Old Winchester found in lake

SAGLE — Tim Personius wants to know how an old Winchester rifle ended up in Lake Pend Oreille off Sourdough Point.

Tim Personius found the old rifle in mid-July while he was checking his crawdad traps near the Sourdough Point Homeowners Association Private Island.

“I never would have seen it if I was swimming by because it was 20 to 25 feet down,” said Personius. “I was checking my trap, and I just happened to look over and see the gun about six feet away.”

At first, Personius thought it was a child’s toy gun, but once he brought it to shore and felt the weight of the rifle he knew it was the real thing. He went to post images of his find on a few gun forums.

Some of the gun experts on the forums said the rifle is “more than likely” a 1886 Winchester — known by gun historians as ‘“the gun that won the West.” Winchester Repeating Arms Company made one of the world’s first repeating rifles. The rifle that he found is very eroded and rust encrusted, Personius said

Personius said he’s heard that at the turn of the century, people lived on a barge off Sourdough Point.

When he did his snorkeling he found other “junk” in the area where he expected people living on a barge or living on the island would do their dumping. How the rifle found its way in the water he does not know.

Personius noted that the lake was not deep near the shore and the water level changes from season. The particular area he found the rifle was just past the buoy line, he said before pointing out a large rock just below the water’s surface.

“You probably could have walked out to that rock. And if you were trying to get rid of this gun, and slung it out there. That's about where I found it,” he said.

With the water level of the current day, said Personius, it is doubtful that some could throw that far. But at lower water the throw would be minimal.

The rifle may have been forgotten, but the location it was found is still accessible, said Personius. He notes that it’s location was near the shore, not in the middle of the Pend Oreille River. He also pointed out the expense of the gun and said he doubted the likelihood that anyone would leave it behind.

While he showed the rifle to a marine deputy who lives in the area, Personius was told deputies had no professional interest due to its age and it “obviously” not being part of an existing case.

“I just wondered if there isn't somebody who's still around who does know or has heard of something related to a missing rifle,” said Personius.

He has worked with cast iron restoration in the past and hopes to get some of the corrosion off. It is possible that one day he will get a serial number, he said.

Winchester Repeating Arms still make the lever action 1886 model. Personius’ found rifle will have to go through more testing before it can be dated. He is looking for any information anyone may have on the rifle.