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 ...
he paid $5 back in the 1890’s...
That’s just amazing!
I wonder how long it has been sitting there. I wonder what happened with the owner.
I had an 1873 38-40 also that I bought when I was young.
It was in fair to good shape and a lot of years ago a guy made me an offer I couldn’t refuse cuz I needed the money, wish I still had it.
He was in a Twilight Zone episode, getting some medicine for his sick baby.
Loved Jimmy Stewart in the movie by the same name.
guess now they’ll hunt down the owner and fine him for weapons on federal land, and then destroy the gun. yes i know it’s not in firing condition.
Cool story.....
The climate/geography pictured, especially the tree, is identical to my own west of Austin.
To set a rifle like that means you aren’t wandering far from it.. maybe to sip out of a stream or do private business before you set camp. The owner got snatched by something or someone who didn’t see him set the rifle.
Question is, why was the guy there in the first place? Quite remote as the rifle was never noticed by anyone thereafter.
ping
So did I, a good movie that I still remember when I was a kid.
You just have the worst luck... losing the boat was bad enough... but then when you slipped and hit your head and can't even remember which lake you had that boating accident? Man, that's rough.
Ammo will last a surprisingly long time but not in those conditions.
I had some 7.65 Argentine Mauser ammo made by FN in 1933. It generally fired OK but there was an occasional hang fire. Not a long one but still not instant ignition.
Left out in the elements like that, it would go bad pretty soon.
You'd be surprised at the value of that "oddity" factor! Especially if they can manage to trace the owner's story!
American Indian personalized Winchesters, even in horrible shape bring some amazing prices...
I’ve got a First model 1873 44-40 that left the a Winchester factory the same month of Custer’s last stand. I’m also building a 32-20 out of new and old parts. Very cool rifles.
I was watching a Randolph Scott western the other day, and he was shooting a lot of bad guys with a Winchester. I bet that’s the gun he was shooting them with. I don’t know why he left it there.
You never watched Jeremiah Johnson did you? ;)
It was left by a fur trapper who froze to death.
Bingo.
It is a mystery.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.