Name/Title
Winchester 1873 Carbine RifleEntry/Object ID
ES.0001Description
Fully rusted-over Winchester lever-action repeater rifle, wooden stock has rotted away completely. Chambered for .44-40 cartridge, this rifle was found loaded with eight rounds in the magazine.Firearm Type
RifleUse
This model Winchester was a very common and reliable civilian rifle.Context
Very few intact firearms have been recovered from the Blair Mountain battlefield. This rifle, found buried on battlefield in an area known to have been occupied by the "redneck army", was likely used in combat and hidden when the US Army arrived. Discovered February 8, 2002 by Elmer Stone.
Exhibited straddling the Battle of Blair Mountain, Treason to Triumph, and Mine Wars: Memory & Legacy sections, this artifact is the largest archaeological find on display and is used to highlight the 1921 battle, the sacrifices miners made when miners took up arms, and the significance of archaeological digs to securing Mine Wars history and preservation of the battlefield area.Collection
FirearmsFirearm Detail
Manufacturer
Winchester Repeating Arms CompanyCaliber
44Action
Lever ActionCartridge Capacity
15Serial Number
unreadable due to corrosionPlace Made
Region
NortheastContinent
North AmericaPlace of Use
Region
Blair Mountain Battlefield, SoutheastContinent
North AmericaDate Made
circa 1870 - circa 1920Legal Status
Legal Status
AntiqueNFA Designation
Short-barreled RifleInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionLocation
underside of receiverTranscription
.44 CALTranslation
denotes cartridge caliberParts
There are 6 unspent rounds which were found with this rifle, two are on exhibit (other four in storage). Each are in labeled envelopes denoting position in the gun in which they were found, most are in storage. KK.0192 and KK.0193 are currently exhibited with this rifle.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Kenny KingNotes
Elmer Stone has died, ownership unclear, loan came through Kenny King.Related Places
Place
Location
Blair Area: Whites Trace BranchRegion
Blair Mountain Battlefield, Southeast, Blair AreaContinent
North AmericaRelated Events
Event
Battle of Blair Mountain (1921)Provenance
Provenance Detail
Archaeological FindExhibitions
Exhibition
The Mine Wars: Memory & LegacyNotes
exhibited with cartridges KK.0192 and KK.0193Interpretative Labels
Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
Winchester Model 1873 carbine rifle
When Federal troops arrived on the scene of the battle, miners emerged from
the woods and surrendered. Before turning themselves in, many hid their guns
in hollow trees, under rocks, and even buried in the ground. This rare
Winchester, and the bullets found within and around it, is one of the few
weapons recovered from the 1921 battle. The number of hidden weapons,
spent bullet casings, and other artifacts on the Blair Mountain battlefield
remain unknown to this day.
collection of Elmer Stone
