Great Basin National Park Rifle - The discovery of a 132 years old rifle in a Nevada park has sent researchers digging into the annals of history to uncover any traces of the origins of the weatherworn gun.

The Winchester Model 1873 rifle was found in Nov. last year by officials at a remote rocky part of the Great Basin National Park. The rifle's wooden stock, which has since turned grey, and its rusted brown barrel, made it camouflage with the juniper tree it was leaning against almost perfectly.

"Numerous questions surround the small piece of American heritage found and recovered," the Great Basin National Park officials wrote on their Facebook page.

Winchester rifles, which are also known as "The Gun that Won the West" played a key role in American history. The Winchester Model 1973 was one of the most successful of the company's repeating rifles. About 720,000 pieces of the rifle were produced between 1873 and 1919.

Park authorities have revealed that the serial number on the gun is consistent with the records of the West Cody Firearm Museum. Records show that the rifle was manufactured and shipped in 1882, but there are no indications of where it was shipped to or who made the purchase.

At the moment, there are no clues where the Winchester rifle came from. Experts have pointed out that the placement of the rifle in the area may well have predated the Great Basin National Park, which was established in 1986.

Great Basin cultural resource staff are reportedly looking through old newspapers and family histories to find clues about the origins of the Winchester Model 1873 rifle found in the park.

The park has announced that a viewing opportunity will be provided to the local community before the rifle is sent to experts to apply museum conservatory techniques. This will keep the rifle from deteriorating further.