132 Year-old Model 1873 found against a tree at Great Basin National Park

[Au Seeker]

http://www.winchesterguns.com/library/articles/detail.asp?id=652

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Who hasn't dreamed about finding an old, classic rifle leaning against a tree. Perhaps with a note attached to it telling the story. Well . . .

You have to wonder about the story behind the Model 1873 recently found leaning against a tree in Great Basin National Park. The Model 1873 is the iconic rifle in the great American westward expansion, and is referred to as "The Gun That Won the West." So many people are trying to find the back story of this rifle. Was it just forgotten? Did something happen to it's owner. Did a hunter leave it intending to come back and find it, but never could.

Winchester staff writer, Scott Engen, gathered a few details provided by Nichole Andler, Chief of Interpretation at Great Basin National Park.

National Park Service finds an original Winchester Model 1873 in the wilds of Great Basin National Park

Many of us harbor pipe dreams of running across an original Winchester Model 1873 rifle in the rafters of a dusty attic or tucked in the dark corner of old barn.

Recently employees of the National Park Service found an original Winchester Model 1873 rifle leaning against a gnarled juniper tree in a remote part of the sprawling Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

According to Nichole Andler, Chief of Interpretation at Great Basin National Park, “The rifle, exposed for all those years to sun, wind, snow and rain, was found leaning against a tree in the park. The cracked wood stock, weathered to grey, and the brown rusted barrel blended into the colors of the old juniper tree in a remote rocky outcrop, keeping the rifle hidden for many years.”

“Engraved on the rifle is “Model 1873,” identifying it distinctly as a Winchester Model 1873 repeating rifle,” continued Andler. “The serial number on the lower tang corresponds in Winchester records held at the Center for the West at the Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming, with a manufacture and shipping date of 1882. But the detailed history of this rifle is as yet unknown.”

While the specific history of the aged Winchester rifle is as yet unknown, the opportunities for speculation are rich. Perhaps it belonged to a lone cowboy riding the high range. Perhaps it was set aside by a sourdough prospector in his search for a vein of rich ore. Whatever the actual story, it has the makings of a great campfire tale.

After museum conservation to prevent further deterioration, the rifle will be returned to the park and displayed as part of the park’s 30th birthday and the NPS centennial celebration.

It’s doubtful this unique Winchester Model 1873 will ever come up for sale. If you’d like a learn more about a real Winchester Model 1873, with the function, fit and finish equal to or even better that the original made more than a century ago you are at the right place.

You can learn more about the Model 1873 found in the Great Basin National Park at https://www.facebook.com/GreatBasinNPS"

Here are a few additional images from the rifle found at Great Basin National park

[garimpo]

Finding something like that would sure give me the giggles.

[devilishjim]

I found a nice one at a yard sale but the sale wasn't until the next day ! Don't think I slept a wink that night but bright and early the next morning with another vehicle in line behind me that 1873 and a box of shells became mine for $350

[Rimshot]

Pretty cool. Prolly some bones close by.

[DolanDave]

Hey that falls under the antiquities act, their not allowed to touch it !!!

[Rimshot]

Hey that falls under the antiquities act, their not allowed to touch it !!!

Yep Dave...they broke their on law.

[Hoser John]

That is the largest,longest production run on any weapon in history. Serial number is traceable as that 1873 date is the MODEL and not the year of manufacture. Over 50,000,000 made from 1873 to the 50s so id is easily traceable through Winchester. Fantastic find but o myne gott NEVER post such finds as in silence it's golden but in public a felony.....John

[devilishjim]

That is the largest,longest production run on any weapon in history. Serial number is traceable as that 1873 date is the MODEL and not the year of manufacture. Over 50,000,000 made from 1873 to the 50s so id is easily traceable through Winchester. Fantastic find but o myne gott NEVER post such finds as in silence it's golden but in public a felony.....John

John the National Park belongs to the Govt and Gov is not going to prosecute the Gov... Now if you found this rifle and were walking home whistling dixie I would tell you to shut up...lol

[Hoser John]

Hahahahah in ignorance there IS bliss, just trying to hekp folks stay outta trouble,NOT in agreement with bs laws,just pointing out caution is indeed needed. Where means zero nyet nothing EVER-educate and prosper as this great website has had many posts to prove that horrendous point throughout the years-John

[devilishjim]

Hear ya John talkin about sheep could get ya in trouble if not careful....lol

[azblackbird]

Now that's a "Jerimiah Johnson" find if I ever saw one. Only his rifle was a Hawken, which BTW was the precursor to the 1873.

[Dakota Slim]

I just got to thinking about this old rifle again and it wasn't far from Osceola, NV which is NV's oldest (and still going) placer operation. I believe the largest nugget ever found in NV came from here AND, just south of there is Pioche, NV which is an old silver mining town with an interesting history. I'm not sure if it is true, but rumor has it that 400 people were buried in the Pioche graveyard before ONE died from natural causes.