According to Nichole Andler, chief of Interpretation at Great Basin:

 

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. 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. Winchester records do not indicate who purchased the rifle from the warehouse or where it was shipped.

 

 

 

Great Basin National Park | National Parks Traveler

That's a wild story, I can't imagine anyone in the 1880's leaving their rifle voluntarily. I wonder if the owner was killed, or what happened.

That's a wild story, I can't imagine anyone in the 1880's leaving their rifle voluntarily. I wonder if the owner was killed, or what happened.

 

I'm going with either Bear or Wolfpack attack!

I know nothing about this place but how remote does it have to be for a rifle to be sitting around for a century before someone found it?

That's a wild story, I can't imagine anyone in the 1880's leaving their rifle voluntarily. I wonder if the owner was killed, or what happened.

 

Just a theory, but since they found the rifle upright leaning against a tree, it seems likely that whatever got the owner got him by surprise, perhaps while he was taking a nap leaning against the same tree. If he knew it was coming, the first thing he would do is grab his rifle and try to defend himself, unless he didn't have a chance to. If he did, the rifle wouldn't be upright, but rather buried by the sands of time.

I know nothing about this place but how remote does it have to be for a rifle to be sitting around for a century before someone found it?

 

My thoughts as well.

I know nothing about this place but how remote does it have to be for a rifle to be sitting around for a century before someone found it?

 

My thoughts as well.

 

The article did say the weathering made it blend in well with the tree it was leaning against. If it's in a particularly remote place, could be that only a handful of people ever walked past the tree.

Wouldn't the tree grow around it at some point?

Wouldn't the tree grow around it at some point?

 

Depends on the type of tree, wouldn't it?

How is it that it was able to stay upright for all those years? Never jostled by wind or storms or an animal walking by?

Just a theory, but since they found the rifle upright leaning against a tree, it seems likely that whatever got the owner got him by surprise, perhaps while he was taking a leak leaning against the same tree. If he knew it was coming, the first thing he would do is grab his rifle and try to defend himself, unless he didn't have a chance to. If he did, the rifle wouldn't be upright, but rather buried by the sands of time.

 

This.

Depends on the type of tree, wouldn't it?

 

I suppose that's possible.

How is it that it was able to stay upright for all those years? Never jostled by wind or storms or an animal walking by?

 

I was thinking that too. Also, wouldn't the wood stock being exposed to rain and changes in temperature rot to the point it wouldn't be able to support the rest of the rifle sitting up right? I don't believe in the late 1800's wood preservatives were as long lasting as today's. This is not making much sense, or is it just me?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]48573[/ATTACH]

 

OK, based on that picture, I guess I can now see how someone could miss it when walking right by it.

 

Still not sure how it didn't eventually just fall over or the stock rot or something.