132 year old Winchester rifle found in National Park USA

Bill M · 18-01-2015, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Archaeologists conducting a survey in a US national park have stumbled upon a 132-year-old Winchester rifle
propped against a tree, possibly having been left there more than a century ago.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-1...t-tree/6023310

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...peating-rifle/

CoupeKing · 18-01-2015, 10:57 AM

That's awesome! They should start looking for some 132 year-old Bear poo, he's probably in that.

superyob · 18-01-2015, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

That's awesome! They should start looking for some 132 year-old Bear poo, he's probably in that.

**GasoLane** · 18-01-2015, 02:32 PM

Wow! who'd have thought that they would have had orange sticky tape back then!

**Burnout** · 18-01-2015, 03:57 PM

That '73 will sell for a whole lot.

GASWAGON · 18-01-2015, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Wow! who'd have thought that they would have had orange sticky tape back then!

Ye the orange tape has really put me off......If it wasnt there i might have believed this story 100%.

And why would anyone use tape on the gun in the first place?

Bill M · 18-01-2015, 09:46 PM

http://www.kval.com/news/local/Winch...288877901.html

If you look at the photos in the gallery in this link it shows the rifle as found with no tape.
Bill.

csv8 · 18-01-2015, 09:51 PM

What stories it could tell !!! we may never know why it was left there.....

Road_Warrior · 18-01-2015, 10:04 PM

Why wrap it in tape when the adhesive will probably ruin the old wood stock, what is left of it.

Bushbasher · 18-01-2015, 11:04 PM

It doesn't look like adhesive tape to me, more like PVC marker ribbon that gets tied to stakes as markers and rolled out to mark off temporary work and secure areas......... like police tape. They've just used it to hold both halves of the stock together.

marty351 · 19-01-2015, 09:05 PM

Looking at what condition its in, it might still fire. Bit of WD-40 and who knows.

**buggerlugs** · 19-01-2015, 09:16 PM

Maybe a bit of "Start ya Bastard"...........

**Burnout** · 19-01-2015, 09:30 PM

It may still fire, if it was fired there is a pretty good chance of a blow up.

CoupeKing · 19-01-2015, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnout

It may still fire, if it was fired there is a pretty good chance of a blow up.

Yeah for sure. If it was leaning against a tree with muzzle pointing towards the sky, any rain or moisture would have just ran back down the barrel and coated everything in the breech. Probably explains why the stock has rotted so much too.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

Yeah for sure. If it was leaning against a tree with muzzle pointing towards the sky, any rain or moisture would have just ran back down the barrel and coated everything in the breech. Probably explains why the stock has rotted so much too.

Would love to see the breech and bore. Is it possible that dirt/debris has accumulated in there preserving its condition?

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnout

It may still fire, if it was fired there is a pretty good chance of a blow up.

If it is in working order, and probably a long shot at that, a much reduced powder charge should prevent a blow up. But, it's a museum piece now.

CoupeKing · 20-01-2015, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

Would love to see the breech and bore. Is it possible that dirt/debris has accumulated in there preserving its condition?

Guess that's possible. Maybe there might have been a round in the chamber and it acted like a plug protecting all the vitals. In a semi-desert climate so being dry most of the time probably helped it. I bet there's been some little critters using it as an apartment block all this time too.

superyob · 20-01-2015, 08:04 AM

Back in the late 70s a mate of mine had a .303, the barrel of which was clogged with rust. After many months (as I remember) of cleaning, he finally got it back to working condition again...

Bill M · 20-01-2015, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

If it is in working order, and probably a long shot at that, a much reduced powder charge should prevent a blow up. But, it's a museum piece now.

Definitely a non shooting museum piece, with 15.000 - 55.000 PSI chamber pressure common in rifles you don't want to play with something of doubtful mechanical integrity so close to your face.
cheers
Bill.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superyob

Back in the late 70s a mate of mine had a .303, the barrel of which was clogged with rust. After many months (as I remember) of cleaning, he finally got it back to working condition again...

Did it still have the rifleing in the barrel? Did it shoot straight? Would love to know.

2011G6E · 20-01-2015, 12:00 PM

I've got a near-hundred year old Winchester...model 04A, known as a "boys rifle". Very small, fires the .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle cartridges. I only use .22 shorts in it now...poor old thing is getting on in years.

My late father got it for his 15th birthday in 1930, and it had been in the shop for a while even then.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I've got a near-hundred year old Winchester...model 04A, known as a "boys rifle". Very small, fires the .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle cartridges. I only use .22 shorts in it now...poor old thing is getting on in years.

My late father got it for his 15th birthday in 1930, and it had been in the shop for a while even then.
image

My father used to collect Webley pistols, his favourite being a .455 revolver of WWI vintage. He had ammo to fire it, but was too scared of a blow-up. There was talk of pulling a bullet and dumping some powder, but it never happened. My favourite was the single shot .22 target pistol, extremely accurate. Old it was and better than most modern day target pistols, especially with hv ammo.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I've got a near-hundred year old Winchester...model 04A, known as a "boys rifle". Very small, fires the .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle cartridges. I only use .22 shorts in it now...poor old thing is getting on in years.

My late father got it for his 15th birthday in 1930, and it had been in the shop for a while even then.
image

Lookin at its condition and heavy barrel, I rekon you could still fire lr rounds safely.

2011G6E · 20-01-2015, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

Lookin at its condition and heavy barrel, I rekon you could still fire lr rounds safely.

Oh I have...subsonics and "standard" velocity LR rounds. I save the hyper velocity powerful stuff for my Russian Baikal .22 rifle.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Oh I have...subsonics and "standard" velocity LR rounds. I save the hyper velocity powerful stuff for my Russian Baikal .22 rifle.

CCI stingers?
Power points are my fave. CCI stingers are good for longer range bunnies.
.22 Magnum tends to blow rabbits apart, but great for foxes.

2011G6E · 20-01-2015, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

CCI stingers?
Power points are my fave. CCI stingers are good for longer range bunnies.
.22 Magnum tends to blow rabbits apart, but great for foxes.

For my Baikal, yep, them or Winchester Power Points...awesome round. For everyday use I usually go with good old PMC Zappers or stuff like that.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 02:29 PM

Getting back to the rifle, as it was leaning against a tree, it most likely would have had rounds in it.
my theory's are: owner was drunk and forgot it/ couldn't find it again, or was killed by bear or outlaw.

superyob · 20-01-2015, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

Did it still have the rifleing in the barrel? Did it shoot straight? Would love to know.

Yes, it was very accurate as the rifling was intact. He would probably still have it unless it is classed as a military style weapon...

Speaking of which, I would love a K98 Mauser 7.92 mm. Is this a legal firearm to own these days?

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superyob

Yes, it was very accurate as the rifling was intact. He would probably still have it unless it is classed as a military style weapon...

Speaking of which, I would love a K98 Mauser 7.92 mm. Is this a legal firearm to own these days?

They are both bolt-action rifles and completely legal. 10 shot Lee Enfield, 5 shot Mauser.
Not long ago 5.56/.223 caliber were banned. I think the old .303 and german 7.92, italian 6.5, japanese 7.7, were all legal. I think.
I would personally love the 10 shot gweher 43 s/a or STG44.

marty351 · 20-01-2015, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

They are both bolt-action rifles and completely legal. 10 shot Lee Enfield, 5 shot Mauser.
Not long ago 5.56/.223 caliber were banned. I think the old .303 and german 7.92, italian 6.5, japanese 7.7, were all legal. I think.
I would personally love the 10 shot gweher 43 s/a or STG44.

Buy a copy of S.S.A.A. magazine and have a look through the adverts for what is available. The above caliber rifles (not .223) are suitable for most large game is aus but if you can find the WWII era rifles they would most likely be worn out or over priced for what they are. Most modern rifles are just as accurate as each other, so dont be put off by a cheaper brand. Yes, some are better than others, but evaluate what you are using it for, ie; target, hunting or both. Also consider accessories available such as scope and mounts, bi-pod, rests etc.