Two Ounces of Tin

One day a rider came into town, his name was Tip Corey. He was no stranger to North Fork. Corey had a grudge against the law. Years ago, the Marshal of North Fork allowed his father to be killed by a mob. Now Corey was back for revenge. He didn't care that the Marshal was no longer here, all he wanted was to see the Marshal and his badge lying in the dirt by sundown.

It didn't take long for the street to clear when everyone saw who it was. Micah went into his office to get his shotgun. Micah approached him.

"Corey, get back on that horse and ride out!" "A man usually gets told to ride out of town when he's broken the law, Marshal," said Corey. "I'm not waitin' for you to leave a body lying in the street Corey.....I'm tellin' you what we tell all killers ridin' into North Fork, keep on movin'!" Corey didn't like what he was hearing; he started to walk slowly towards Micah. "You got a lot of faith in that badge your wearin' Marshal. I'd say off hand that badge is worth about as much as it weighs. 'Two ounces of tin' don't bring much on the markets these days. You told me to get out of town Marshal, but I'm not gonna tell you that. You go on living in this town, you grow old, and you die in bed here." He then took the barrel of his gun and tapped Micah's badge. "But that badge, I wanna see it lying in the dirt at sundown. If that badge is still pinned to your vest at sundown Marshal, you'll be lying in the dirt with it!" Corey then slowly backed off; still holding his gun on Micah. He got on his horse and rode out of town.

Mark was on his way home when he ran into Corey outside of town. Corey heard him comin', not knownin' who it was, he drew on Mark. "Hi!" Said Mark. "Hi boy!" Said Corey. Mark noticed Corey was rubbing his horses leg. He ask Corey if there was something he could do to help. Corey told him he could trade horses with him. Mark told him it wouldn't be such a good swap from his side. Corey told his horse, Coco, he'd take him into town and get him fixed up real proper. Mark told Corey that our ranch was just around the bend, he'd be glad to take them there. Mark told him he'd make up a bandage and a salt pack to take down the swelling. Corey took Mark up on his offer.

Mark fixed Coco's leg. Corey was pleased. He wanted to pay Mark, but Mark didn't want anything for it. Corey looked around the ranch. "Nice farm, real nice. There's something about standing on your own land. Workin' it. Knowin' you'll get out of it what you put into it," said Corey. Corey wanted what Mark and I had. It hurt to see this and know he would never have it. Mark told him about the town hall meeting tonight and the picnic suppers and the games. "Listen to me! Don't ever leave the land boy. Always be a part of it, part of the community, people looking at you, always being glad to see you."

Mark ask Corey if he was a wagon train scout. He told Corey you don't usually see anyone wearing buckskins

in these parts. He told Mark that buckskins were a habit with him. Corey told Mark how he traveled with the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for four years. Mark's eyes lit up and he had a smile on his face from ear to ear. Mark ask him what he was in the circus. Corey told him he was a gun handler, a fancy shooter mostly. Mark ask him if he would show him. Corey agreed. Corey went thru his act. He did all kinds of fancy gun tricks from flat spins, all kinds of spins. Little tricks to catch the eye. Then when he was done with the spins he nicely drops his gun into his holster. He told Mark he had a special trick he use to do for Wild Bill, that's why he hired him. He then took a nail and drew a circle on the barn. He told Mark he was going to put a bullet hole in the circle. Then he was going to put the knife over the bullet hole. Mark was amazed! "Now for the last lesson." "Hold it! There won't be any last lesson," I said as I climb off of my horse. "Get off this ranch and be quick!" "But Pa.....Mr. Corey was just....." "You heard me Corey, mount up and get out of here." He thanked Mark for the bandage and rode off. Mark wanted to explain. There was nothing to explain. Tip Corey was a killer, plain and simple. "Where ever he goes he leaves a dead man behind. There must be twelve men in their grave because of him. I explained to Mark that Corey was in the Wild West Show until he found out there was more money in killing people. "He draws so fast.....you can just barely see him," said Mark. I told him he better get washed up. He was going to help Mrs. Wingate at the town hall tonight. I told him I had to hold down Micah's desk for him. I told Mark that Micah had proof that a boy was innocent and so he had to go to the county court. I would be his deputy. "Pa.....have you ever seen Corey's circus act?" I ask him why. "The things he can do with that gun."

Corey stopped by his Pa's grave. "I'm sorry it took me so long in comin' back Pa. I didn't forget about you, not for a second. Just took me a while to search him out, that's all. But I found him Pa. I finally found him and I killed him! I killed some others too. It just happened Pa. I went searchin' for just them five but.....things just happened. Now they call me a fast gun. A killer!

Nobody ask why,
nobody! No matter where I go Pa, There's always somebody waitin' for me. Waitin' to make me prove it! And that's all I do Pa, I just keep proving it and proving it and proving it and I'm lonesome Pa!" He was crying. "Pa, Pa, I'm
lonesome!"

I was surprised to see that Micah hadn't left yet. He had said he wanted to get an early start. He told me he changed his mind and that I wouldn't have to take over for after all. I ask him if it was because of Tip Corey. "I'm certainly not going to throw my badge into the street so he can grind it into the dirt," said Micah. I told Micah Corey was just blowing off steam. I told him Corey had stopped by my place and when he left he was headed south. There was nothing behind my place except high butte. I told him I doubted that he would come back this way and if he did it was a five hour ride and he wouldn't be here until midnight. I told him he had plenty of time to get up to the county court and back. I ask him what was more important, a boy on his way to prison for something he didn't do or standing on his pride against a gun slinger. He felt if he hurried he could be back by ten. "You know Lucasboy, pride is a funny thing. It can get you into trouble dealing with people. Then, without it, it can get you into trouble dealing with yourself." I noticed Corey riding into town. I didn't want Micah to know. I saw Corey go into the hotel. I told Micah to have a good trip and I'd tell Mrs. Wingate to save some food for him. Corey can out of the hotel in time to see Micah ride off.

I was putting on the Marshal's badge as I was walking out of Micah's office. There was Corey leaning' against the hitchin' post. "I see your wearing the Marshal's badge Mr. McCain." "That's right!" I said. "Are you going to be wearin' that badge at sundown?" I nodded my head. "You know what I told the Marshal about that badge, don't you?" "I know." "Well if I were you Mr. McCain I'd take that badge and put it back where I got it from." "you don't happen to be me Corey." I started back into Micah's office when Corey yelled....."Mr. McCain!" Just then Mark came from along side of the hotel. He was puzzled. He didn't know what was going on. "Mr. McCain!" "You've got about an hour to think it over! Whether you should die for a badge that doesn’t belong from you!" "You happen to have the same hour Corey." "I'll be movin' on McCain. But when I do I'll be looking down in the dirt and I'll be seeing that badge. Whether it's pinned to your shirt or not is your choice to make, not mine!" He then went back into the hotel. I was concerned about what Mark was thinking. I remembered what he had said earlier....."The things he can do with that gun." Mark started to approach me. "Mark! You go on back to the town house until I come for you."

He just stood there. "Go on son."

Mark had gone to talk to Corey. Corey ask Mark if I had sent him to talk to him. "No!" Said Mark. "I just can't understand you Mr. Corey. My Pa's only a rancher; he never did anything to you." "I know he didn't," said Corey. "Then why do you want to fight him?" Corey told Mark he didn't want to fight me. He liked me. "I like a man who stands up straight and says what he means." "It's that badge he's wearin'! What it means to this town." Mark told him if the Marshal's badge was thrown into the dirt he would be makin' a fool out of the town. Corey told Mark about the grave behind our ranch. He told Mark there was a cross there, written on it 'unknown.' Mark told him he knew the one. He had planted flowers there but they never took. Mark said he felt sorry for whoever was buried there. Things got quite for a while. "My Pa's buried there boy! He was killed right out here in the street.....by some drunken trail hands." "I'm sorry." Said Mark. "There were seven. We rode into town we saw these drunken trail hands, they were funnin' with a young Indian girl. He said to me, boy.....you go over to the marshal's office and you fetch him. I went over there. I got the marshal out alright. He took one look at what was goin' on, he turned around and went right back into the office. Them drunken trail hands.....they killed him. They knew there was nobody who was going to stop them from what they were going to do so they killed my Pa." Mark told him that was a long time ago and Micah and his Pa wasn't even here then. "But the law was here! My Pa believed in that law! Because he believed he died! But I found them boy. And I killed them. Now there's only one thing left. The Marshal's badge!" Said Corey. "My Pa will never throw that badge in the street. He's got too much pride. Please Mr. Corey. You’re so good with that gun; don't want nothing to happen to my Pa." "Please!" "You better go boy." Mark started to leave

Corey called to him. "Boy! Thank you for planting the flowers on the grave." "They never took, I don't know why but they just never grew," said Mark. Corey walked over to Mark. "Maybe they never grew 'cause he wanted you to come back and plant some more." Mark left.

Corey came over to Micah's office to see me. All the while Mark was watching and waiting. "Mr. McCain.....I don't think you can out shoot me, do you?" "I don't know. But I'm not anxious to find out." "Then why are you going up against me?" Ask Corey. I told him I didn't believe in compromising principles. He didn't believe in it either. He wanted my badge. This was his unfinished business. I think he came to town looking for an excuse to kill and I told him that. He told me I was wrong. I told him I doubted if anyone ask to face his gun, so when he uses it, it was by his choice. "Mr. McCain.....what does that mean to you.....I mean throwing that badge into the dirt. It's a symbol. Pick it up when I'm gone! But it's important to me Mr. McCain. Very, very important!" I shook my head no. "What have you got to loose? You've got everything I've ever wanted. You've got a son.....a home.....friends. All I've got is my reputation!" "Mr. McCain, let me leave this town with what little I came in with!" "I can't back down now! Not if I want to go on living!" "I have to live with myself too Corey." He said he was going to get his horse. After that he was coming back and calling me outside. "Then I will have to kill you!"

"Marshal McCain!" I picked up my rifle and went out to face Corey. "I'm waitin' for that badge you're wearing!" I stood there facing him. "Unpin it McCain! Unpin it and let it drop in the dirt or so help me you'll drop with it pinned to your shirt!" "That's the only way you'll get it in the dirt Corey, by dropping me with it! But somebody else will pick it up. That's the one thing you don't understand. There'll always be somebody around to pick up for what's right." "You mean somebody picking up that badge?" Ask Corey. "McCain.....you've got a lot to learn about this world. When this is all over and your lying in the dirt that pin star will be shining white hot. It will be much to hot for anybody to touch. And when your lying there in the dirt there McCain, I want you to look around.....take one look.....and you tell me who will pick it up?" He looked around. The townfolks bowed their heads. There was no one who would say a word. "Nobody McCain! Not a soul!" "Go ahead McCain, go ahead and ask them! Ask them.....who will pick up the badge?" "I'll pick it up! Yelled Mark. He was sobbing. "Maybe not right away, but someday somewhere I'll pick it up and I'll come after you! Won't be for a long time yet! But someday, someday you’re gonna see that badge again and I'll be behind it! So you just be ready Mr. Corey. Ya' hear? Cause someday.....somewhere....." "Mark! Stand back son!" "Along time ago on this very spot I said words like that," said Corey. He just stood there starring at Mark. Then he turned to me. "I'm calling you McCain!" He went for his gun. "Don't do it!" I yelled. Corey didn't get a shot off. I shot him. Mark and I went to his side. I held him. "You were slow," I said. "A man gets tired McCain." He turned to Mark. "Flowers?" "All right," said Mark. Corey died in my arms calling his Pa." I looked at Mark.
"Flowers?" "I know what he meant Pa."

We had Corey buried next to his father. Mark planted flower just like he said he would. We stopped by one day. This time the flowers didn't die off, hopefully this time they would grow. "There's something I don't understand. Mr. Corey talked so nice sometimes like he maybe liked everyone, like he wanted to make friends. How comes he only did things that didn't make him happy?" "Sometimes a man comes to a fork in the road, he stumbles over a little stone and get himself mixed up and takes the wrong road. Somebody once said....."There but for the good grace of God go I."

piddlin' stuff.....Sammy Davis Jr. played Tip Corey. He was the guy who wanted the Marshal out of North Fork by sundown. But I'm sure ya'll

know who he is. He also appeared in another episode of "The Rifleman" as Wade Randall in 'The Most Amazing Man.'
He was one of Chuck's favorite guest stars and a close friend. He was well known for his saying "Here come d' judge" on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and his song "The Candy Man....." ♫ Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can.....♫

I have talked to several people who knew Sammy and said that in his prime he was one of the fastest in America with the western fast draw.

"No brag.....just fact!"
*Sammy Davis Jr. bought two of Joe Bowman's famous customized Ruger Single Action pistols - Joe was in "When the West was Fun."
Sammy lost his left eye in a car crash when he was his way to record the theme song for the Tony Curtis film, "Six Bridges to Cross" (1955).
He was a member of the "Rat Pack" with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. All appear in "Ocean's Eleven" (1960).
There was a rumor out - now mind ya' I don't know if it's true or not, but Sammy Davis Jr., a big fan of "The Rifleman", agreed to appear in two episodes of
"The Rifleman" for a rifle????? Couldn't find anything on this anywhere????? Anybody know anything about this?

Johnny Ginger as Ted. He was the guy who threw a bucket of water into the street in the beginning of this episode. Also the guy to the left of Mark when Mark confronts Tip Corey when asked.....Go ahead McCain, go ahead and ask them! Ask them.....who will pick up the badge?" "I'll pick it up! Yelled Mark.
Besides "The Rifleman" Jonny was Billy the Kid in "The Outlaws Is Coming" (1965) aka "Three Stooges Meet the Gunslingers"

Johnny Ginger was on WXYZ in Detroit in the morning in the 1960s and was the host of the 3 stooges show -- he would introduce the 3 stooges film shorts and do some comedy sketches and things. All the bad guys in "The Outlaws is Coming" were the local hosts of 3 stooges shows from all around the country -- a gimmick that really helped with publicity to get all us kids to go see the last movies the 3 stooges ever made.
Johnny Ginger also got some bit parts in ABC shows around that time, as did Rita Bell, who hosted the morning movie. I think ABC owned WXYZ. Thanks John D. for this info!

I got this e-mail on 2/21/08 from Johnny's son, Sean.

My dad, Johnny Ginger, was in the Rifleman episode, 'Two Ounces of Tin.' You probably know the character he plays. I have a 16mm film from the set of that episode. It's silent and black and white. It has Sammy Davis Jr. and my dad riding horses as well as footage of Chuck Connors and the cast and crew. You can see the camera and film crew. There's a scene with Johnny Crawford riding his bike on the set.

I've been researching online and you are the only one I could find. I am curious if the producers would be interested in this film for bonus features for the new DVD set. If not, I thought the general public, as well as you would like to see this footage.

My dad also played Billy the Kid in The Three Stooges Outlaws is Coming. I have a film from that as well. I made a page for my dad if you would like to see it. Johnny Ginger

There is a picture of him with Chuck Connors on there.

Check out Johnny Ginger's video of on the set of "The Rifleman"

Alternate link.....
If you can't see this video please try this link in LiveVideo — Johnny Ginger's video

Check out Johnny Ginger's pictures on the set with Chuck.
Thanks Johnny & Sean for sharing this with us!

*What say you? "Do you think Tip Corey was the faster draw?" Remember Mark did go to Tip Corey's hotel room and asked him not to fight? I think Mark believed there was a chance that Tip Corey could beat his Pa. Not that Mark didn't believe in his father, because he did.
Now Lucas on the other hand said he wasn't sure who was the fastest. "hmmmmm.....I wonder?" But then he didn't see the show that Corey put on for Mark.
I think Corey saw Mark in himself. Searching for his fathers killers and never really having a life. He didn't want to see that happen to Mark like it did him.

'Two Ounces of Tin' #131—Mark appears to be wearing a holster as he stands along side of the building when Corey asks who will pick up the badge? But when he steps out to face Corey, no holster. Thanks Rob!

At the end of this episode Lucas says ~ "There but for the good grace of God go I."
Although the theme is taught throughout Scriptures in many situations, the phrase itself is not from the Bible. However, the statement is a nice reminder that we are all sinners, saved by God's grace, all who accept God's son Jesus as savior and Lord of their lives. It is also a reminder of the grace we should dispense lovingly to others less fortunate or to those who are in desperate situations. It is a spoken reminder of how we are truly called to be a balm and helper to the downtrodden. The phrase is not a phrase to write someone off, but a call to one's own conscience, a cry to the very one uttering the words, in a sense saying, "How might I reduce the misery of that situation"

I think of Romans 12:3 "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
Thanks Pastor Stan!
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with