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 ...
That’s exactly what I thought of.
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.
Bttt.
That was put there the year the Brooklyn Bridge first opened.
Awesome!
Thats a very old Juniper tree, they’re slow growing and it’s big.
If I were that tree, I’d be missing my old buddy.
Bump! :-)
“I kilt the bear that kilt me”
I don’t think that one is worth anything other than as an oddity.
He leaned it against a tree to carry his game to camp, then couldn’t find the tree again. Or something like that.
That is some wild, empty and beautiful country just out of Ely, NV.
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.
I just shudder at all the murders that unattended rifle probably committed over those many years.
You mean it isn’t worth shooting?
“Wonder what happened to the owner.”
He went to shlt and a bear ate him.
Hopefully the person who found the rifle does not sell it at a “$100 Gun Buyback” program once he returns home!
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.
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.
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