Thank goodness for Dick Powell, we may have never known Chuck Connors as "The Rifleman!"

Did you know the original title for 'The Sharpshooter' was called 'The Shooting Match?'

 Did you know that originally he was to have a six shooter and that It was Arthur Laven who came up with the idea of Lucas having a son.  Lucas had to have a reason to throw the contest.  Otherwise he would have bucked up against Big Jim Lewis & his men. 

So if the Turkey shoot was on October 12 — the McCain's must have gotten into North Fork on the 11th of October — but the plaque on their house said it was rebuilt August 1881?

In the original script Lucas' name was suppose to be John.  Lucas was a tall man, about forty—heavy-set, Indian quiet—a man of wry humor, easy friendliness and sudden violence.

In the first episode 'The Sharpshooter' ~ Lucas didn't have Razor—When Lucas & Mark came to North Fork.....what horse was Lucas riding? 

Madera House was California House

North Fork Saloon was Last Chance Saloon owned by Big Jim Lewis.  That means that Eddie and Sweeney came to North Fork after "The Rifleman."  They must have bought these from the estate of Big Jim Lewis. 

In the beginning of 'The Sharpshooter' ~ Vernon shot bullet holes in the for sale sign of the Dunlap Ranch.  Later when Mark and Lucas rode up to the Dunlap Ranch - there are no bullet holes in the sign.  On the sign Vernon shot holes into -  it said at the bottom of the sign "See Judge Hanavan" ~ the sign Lucas & Marks saw read "See Judge Hanavan ~ North Fork"
'The Sharpshooter' episode #1 versus ''Home Ranch' episode #2

In the original script Big Jim Lewis and his brother Tom ran North Fork.  He even had lines. They never acknowledge a brother or anybody by the name of Tom. His lines were said by Big Jim.

In 'The Sharpshooter'.....what were the rules for the shooting match?
This is the target that Lucas shot when he threw the shooting match.

What was the first meal Mark ordered at the hotel?

Who was the doctor with the little black bag in the saloon looking at Vernon's hand?

Who was the lady working behind the desk at the California House?

 When the original script first came out ― Mark called Lucas Dad instead of Pa.  Do you remember which episode it was that Mark really did call Lucas Dad by mistake.....they never cut it out?

"If I don't come back.....that boy of mine is your responsibility. You get on our horses and get out of here. Do you understand? I'm not askin' you Vernon.....I'm tellin' ya'." 

Chuck later dated June Allyson, Dick Powell's wife, after his death.

*Lucas intentionally shot Vernon in his gun hand so he'll never be able to draw on anyone again.  This was not the only time this happened in "The Rifleman" to a fast gun. In a later episode, 'Face of Yesterday', Lucas used this same trick on Simon Lee. 

'The Sharpshooter' episode #1—We even have a blooper found by Jeff Connors,
son of Chuck Connors.  The picture on the right is from the beginning of the episode, when Lucas & Mark stop to checkout the land.  The picture on the right is near the end when Lucas confronts Big Jim & his gang.  Take a close look at the cowboy hats Lucas is wearing.  Good catch Jeff!

Trivia—The Sharpshooter

The Rifleman Trivia Index

*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with

Home Ranch

Site Map
around the McCain Ranch
updated 4/4/08