132-Year-Old Winchester Rifle Found in Great Basin National Park

by
posted on January 15, 2015

Photos courtesy of U.S. National Forest Service

Now here's a Throwback Thursday for you: Word came out yesterday that, back in November, a team of archaeologists conducting surveys in Nevada's Great Basin National Park discovered a 132-year-old Winchester rifle—apparently resting peacefully against the very tree that it had been left propped up against over a century ago. The rifle in question has been identified as a Model 1873, known to many as "The Gun that Won the West."

Reports indicate that the scientists made the discovery by sheer coincidence—spotting it by chance while passing by the tree that was nestled in. Years of exposure left the rifle looking an awful lot like the weathered tree trunk it was leaning on, providing natural camouflage. The rifle was chambered in .44-40, and was unloaded. Precisely how long the battered old lever-action spent against the tree remains anyone's guess—but the staff at the National Park was, at the least, able to date when it had been manufactured through its serial number. A call to the Cody West Firearms Museum revealed that the rifle had been manufactured and shipped in 1882. Whether it was abandoned that same year or at a far later date is impossible to know.

The Park intends to preserve the rifle in its current condition, and will make it available for viewing. In all likelihood, its story will remain a mystery.

Hit the video below for more photos of the discovery.

Latest

LEDE Henry Handguard On White
LEDE Henry Handguard On White

XS Sights Introduces Handguard for Henry Lever-Action Rifles

Designed for modern lever-action enthusiast who want to upgrade their Henry rifle, this highly customizable handguard is equipped with six M-LOK slots on each side and seven on the bottom to accommodate a wide array of accessories.

Montana FWP Announces 2025 Migratory Bird Stamp

A trio of tundra swans winging their way through a gray sky in the shadows of Rocky Mountain peaks is captured brilliantly in the 2025 Montana Migratory Bird Stamp.

Tested: EAA Witness2311 10mm Auto Hunter Pistol

This 2011 double-stack pistol is available with a six-inch barrel and an optics-ready slide for less than you might expect.

New for 2025: Escort Shotguns WS Youth 20-Gauge Shotgun

Youth shotguns are often the first introduction to hunting for many individuals, and Escort Shotguns is looking to help continue that tradition with its WS Youth shotgun.

Busting the Roost Myth: Why You Shouldn't Tree Talk to Toms

Should you call to a roosted tom? Mike Roux fills his readers in on why this popular strategy may be the reason they don't fill all their tags this spring.

Pennsylvania Antlered Deer Harvest Best in Four Decades

Pennsylvania hunters harvested about 11-percent more deer in the 2024-25 hunting seasons than they did the year before, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates released late last month.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.