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March 20, 2010
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There isnt much to the story but I thought I would share. Some state archaeologists found an 1873 rifle leaning in a cedar tree on Great Basin National Park, Nevada. It looks like its been there a while, and likely a good example of what a “relic” should look like.
Here is the link:
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
December 1, 2012
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Remarkable story. Lots of possible speculation as to what happened to the fellow who left it there.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
May 2, 2009
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I wish they would of said if it was loaded and with what kind of loads, that would somewhat date when it was left.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
May 2, 2014
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I read today it was ‘unloaded’…true or not I have no idea.
I recently passed on a slightly better Model 1873(had better wood)….ruff ruff…had no bore to speak of(.38WCF)…supposedly ‘discovered in the wall of a building in New Mexico.
September 11, 2008
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The winchester story has even managed to Germany: http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/132-jahre-altes-winchester-gewehr-an-einem-baum-in-nevada-entdeckt-a-1013306.html
Steff
May 23, 2009
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A friend of my fathers owns a pawn shop and a guy brought in what was supposedly a found 73 in a hay field buried slightly underground. Whether he did or not I truly don’t know for sure. But looking and the condition of the gun I believe the story. Dad cleaned it up and got it into firing condition. Its a 3rd model in 38-40. I’ll have to post a pic of it sometime. It is heavily pitted exterior, rough dry rotten type wood. I remember dad cleaning out the barrel. The gun must of had an additional 2-3 pounds of dirt dabbers nests from one end of the barrel to the other. The action was completely froze up. I kinda wonder know if the gun would be worth more froze up than if he had cleaned and gotten it shooting. One of the roughest bores I have ever seen, but you can still hit a pie plate @ 25 yards with it. I used to use it in SASS for a little while, most just for amusement. I would get some looks with it for sure.
-Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
May 23, 2009
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Just figured I’d add this little update about this gun I came across. Others may of already come across it, but figured I’d update this page anyway.
It is neat that they were able narrow down the year range between 1887-1911 using the cartridge found in the buttstock.
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Radiograph-showing-cartridge.jpg
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WInchester-cartridge-found-in-stock.jpg
Here is the article page that I found this own. Funny how this hasn’t gotten any additional major news coverage. I guess all the other Gun Issues supersede.
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/37574
Supposedly a friend of a friend found a confederate $5 dollar bill in the butt-stock of his Henry Rifle that was worth a decent amount of money.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
December 1, 2012
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Fabulous! Thanks for the update.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
May 2, 2009
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It still doesn’t narrow down when it was put there since the bullet could of been stuck in the stock years before. I know I have found things stuffed in the cleaning rod hole and they weren’t put there yesterday.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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