Left leaning on tree 100+ years??

[andrewg]

I wasn't sure to post this under firearms section or Off Topic.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ional-park.html

Pretty darn interesting though if this rifle really was left there all that long ago.

 

[GenesisGuy70]

I saw this on Facebook. Stuff like this fascinates me. All the (possible) years it's been there and nothing knocked it over, that's crazy.

 

[John_Conrad]

Interesting indeed!

If the rifle could only talk!

 

[tig1]

Wouldn't the tree begine to grow around the rifle??

 

[dnewton3]

Very interesting.

No way to know WHEN it was left at the tree, but certainly it was a while ago.

Very atypical to leave a gun behind, especially when you're (presumably) a cow-poke or frontiersman in the middle of no where. Was it forgetfulness? Was it a planted weapon for ambush? Was it left for a friend? ...

Perplexing and enjoyable to think about, and we'll probably never know the real answer.

 

[JHZR2]

Neat find.

I was happy enough when I found a 1913 nickel when digging fence posts. Imagine finding something like this!

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Wouldn't the tree begine to grow around the rifle??


The type of tree (juniper I believe) is EXTREMELY slow growing and long-lived (as in hundreds of years if not more). In 100 or so years, it would barely have changed. The arid conditions and the general habitat lend themselves to the slow growth rate.

If you look at the butt stock of the rifle...the weathering certainly looks like it has been sitting that long.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Hard to imagine how or why anyone would leave behind a nice weapon like that out in that wilderness. Very nice country. Always liked traveling across the Great Basin region.

 

[JetStar]

Almost seemed like a shame to move it.

 

[MolaKule]

I didn't know trees were political.

If the gun could talk, what stories it could tell.

I saw that article in another magazine and I was thinking I would volunteer some rust removal/protectant oil.

 

[Merkava_4]

Why did those guys wrap orange tape around the buttstock?

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Why did those guys wrap orange tape around the buttstock?


My guess is that they were afraid that it would fall apart when they moved it. The wood on the stock was severely weathered (of course) and maybe it was at risk of detaching from the receiver (or whatever it's called).

 

[javacontour]

I wonder how many people that gun killed left unattended and all?

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Why did those guys wrap orange tape around the buttstock?


So they don't lose it now that it's all camo looking.

 

[hotwheels]

I am reminded of that Twilight Zone episode in which a 1960s Army tank crew happens via time travel upon General Custer and Crazy Horse's battlefield, vintage teepees and flying arrows and all.

hotwheels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7th_Is_Made_Up_of_Phantoms

 

[Lapham3]

I belong to a county historical society in 'lake country' Mn that has a section of tree where a flintlock or percussion rifle was left in the crotch and the tree grew around it. I think this was found in the woods long ago-you wonder what the 'story' was-

 

[UncleS2]

Wonder what really happened? You don't just walk off & leave a perfectly good Winchester.

 

[hattaresguy]

I bet their is/was a body within 100 yards.