Monday, April 2, 2018

Old Winchester For Monday Mystery...!

Now I've heard of some strange finds of older things before, but I admit that this one is a real mysterious find for me.

1882 Winchester Rifle



Photo credit: Eva Jensen

At the end of 2014, employees of the Great Basin National Park in Nevada were going about their daily tasks when they stumbled across a strange find. Up against a tree leaned a Winchester rifle. Just by looking at the rifle, the employees could tell that it wasn’t new, but they were amazed to find out later that it was more than 130 years old.

It was established that the rifle was a Model 1873 and was manufactured in 1882. More than 700,000 of these guns were made between 1873 and 1919. All of this information, unfortunately, didn’t shed any light on who may have owned the gun or why and how it landed up in the park. Theories include that the rifle may have belonged to a cowboy or gold prospector who left it behind while searching for greener pastures. This would also mean that the rifle had been standing upright in the park for more than 130 years. However, most find this scenario implausible.

According to experts, another, more believable, theory would be that someone inherited the rifle and decided to leave it in the park for unknown reasons. The rifle is being held at the Cody Firearms Museum, but the aim is to eventually return it to the park for display purposes.

You can guess what I would do if I found a rifle like that way out in the wilderness, right??? Finders Keepers!!

Coffee out on the patio this morning.

6 comments:

Mamahen said...

I think it more likely was stolen , and then for whatever reason, they couldn't sell it, so left it there so as not to be caught with it.

linda m said...

I'm with you on the Finders Keepers. Probably worth some money. More than likely Mamahen has the right answer. Still cold around here but no new snow.

Momlady said...

Wonder if whoever had it couldn't get any ammo for it, didn't know what it was worth, so decided to ditch it. I'd keep it for sure.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
That makes sense to me.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Linda...
Because of the4 age, it is worth a pretty penny. Glad that there is no new snow.
Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Momlady...
Whatever the reason, it's one heck of a great find. Wish it were mine!
Thanks for the visit this morning!

JO said...

Its hard to tell how weathered it is in the picture but looks like it had been there for a very long time. Could have been set down and then simply forgotten. Oh I could come up with a few theories on this one.

ready for a refill please

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
I'm thinking it has been there for quite a while. Who knows how long, though.
Thanks, sweetie, for dropping by today!