Winchester Model 1873 barrel and magazine
January 2015 - BAKER, NV - On November 6, 2014 Cultural Resource Program Manager, Eva Jensen working with the park archaeology team, noticed an object beneath a Juniper tree. Getting a closer look she discovered that is was a rifle.
Numerous questions surround the small piece of American heritage in Great Basin National Park. The 132 year-old rifle, exposed 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.
“Model 1873” distinctively engraved on the mechanism identify the rifle as the Winchester Model 1873 repeating rifle. The serial number on the lower tang corresponds in Winchester records held at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum in Cody, Wyoming, with a manufacture and shipping date of 1882. Currently, the detailed history of this rifle is unknown. Winchester records do not indicate who purchased the rifle from the warehouse or where it was shipped. The rifle was not loaded when it was found, but would have held .44-40 caliber ammunition when in use.
Winchester Model 1873 rifles hold a prominent place in Western history and lore. The rifles are referred to as “the gun that won the West”. 720,610 were manufactured between 1873 and 1916 when production ended. In 1882 alone, over 25,000 were made. Selling for about $50 when they first came out, the rifles reduced in price to $25 in 1882 and were accessible and popular as “everyman’s” rifle. The Winchester business plan included selling large lots of rifles to dealers or “jobbers” who would distribute the firearms to smaller sales outlets.
This rifle may provide its own bit of lore. Mysteries of the rifle’s journey through time spur creative and lively discussion. Who left the rifle? When and why it was leaned against the tree? And, why was it never retrieved? The Great Basin cultural resource staff is continuing research in old newspapers and family histories hoping to resolve some of the mystery and fill in details about the story of this rifle.
The park will provide a viewing opportunity for the community on Friday, January 16, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Great Basin Visitor Center classroom, and on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Border Inn from 2:30 until 5:00 p.m. during the annual Old Sheepherders Gathering. After the viewing, the rifle will be sent to conservators to stabilize the wood and apply museum conservation techniques. The treatment will keep the gun looking as it was found and prevent further deterioration. When the rifle is returned to the park it will be displayed as part of the Park’s 30th Birthday and the NPS Centennial celebration.
Article, Photos and Captions Credit: Courtesy of the National Park Service
This was the original picture the park posted on Facebook with the teaser questions, "Can you find the man made object?"
How easy do you think it would be to find something like this?
With time, sun, wind, rain and snow aging the gun it blended almost perfectly with the tree it was leaning against
"Model 1873" This engraving provided the information needed to correctly identify the rifle
The park Chief of Cultural Resource Management works carefully to remove the years of built up dirt and debris from around the stock
A view of the stock after it has been cleared
Chief of Natural Resources inspects the gun closely to find the serial number.
This number is very important. It helped the park identify the gun through the assistance of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum.
The Winchester 1873 butt plate from above
