Posted on 01/15/2015 6:23:25 AM PST by NowApproachingMidnight
Archaeologists conducting surveys in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park came upon a gun frozen in time: a .44-40 Winchester rifle manufactured in 1882. It was propped up against a juniper tree.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
If I had found it you wouldn’t be reading about it.
Firearms will do that kind of thing, you know.
I was wondering if the feds are going to destroy it just because they can?
LOL! There should be a law that all rifles have a compass imbedded in their stocks. That way they won’t get lost.
Is that the same one in the movie, Winchester '73 with Jimmy Stewart and Shelly Winters? I love that movie.
Exactamundo.
Yes.
Herb Parsons did the trick shooting in the movie. He was Winchester’s showman in the 50’s.
/johnny
1873 Winchester, one of the most beautifully designed rifles ever made.
A century in the open would have resulted in much more rust that what this pic shows, even accounting for a very dry climate.
that’s a question the scientists will answer, but a good point to raise. Also, if it had been leaning against the tree that long, wouldn’t the tree have engulfed it to some extent, the way cedars do to barbed wire fences? Unless it’s a REALLY slow growing tree, and a REALLY dry climate.
that’s a question the scientists will answer, but a good point to raise. Also, if it had been leaning against the tree that long, wouldn’t the tree have engulfed it to some extent, the way cedars do to barbed wire fences? Unless it’s a REALLY slow growing tree, and a REALLY dry climate.
I do not think so. The picture shows the stock resting on leaves and twigs which it would definitely not have been if there a long time.
The article said the stock was buried partly into the ground.
My mistake.
So it appears to be an 1873 manufactured in 1882. But that doesn't mean it's been sitting against that tree since 1882.
Probably have you arrested for having a firearm on protected land.
Thanks for that! Sure sounds like a non event.....in another time it would be a big deal....oh well....nothing to see here. Moving on....
I doubt if there is any mystery. It’s a hunting rifle. The guy (or gal) got a muley, had to drag it out, set his gun down, then couldn’t remember where in the tarnation it was when he went back to get it.
It happened before the National Park was created on October 27, 1986, and hunting was still allowed. The gun even old at that point, probably didn’t shoot well, didn’t have a scope, and didn’t have a lot of monetary value therefore not a great deal of time was spent looking for it. My dad let me use his rifle just like that in the 70’s so I could hunt. Of course Dad had a newer 30.06 with a scope - the relics were used by kids and for plinking.
“But that doesn’t mean it’s been sitting against that tree since 1882.”
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Exactly! Someone could have left it there, for whatever reason, at some point during the 20th century. We’ll probably never know the exact year.
Babs Boxer might want to know if the rangers with the rifle have had their background checks done.
And the other guy has a compass dangling..and a bandaged right hand!
What's up with these guy's?? ha!!
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