On Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:38:32 -0600, philo* wrote:

On 01/16/2015 02:11 PM, Oren wrote:
"...Researchers at Great Basin National Park are trying to unravel the
mystery behind a 132-year-old rifle found leaning against a juniper
tree in the remote park 300 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

No one knows how long the Winchester Model 1873 sat there, or who
might have left it. All they know so far is that the lever-action
repeating rifle was manufactured and shipped by Winchester in 1882,
one of more than 25,000 made that year of what came to be known as
“the gun that won the West.”

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada/historic-rifle-found-leaning-against-tree-nevada-park




How fast do Juniper trees grow?


Not an expert

If a rifle was left against a tree 100 years ago, the tree would have
long either engulfed the rifle or pushed it aside. Although from the
photo it looks to be partially engulfed, it seems unlikely to me it's
been there more than a few decades.

Only a fool would leave a _real_ Winchester Model 1873 by a tree a
few short decades ago.