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132 Year-old Winchester rifle found against a tree at Great Basin National Park
The Washington Times ^ | January 14, 2015 | Douglas Ernst

Posted on 01/14/2015 6:40:49 PM PST by jazusamo

Archaeologists traversing the Great Basin National Park in Nevada came across an interesting find: a 132-year-old Winchester Model 1873 repeating rifle.

The Facebook page for Great Basin National Park said in a post last week that researchers found the rifle, known as “the gun that won the West,” leaning up against a tree.

“The 132 year-old rifle, exposed to sun, wind, snow, and rain was found leaning against a tree in the park. The cracked wood stock, weathered to grey, and the brown rusted barrel blended into the colors of the old juniper tree in a remote rocky outcrop, keeping the rifle hidden for many years,” Great Basin National Park said in a statement.

The website said that “Model 1873” was distinctively engraved on the weapon and that the serial number corresponds with Winchester records held at the Center for the West, Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming, with a manufacture and shipping date of 1882.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: History; Miscellaneous; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: 1873; 1882; banglist; godsgravesglyphs; greatbasin; greatbasinnp; guns; history; model1873; nationalpark; nevada; park; rifle; rifles; treasure; winchester; winchester73; winchesterrifle
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To: TADSLOS

That’s exactly what I thought of.


21 posted on 01/14/2015 6:50:36 PM PST by cripplecreek (You can't half ass conservatism.)
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To: Star Traveler

I think my Great Great Great Grandfather left it there on his way back from California. The old timer forgot it and left it there when he stopped to take a whiz near the tree.
We’ll stop by and pick it up.


22 posted on 01/14/2015 6:50:54 PM PST by Sasparilla (Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum)
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To: jazusamo

Bttt.


23 posted on 01/14/2015 6:51:09 PM PST by Inyo-Mono (Just say to NO Rhinos in 2016.)
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To: jazusamo

That was put there the year the Brooklyn Bridge first opened.
Awesome!


24 posted on 01/14/2015 6:51:18 PM PST by Ouchthatonehurt ("When you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill)
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To: fso301; smoothsailing; All

Thats a very old Juniper tree, they’re slow growing and it’s big.


25 posted on 01/14/2015 6:51:36 PM PST by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin)
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To: jazusamo

If I were that tree, I’d be missing my old buddy.


26 posted on 01/14/2015 6:51:51 PM PST by floralamiss (O Lord, may I die thru love of your love, who were graciously pleased to die thru love of my love.)
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To: TADSLOS

Bump! :-)


27 posted on 01/14/2015 6:52:38 PM PST by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin)
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To: cripplecreek

“I kilt the bear that kilt me”


28 posted on 01/14/2015 6:53:05 PM PST by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: TomServo

I don’t think that one is worth anything other than as an oddity.


29 posted on 01/14/2015 6:53:15 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I What am persuaded.)
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To: jmacusa

He leaned it against a tree to carry his game to camp, then couldn’t find the tree again. Or something like that.


30 posted on 01/14/2015 6:53:22 PM PST by LouAvul (If government is the answer, you're asking the wrong question.)
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To: jazusamo

That is some wild, empty and beautiful country just out of Ely, NV.


31 posted on 01/14/2015 6:53:39 PM PST by JimSEA
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To: jazusamo

Reminds me of those horse skeletons they find once in awhile where the cowboy left the horse tethered to a twig and the horse stayed there even though the rider never came back.


32 posted on 01/14/2015 6:54:42 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Offend a Christian and he is obliged to pray for you. Offend a Muslim and he is obliged to kill you.)
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To: jazusamo

I just shudder at all the murders that unattended rifle probably committed over those many years.


33 posted on 01/14/2015 6:54:52 PM PST by PROCON (Je suis Charlie Bronson.)
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To: yarddog

You mean it isn’t worth shooting?


34 posted on 01/14/2015 6:55:19 PM PST by Misterioso (The essence of life is the achievement of joy, not the escape from pain. - Ayn Rand)
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To: jmacusa

“Wonder what happened to the owner.”

He went to shlt and a bear ate him.


35 posted on 01/14/2015 6:56:01 PM PST by Rannug ("all enemies, foreign and domestic")
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To: Blue Jays

Hopefully the person who found the rifle does not sell it at a “$100 Gun Buyback” program once he returns home!


36 posted on 01/14/2015 6:56:32 PM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
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To: jazusamo

I had an 1873 Winchester 44-40 carbine that was found chinked inside the walls of a log cabin. I’ve often what the story was behind hiding the rifle that way.

It was completely covered with slight pitting rust, wood was still in good shape, mud dauber wasps had filled the barrel with old mud. Once cleaned up it still worked and shot with the original springs.

Wish I still had it. The 1873 is still my favorite style of rifle.

I also had an 1873 38-40 rifle that was in real good shape. Had to sell it 40 years ago to keep from starving!

Now I have to settle with an 1873 Italian version in .357 mag.


37 posted on 01/14/2015 6:56:49 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: JudyinCanada
Only good for cleaning up a little and hanging up on the wall, but who wouldn't want it.
38 posted on 01/14/2015 6:57:00 PM PST by The Cajun (Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Mark Levin, Mike Lee, Louie Gohmert....Nuff said.)
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To: Misterioso

I think it is fascinating and maybe a great story behind it.

As for the gun itself. I would not pay $10 for it. Someone might pay a lot just for the interesting story.


39 posted on 01/14/2015 6:57:53 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I What am persuaded.)
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To: jmacusa
There was a Twilight Zone episode that explains the whole thing.


40 posted on 01/14/2015 6:58:51 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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