No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers ***NO POLITICS
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting~The Pen and Quill

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum~ Fermenter's Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Minnesota Trapline Products
Please support our sponsor for the Trappers Talk Page - Minnesota Trapline Products


Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Old rifle found leaning against tree #6732304
01/17/20 12:19 PM
01/17/20 12:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline OP
trapper
Bruce T  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
menusearchArchaeology Magazine
A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America

Forgotten Rifle Discovered in Great Basin National Park

AddThis Social Bookmark Button Share
Thursday, January 15, 2015

(Great Basin National Park/NPS)BAKER, NEVADA—Last fall, the staff at Great Basin National Park found a 132-year-old Winchester rifle, “the gun that won the West,” leaning against a juniper tree in the backcountry. Nichole Andler, chief of interpretation at Great Basin, says that the rifle appears to have been exposed to sun, wind, snow, and rain for many years. Its wood stock has turned grey and has cracked, and the barrel is rusted. A Model 1873 repeating rifle, it bears a serial number that records its manufacture and shipping date in 1882, but the records do not indicate who purchased the rifle, which sold for an affordable $25 at the time. The cultural resource staff at Great Basin National Park is continuing to look for information in period newspapers and family histories for more information on the rifle. Conservators will treat the gun before it is put on display. To read more in-depth about archaeology and the American West, see "A New Look at the Donner
[Linked Image]


Nevada bound
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732314
01/17/20 12:24 PM
01/17/20 12:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
I remember reading about that shortly after it had been found. Great story.

Of course, I have talked to marten trappers in our state that have found old traps probably from the 30's still hanging or ensconced in trees in our high cascades.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732330
01/17/20 12:30 PM
01/17/20 12:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline OP
trapper
Bruce T  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
That would be pretty neat to find.


Nevada bound
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732336
01/17/20 12:32 PM
01/17/20 12:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,471
Iowa
T
trapdog1 Offline
trapper
trapdog1  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,471
Iowa
Makes you wonder if there is a skeleton close by.

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732339
01/17/20 12:34 PM
01/17/20 12:34 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline
trapper
Actor  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
I bet the owner of that... after he left this site passed through the digestive system of a Grzz or big cat.

Garry-


“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Have been trapping 77 years…
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732340
01/17/20 12:34 PM
01/17/20 12:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 238
Ontario Canada
D
d2009 Offline
trapper
d2009  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 238
Ontario Canada
Maybe it was Rip Van Winkles? No wait ..that was the catskills lol

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732346
01/17/20 12:41 PM
01/17/20 12:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
He probably did what I have done too many times. Leaned it against a tree and went to do something and then couldn't remember where he left it since all those trees look alike.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732348
01/17/20 12:41 PM
01/17/20 12:41 PM
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,492
Southern Illinois
F
Foxpaw Offline
trapper
Foxpaw  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,492
Southern Illinois
Probably had to take a crap and put the rifle in a safe spot and squatted out of reach of the gun and became prey.

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: trapdog1] #6732353
01/17/20 12:45 PM
01/17/20 12:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
T
Trapper7 Offline
trapper
Trapper7  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Originally Posted by trapdog1
Makes you wonder if there is a skeleton close by.


I was thinking the same thing.


I don't care how nice the hand soap smells, you should never walk out of the restroom sniffing your fingers.
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732357
01/17/20 12:48 PM
01/17/20 12:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
Catch22 Offline
trapper
Catch22  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
I wonder how long it's been out there. How long would it take the wood to break down and all. Cool find for sure.


I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732360
01/17/20 12:49 PM
01/17/20 12:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
J
jeff karsten Offline
trapper
jeff karsten  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
Cant believe someone would leave something so expensive and vital only reason could be They just didn't need it anymore


olden tyred
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732367
01/17/20 12:52 PM
01/17/20 12:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 898
N. W. MISSOURI
T
TRAPPER-ED Offline
trapper
TRAPPER-ED  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 898
N. W. MISSOURI
I found a old Remington 22 cal. with a octagon barrel which the large burr oak tree had growed in to the end of the barrel when I was a kid around 1975 the wood was rotten , I sold it for $50 , wish I still had but need the money


50 + years of trapping & some fur buying and i still know nothing.
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732389
01/17/20 01:10 PM
01/17/20 01:10 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,214
NE
M
Marty B Offline
"arbitrary noob"
Marty B  Offline
"arbitrary noob"
M

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,214
NE

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732395
01/17/20 01:13 PM
01/17/20 01:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
J
jeff karsten Offline
trapper
jeff karsten  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
50 bucks was pretty good money in 1975 lot of nice deer rifles traded hands for less in the wee hours of local bars back then


olden tyred
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: beaverpeeler] #6732398
01/17/20 01:19 PM
01/17/20 01:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,476
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
west river rogue Offline
trapper
west river rogue  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,476
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
Originally Posted by beaverpeeler
He probably did what I have done too many times. Leaned it against a tree and went to do something and then couldn't remember where he left it since all those trees look alike.

x2

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732400
01/17/20 01:21 PM
01/17/20 01:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,476
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
west river rogue Offline
trapper
west river rogue  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,476
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
buddy found a single shot shotgun in the woods squirrel hunting 40 yrs ago,,he sat down up against a tree and sat on it....stock was rotted off. He made an oak stock for it....kicked like a mule with that stock(20 guage)..shot it for yrs.

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732432
01/17/20 01:51 PM
01/17/20 01:51 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,009
ohio
T
tomahawker Offline
trapper
tomahawker  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,009
ohio
Looks like my trapping rig. Only missing the rope sling

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732465
01/17/20 02:36 PM
01/17/20 02:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,949
Central New York
D
Dewey NY Offline
trapper
Dewey NY  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,949
Central New York
I would stick that on my wall as is..

Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732469
01/17/20 02:42 PM
01/17/20 02:42 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,366
New York border
Cragar Offline
trapper
Cragar  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,366
New York border
Never found a rifle like that , but I have found 3 fishing poles that way near a lake.


NRA benefactor member
Re: Old rifle found leaning against tree [Re: Bruce T] #6732485
01/17/20 02:57 PM
01/17/20 02:57 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 361
NORTH DAKOTA
D
Duckstick80 Offline
trapper
Duckstick80  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 361
NORTH DAKOTA
That's a cool find. I know a friend of mine whose grandpa plowed up a military issue black powder double barrel shot gun that was really nice a quarter mile away from where General Sibley had a fort in the 1800's. They figured it was an officers and used for hunting game for food. It was from the same time period.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread