The contact surface of the tree where the gun was leaning, what did that look like? How about the ground where the butt was resting, was there an impression was there dirt caked all around the base of it? If you lean something against a tree for a very long time it tends to become part of the tree. Same with the ground. Something resting on the ground for a long time has a way of settling in.
My hunch is that someone recently found this down a ravine, or hidden between large rocks and then stood it up there.
Because I can't see it remaining upright in the elements for 132 years.
Agreed, I have the same thoughts. For sure it hasn’t been leaning against that juniper for anywheres near a hundred years.