Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire If Rifles Could Talk......

This is my other candidate for if a rifle could talk. This is a marlin 1881 Deluxe in 32-40 that has type A checkering and a silver plate with an embossed cursive G on it. It has Rocky Mountain sights and an octagon barrel. It came out of a collection out of the Copper River Basin that will never be equaled. The fact that it came out of a cabin between Valdez and Copper Center from the short gold stampede to Copper Center in 1899 and the fact that it has probably seen a lot of interesting changes in history make me consider how short we have on here.

I think the rifle in the original post may have been burnt.

Cool thread, thanks for sharing. I can’t imagine losing one of my guns, but I know it happens, from personal experience. We hunted Kodiak Island last November. Cold, snow, rain, and slick as hell. My nephew was carrying a S&W 686. Came out of his holster, presumably on one of the many falls he took. Back at the beach for pickup when he realized it was gone. Hunted the same area next morning, but of course it snowed a few more inches overnight. There is a new 686 waiting to be found in the mountains above Larsen Bay.
1985 or 86, hunting Grey Lodge refuge for ducks in Northern California I kicked up a Miroku O/U 12ga. Looked brand new. No one ever called the refuge looking for it, so I was able to keep it.
As said previously, maybe it fell out of a scabbard, maybe the original fence builder leaned it against a sagebrush, continued with their work, and then couldn’t find it again. Or, maybe a horrific struggle with a 2 or 4 legged critter. Who knows, but fun to ponder, especially with a good Bourbon in hand.

Eric

Turnkey , I've been to that museum in Cody. you are right ,very cool stuff in there

I entertained that possibility as well. Very possible.

Friend was hog hunting and dogs bayed in a cave around 10-15 years ago. Found a loaded cap & ball revolver ( 3 loaded chambers ) and 3 muskets stacked together in a triangle. Worms or termites had eaten most of the wood on the the muskets and pistol. He was trespassing so he didn't advertise what he found. He sold the pistol and 2 of the muskets. I got to hold the musket he kept. Wish I'd taken pics. Very very kool civil war find. The back of the cave probably went in over twenty five yards and he said it was powder dry.
I know where he was and it wouldn't be a good thing if he was caught. Great thread!!!

Nearby, but this pic is a few years old, back when we had lots of grass.....

I bought this '73 Winchester n 38 WCF several years ago and it is now in its 137th year. In addition to having been dropped, bent, cold blued, and battered, notice the wear to the wood at the rear of the forearm from being carried with a hand wrapped around it.

Lost Kahles scope story...

Link