Subdeacon Joe Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 http://m.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada/new-clue-casts-light-mystery-antique-rifle-nevada Park officials now believe the rifle sat there, leaning against a juniper tree on a remote outcrop, since at least 1930. Jensen said it could have been left as far back as 1900, a conclusion backed by experts at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West's Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyo. That's where the park sent the Winchester Model 1873 this year to be examined and stabilized in its current, weathered condition. In the process, the staff at Cody took an X-ray of the rifle and discovered a cartridge tucked inside its stock where cleaning rods normally were kept. The .44-40 caliber bullet was carefully removed and traced back to its long-gone manufacturer: Connecticut-based Union Metallic Cartridge Co., which merged with Remington in 1912. Jensen said the folks in Cody believe the cartridge was made sometime between 1889 and 1911. They also were able to determine the rifle was manufactured in February 1882 and shipped from Winchester's factory in New Haven, Conn., in June 1882. But the Winchester records kept at the museum did not reveal where the gun was shipped or what happened to it after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace_of_Hearts Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 I posted this video about 6 months ago. Reposted in case someone didn't catch it. https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0SO8wFVqlRWcqAAHQZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyYjduN2o5BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjExNjBfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=rifle+found+in+nevada+desert&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Drifle%2Bfound%2Bin%2Bnevada%2Bdesert%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fp%3D1&fr=%26fr%3Dyfp-t-901-s&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DWN.30xFf1jWQB%252bmUdqlf6iiqg%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkkboM5FBAd0&tit=First+Public+Look%21+132+Year+Old+Winchester+Rifle+Found+in+...&l=435&vid=d2622de575d99b0e677e75502b5bac05&sigr=11bs5ccse&sigb=12cejnsbe&sigt=11t7o6t3d&sigi=1213m65sj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bama Red Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Whatever the eventual facts, that rifle has had a marvelous history. Just for sentimentality's sake (I'm a big softy inside), I would love to see it restored to operating condition, if that were even possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace_of_Hearts Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Whatever the eventual facts, that rifle has had a marvelous history. Just for sentimentality's sake (I'm a big softy inside), I would love to see it restored to operating condition, if that were even possible. That won't happen with the gubermint involved. They love the term "arrested decay". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Somebody needs to let Forty know they found where he left his rifle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seldom Seen #16162 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 My theory is the owner died close by. I'd like to see do a dig around tree for any evidence of a person being there. Most of the bones are probably long gone carried off by wild animals but there would pieces of metal such as belt bucket, extra / spent cartridges and clothing items such as buttons and maybe some leather from his boots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramblin Gambler Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 This gun was just leaning against the tree, right? In my experience, trees grow around things that are putting pressure on them in just a few years. So it seems strange that this gun wasn't inside the tree after all these years. Maybe it's different for Junipers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 This gun was just leaning against the tree, right? In my experience, trees grow around things that are putting pressure on them in just a few years. So it seems strange that this gun wasn't inside the tree after all these years. Maybe it's different for Junipers. No, the "gubermint" is involved. It was allowed to age in Area 51 before being secretly moved to the juniper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_slinger Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Fast forward to 4:59 I'm Ace's video. Where is the carrier in this rifle? Looks like carrier is missing. Perhaps that has something to do with why it was left leaning against a tree? Am I missing something here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace_of_Hearts Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 The carrier is missing. Perhaps it was lost by the user turning the rifle into a single shot. My ESP says this was a rifle handed down to a young boy as his first rifle. He set it down to dress a deer and the rifle blended into the surroundings, never to be found till now. But this is just my mind receiving vibration from the either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_slinger Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 The carrier is missing. Perhaps it was lost by the user turning the rifle into a single shot. My ESP says this was a rifle handed down to a young boy as his first rifle. He set it down to dress a deer and the rifle blended into the surroundings, never to be found till now. But this is just my mind receiving vibration from the either. Ace, That works for me. of course, it could have been aliens beaming the original owner up to the mother ship. I did see somewhere when they X-rayed the rifle, there was a round in the compartment in the stock where cleaning kit would go. GS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backshootin beauford mcgee Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 good place to keep a spare, just in case you ran out of those in the gun and in your pockets and on your belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bama Red Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Somebody needs to let Forty know they found where he left his rifle... Dang, Hardpan!! How about a little warning next time? I almost swallowed my tongue, I was laughing so hard! (If you made me wake my Bride up cause of my laughing, you're in a heap of trouble, boy! :D ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 My most humble and sincere apologies to Missus Red... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 How about a practical joker who found or bought a junker and decided to mess with the minds of folks in the future? The history of guns like this just drive me nuts! Like an itch you can't scratch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus McGillicuddy Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Hard to believe but this happens not infrequently. Check out the collection at the Museum of Dug Up Guns in Cody, WYO. They have a number of specimens there which were left in or on trees that grew to engulf the rifle. MDUG is free to visit & IMHO on of the best reasons to visit Cody. The size of the collection is amazing. Seamus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramblin Gambler Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Yeah, so why didn't that happen to this gun that had been there for 100 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Morningwood Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 My theory is the owner died close by. I'd like to see do a dig around tree for any evidence of a person being there. Most of the bones are probably long gone carried off by wild animals but there would pieces of metal such as belt bucket, extra / spent cartridges and clothing items such as buttons and maybe some leather from his boots. Could be owner fell and broke an arm or a leg. Despite Hollyweird, rifles do not make good crutches for long hauls. Maybe some broken ribs? Any of those injuries make carrying 9 pounds of rifle very far impossible for most folks. Guy could have died anywhere out there or made it home, but not able to go back. Would make a great start to a short story, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Yeah, so why didn't that happen to this gun that had been there for 100 years? Tell us.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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