In 2014, a 132-year-old rifle was discovered leaning against a tree



In 2014, a 132-year-old rifle was discovered leaning against a tree in a remote part of the Nevada desert by pure chance. 
Archaeologist Eva Jansen led a team on an expedition to search for artifacts in the Nevada hillside within Great Basin Park when they stumbled upon the rifle.

The rifle was found with its wooden stock partially buried and severely rusted, making it nearly indistinguishable from the tree behind it. Identified as a Winchester Model 1873 due to an engraving of "Model 1873" on its side, it was one of the most popular guns of its era. 
Winchester produced over 700,000 of these rifles, which were relatively inexpensive at the time (around $50 then, equivalent to $1,000 today) and earned the nickname "the gun that won the west."

The circumstances of how the rifle ended up in its resting place, exposed to the elements, remain a mystery. The chief of Great Basin Park noted that there were no other artifacts nearby that could provide clues about its origin. 
The Great Basin area has a history rich with ranchers, settlers, miners, and Native Americans, making it challenging to pinpoint the rifle's owner. 
Ms. Jansen has conducted preliminary research to trace the gun's owner, but it is likely that the owner's identity and story will remain unknown.

Comments

  1. DebrayOctober 19, 2023 at 5:02 AM

    That would be so awesome to find! A part of gun history!

    ReplyDelete
  2. bcanzOctober 25, 2023 at 4:15 PM

    Yes. It`s really amazing. Yet. There is more to discover.

    ReplyDelete
  3. B DubyaNovember 6, 2023 at 3:26 AM

    The serial number should be key to the history of this rifle. Winchester Arms records should show the order from the individual or the retailer that bought the gun from them. At least you should be able to determine the date the rifle was manufactured, and with some research into the seller (retailer most likely), identify the first individual buyer, and the location of the retail sale.
    Of course, a little general store in a now ghost town in Nevada would be almost impossible to find any records for, once it went out of business before the turn of the 20th century. But Winchester has records of every serialized gun it ever made.

    ReplyDelete

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