I have this old photograph...

[Karnivore]

My buddy sent me this picture of an old photograph he bought at an estate sale. Ask me if I could help him figure he time period it was taken. I said well...........no.

But I know where to ask for help.

Anyone able to tell anything about the pic?

I thought think it is a really cool pic. Nice Buck by the way.

 

[ACORN]

The dog knows, but he ain't sayin'.

 

[6518John]

I believe those are cattle panels and/or web wire in the background. That type of fencing is a "modern" development. 1950's or later.

 

[WardenRoss]

That rifle scabbard looks very long.

For those in the know, would that indicate an older blackpowder rifle?


'

 

[delta-419]

Rifle

It looks like a Winchester stock on the rifle in the scabbard. My guess is early 1900s, Old man sits a horse like in the south west, maybe Texas. I noticed the background fence as well but don't know how to date it. Barbed wire is another story.

 

[UncleEd]

Met an old Michigan farmer in the early 1950s who
kept an octagon barreled Winchester 94
"rifle" (26 inches?) just inside his kitchen doorway.

In late afternoons deer sometimes visited
his nearby cornfield. In season or out of
season he'd reach back from his kitchen porch
and get the Winchester.

He said he always shared some of the meat
with the county sheriff.

The curved butt plate and barrel length in the
photo reminded me of that old timer. Gun
like that could have been purchased anytiime
around 1900 and was in the family ever since.

 

[DWalt]

I know no more than anyone else, but I would say late 19th century. There are some AI programs (free) that could greatly improve the image. But that wouldn't date it.

 

[Mule Packer]

I don't know if this will help, but it looks like he's riding a slick fork saddle. These were popular in the late 1800's-early 1900's. But again, that really doesn't nail down the date much. I mean, even now, I still ride a slick fork saddle. Looking at the cinch, it's not rigged center-fire, so that will usually eliminate anyone from California, Nevada, Oregon, or Idaho. But again, you can't always bank on it.

 

[glowe]

Model 94 rifle barrels are quite a bit shorter than the image shows. They did not have such a deep dished butt-plate as earlier Winchesters. I believe it may be a Model 1873 Winchester. Model 1873 did come with a 30"(scarce) and 36"(rare) barrel, but like most Winchester models, they were made for over 50 years, so does not help date the image.

The sepia toned image leads one to believe it was before around 1910. In general, warm image tones are found on photographs made from the 1860s until the 1910s. Neutral black and white image tones are more commonly encountered on photographs made from the late 1890s until the present day.

The shape of trees remind me a little of mesquite. Best suited for BBQ fuel. If so, that would maybe place the image as Texas or other Southwestern states.

Lastly, woven wire square panel fencing was developed around 1883.

 

[Onomea]

A rifle or a saddle, well cared for, can be used for generations, so I don't think either could be used for dating the photograph. On the other hand, if John is right about that fence...

 

[llowry61]

No clue as to the timeframe, but that is one mighty tall horse.

 

[Peak53]

I also thought Texas

 

[docjonson]

Roy Landrough 1907 atop his horse, Sabre, his dog Foxer
His winchester '73 used to bring back meat for the other wranglers. No mention of the saddle but may have been his brother, Samuel's.
Now we can all go to sleep and not have this bugging us all night. lol

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

He appears to be wearing laced ankle high shoes/boots.

Ivan

 

[A-37]

I don't know if this will help, but it looks like he's riding a slick fork saddle. These were popular in the late 1800's-early 1900's. But again, that really doesn't nail down the date much. I mean, even now, I still ride a slick fork saddle. Looking at the cinch, it's not rigged center-fire, so that will usually eliminate anyone from California, Nevada, Oregon, or Idaho. But again, you can't always bank on it.

I don't understand it (except for the states) but this guy knows his equipment (tack?)

 

[AJ]

Met an old Michigan farmer in the early 1950s who
kept an octagon barreled Winchester 94
"rifle" (26 inches?) just inside his kitchen doorway.

In late afternoons deer sometimes visited
his nearby cornfield. In season or out of
season he'd reach back from his kitchen porch
and get the Winchester.

He said he always shared some of the meat
with the county sheriff.

The curved butt plate and barrel length in the
photo reminded me of that old timer. Gun
like that could have been purchased anytime
around 1900 and was in the family ever since.

Have a friend in N.C. that shoots deer year round. It is called "Crop Control" keeping the deer from eating his crops. Gives more venison away as he has more than he and his family can eat.

 

[Iggy]

Late 1800s or early 1900s.

 

[crstrode]

No clue as to the timeframe, but that is one mighty tall horse.

That rider is 5 foot two.

Eyes probably blue . . .

 

[AJ]

That rider is 5 foot two.

Eyes probably blue . . .

Old, old song!

 

[JohnRippert]

My first thought was sometime right around 1900, but I could not give a real reason why.