Original Winchester recovered from National Park

[stuck_in_73]

Figured I'd share this. An 1873 Winchester recovered from Great Basin National Park back in November. The picture speaks for itself. Enjoy

[Coal Creek Griff]

Interesting.  Thanks!

Here's more info: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/14/132-year-old-winchester-model-1873-repeating-rifle/

CC Griff

[Major 2]

I just posed that myself

[Cabalero Chuck]

I guess there is something to be said about browsing the posts before posting oneself....

[Major 2]

Guess you're right, being the Mod here I'll take care of that little matter  ....
Posts are deleted............. mine & your's 

note to self , be ever vigilant of duplicate posts on similar subjects.  

[stuck_in_73]

He is a video of the rifle they found

[Blair]

stuck_in_73,

Very well done video.
Thanks for posting.
My best,
Blair

[Cliff Fendley]

Did anyone else notice the carrier block is missing.

[JohnsonBarr]

Cliff is right. One shot in the video shows a top view with nothing but daylight through the carrier block cut. But, even with the carrier block missing the rifle could still be fired as a single shot non-repeater. I've played the single shot, over the top loading game. One time have loading gate difficulties. Made for dandy times during a monthly match.

[Blair]

Cliff and Johnson,

You are both correct. I did not notice the missing carrier.

I was thinking that some of those folks that like or want to "antique" their guns to take a good look at this. Especially the stock!
Of course that thought was with something of a smile on my face.
My best,
Blair

[Cliff Fendley]

I thought about that too. Without the carrier it wouldn't be a typical over the top and you would have to physically start the cartridge in the chamber but if otherwise ok would function as a single shot.

The missing carrier and the fact it wasn't loaded could explain why the rifle was left, it may have had mechanical problems and during a time when it was just another everyday gun someone just left it when they were breaking camp or something.

It would have been interesting to have been there during the video, it seems to me no one there knew anything about those rifles or the missing carrier block would have been a topic of discussion.

I would like to know if the carrier arm is in it. I couldn't see it either but it wasn't a direct angle down into the receiver. Maybe the carrier arm broke or the lift arm spring broke but even with the spring broke you wouldn't have to take it out to use it as a single shot. If the carrier arm was completely missing the lever would be loose. All speculation and a closer look would be really interesting.

[Coal Creek Griff]

I wondered about the missing carrier and elevator for the rear sight.  Along with the fact that it wasn't loaded makes me wonder if it even functioned when it was left. I have an old Marlin that has been in my family for a couple generations. At some point, some key parts were removed and it became a "toy" that my great uncle's kids played with on the farm.  It was left in the barn for a long time because no one took care of it like it was a gun. The barrel is now plugged with something hard and it's in poor condition. I wonder if this old Winchester might be something like that.

CC Griff

[Cliff Fendley]

I had noticed the sight too. On those sights you can't even use the sight in the lower notch so it would have been useless without the elevator but thought someone could have had a splinter of wood wedged under it and that would have been the first thing to rot away.

[Buck Stinson]

If you stop motion at the frame marked with the time 5:03 you can clearly see that the lifter arm is missing altogether.  Obviously the gun was taken apart at some point and the arm and carrier were removed.  Maybe it was used as a toy.  Stranger things have happened.  Back in the mid 1980's, a friend found a 4 3/4" Colt SA marked COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER on the barrel.  The caliber of course was .44WCF and the serial number was 111111.  Yes, that's right.  It was found laying on top of a large round boulder on a steep hillside.  One grip panel was missing, the bore was plugged with a lead slug and the firing pin had been filed down so it wouldn't set off a live round.  It was pretty obviously that it had been used by some youngster as a toy.  

[Cliff Fendley]

All interesting, I'd bet it wasn't operational (at least not reliably) when it was left there. I could see maybe a kid playing with it and lost it.

Unloaded, parts missing, just doesn't appear to be something a hunter or traveler leaned up against the tree and got eaten by a bear while nature called.