132 Year-old Winchester rifle found against a tree at Great Basin National Park

The Washington Times ^ | January 14, 2015 | Douglas Ernst

[cripplecreek]

That’s exactly what I thought of.

[Sasparilla]

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.

[Inyo-Mono]

Bttt.

[Ouchthatonehurt]

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

[jazusamo]

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

[floralamiss]

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

[jazusamo]

Bump! :-)

[TADSLOS]

“I kilt the bear that kilt me”

[yarddog]

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

[LouAvul]

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

[JimSEA]

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

[E. Pluribus Unum]

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.

[PROCON]

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

[Misterioso]

You mean it isn’t worth shooting?

[Rannug]

“Wonder what happened to the owner.”

He went to shlt and a bear ate him.

[Blue Jays]

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

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

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.

[The Cajun]

Only good for cleaning up a little and hanging up on the wall, but who wouldn't want it.

[yarddog]

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.

[central_va]

There was a Twilight Zone episode that explains the whole thing.