Someone Forgot Their Rifle.

[Dougan]

slow growing desert tree?[/quote]

Possibly...there are trees that look like that (not particularly tall) in parts of America that can be 1000 years old...

...but still, there's something not quite right about the exact position they say they found it in.

Edit: Blu...yes it is feasable; I'm sure I read somewhere that one of the trees you're talking about is one of the oldest in the world...

...but I'm not convinced...also the story about the other rifle (the scoped one)...the cynical side of me smells a clever promotional stunt...

[Blu]

Guess they'll never find out why/how it was left where it was.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.2079147

It's a cool story and I wouldn't want to spoil it, but one thing doesn't ring true...

...I can't be sure, as I don't know the species of tree, but normally if you leave something metal lent up against a tree for that length of time the tree will grow round it to the point that you would have to cut it out...

...it could have been moved for the photo, or it was left there more recently...or it could be a set-up...

slow growing desert tree? although I tend to agree it seems a long time for it not to get knocked over by the wind or caught short coyote?

Kenny looking at the photos in Dougans link and the way it's rested up against the tree it's possible it's been there all that time sheltered from the wind. I guess we will never know for sure, nice story though.

[PaulR]

Guess they'll never find out why/how it was left where it was.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... -1.2079147

It's a cool story and I wouldn't want to spoil it, but one thing doesn't ring true...

...I can't be sure, as I don't know the species of tree, but normally if you leave something metal lent up against a tree for that length of time the tree will grow round it to the point that you would have to cut it out...

Looks like a small Juniper Tree and whilst the growth rate for that size is moderate, it only grows to a modest 5ft - 10ft tall.

Juniperus chinensis "Blue Vase" has a moderate growth rate and will reach maximum heights of about 10 feet if properly cared for, with widths of half the height. On average, however, it grows to about 5 feet tall. "Blue Vase" grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Juniperus chinensis "Blue Point" has a graceful, teardrop-shaped profile. This densely branched juniper grows to about10 feet tall and thrives in USDA zones 4 through 9. It has a moderate growth rate.

I suspect at the altitude this was found the growth rate of the tree is somewhat retarded by weather and lack of water so it's quite possible it just lent there without being absorbed.

[DaveB]

This story actually made it into Saturday's edition of the Dominion Post newspaper in Wellington NZ.

[Dougan]

I suspect at the altitude this was found the growth rate of the tree is somewhat retarded by weather and lack of water so it's quite possible it just lent there without being absorbed.

The geek in me would love to know for sure...but it is looking feasible...and it's a great story

[Dave 101]

Pistol found in tree .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qccak2Ve0-o

Dave

[snayperskaya]

Its pretty common to find this sort of thing in the forests of Russia on the site of WW2 battles and guns etc are absorbed into the trees

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