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
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]
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
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/
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/
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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