In 2014, a 132-year-old rifle was discovered leaning against a tree in a remote part of the Nevada desert by pure chance.

In 2014, a 132-year-old rifle was discovered leaning against a tree in a remote part of the Nevada desert by pure chance. 

Archaeologist Eva Jansen led a team on an expedition to search for artifacts in the Nevada hillside within Great Basin Park when they stumbled upon the rifle.

The rifle was found with its wooden stock partially buried and severely rusted, making it nearly indistinguishable from the tree behind it. Identified as a Winchester Model 1873 due to an engraving of "Model 1873" on its side, it was one of the most popular guns of its era. Winchester produced over 700,000 of these rifles, which were relatively inexpensive at the time (around $50 then, equivalent to $1,000 today) and earned the nickname "the gun that won the west."

The circumstances of how the rifle ended up in its resting place, exposed to the elements, remain a mystery. The chief of Great Basin Park noted that there were no other artifacts nearby that could provide clues about its origin. The Great Basin area has a history rich with ranchers, settlers, miners, and Native Americans, making it challenging to pinpoint the rifle's owner. Ms. Jansen has conducted preliminary research to trace the gun's owner, but it is likely that the owner's identity and story will remain unknown.