Gun Jam From The Past

[Ryan]

Moose can be dangerous game too, from a 1923 paper.

 

[008]

Sad, but interesting and educational at the same time.

 

[Bullthrower338]

That picture and story used to be on the back of the menu at the 9 Mile House just outside of Huson, Montana. I read it every time we ate supper there! Very cool, thanks for posting it!

 

[CAustin]

WOW what an article!

 

[jeff]

It doesn't seem possible that the photo could be that of the trapper that disappeared 18 years earlier as the rib cage and spine are still intact on the moose skeleton, it doesn't look like it has set in the woods for that long.

 

[mark-hunter]

It would be interesting to know which rifle was that. They mentioned "to pump in one shell"... Are there any pump action rifles in 45-70?

 

[johnnyblues]

Gezzz.

 

[Ryan]

It doesn't seem possible that the photo could be that of the trapper that disappeared 18 years earlier as the rib cage and spine are still intact on the moose skeleton, it doesn't look like it has set in the woods for that long.

I tend to agree with you. I can see a couple, maybe even 3-4 years since the bones are still fairly intact and not eaten by rodents but are clean and all the clothes are gone. But at nearly a century since it was written, even CSI isn't going to get to the bottom of this.

 

[Shootist43]

I wonder if it was a Ruger!!! LOL

 

[Bullthrower338]

I wonder if it was a Ruger!!! LOL

More likely DGX!

 

[perttime]

A Moose can kill you even if you are not hunting it. A Moose through your windshield is not good for your health. In my corner of the world, about one out of every million inhabitants dies that way every year.

 

[Ryan]

A Moose can kill you even if you are not hunting it. A Moose through your windshield is not good for your health. In my corner of the world, about one out of every million inhabitants dies that way every year.

Oh trust me, I know, I live in Alaska. I have plenty stories of near misses and just driving past one I didn't see until it would have been too late had it decided to step out in the road. But come hunting season they disappear like magic. Funny how that works.

 

[WAB]

My buddy’s wife took a moose head through the windshield of her suburban in North Kenai. Severed the moose’s head. Two years of plastic surgery for her but she survived. My son took one out with our suburban in Kenai one night. Hair in the roof rack, the moose ran away after going completely over our suburban.

 

[rookhawk]

I saw this and could only think....if only for a mauser extractor this man might be alive today. The wilds are dangerous solo, I feel very sorry for him. Truly unfortunate when an equipment failure causes loss of life.

 

[CTDolan]

Any rifle can fail but there is a reason a Mauser 98 is the preferred platform for a bolt action (with regard to the extractor, the reason often neglected because guys seem to want to be able to close the bolt on a loaded chamber).

 

[Hogpatrol]

Interesting read.

https://www.alloutdoor.com/2019/01/31/intermingled-bones-moose-man/

 

[Adrian]

So many interesting and unanswered questions.....

 

[5shot]

It's rugged (and beautiful) up there. We used to backpack for a week each summer all through that area of Montana.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Moose can be dangerous game too, from a 1923 paper. View attachment 260884

Incredible story.

 

[flatwater bill]

I agree with Jeff............that skeleton would be broken down and scattered more at 18 years....rib cartilage dried, oxidized or eaten. Separated at sternum and spine. 2-5 years a solid estimate. I know of no pump action 45-70's, but that may have been a euphemism for levering in a cartridge.....in which case the rifle (which I cannot see) would likely be the big Marlin 80 (often called 81), or the Win 86. The Win 73 and 76 did not handle the 45-70, and the more common trap door Springfield was a single shot (and prone to jam with a weak extractor and an often pitted/sticky chamber.)...There were pump shotguns then, Spencer and Win too. .....FWB