frnkeore wrote on Nov 7^th, 2018 at 7:08pm:


Well, he did that too!  His famous "Hamburg rifle," of which a handful were built.  Odd looking action, with open bridge something like a Mannlicher.  However, only photo of one I've seen doesn't much resemble gun in photo.

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The first two had two locking lugs the other three had multiple locking lugs. An unfinished Mann-Niedner action with gauges is pictured.

frnkeore wrote on Nov 8^th, 2018 at 6:25pm:


Looks that way to me, too, but think maybe it's some kind of photographic distortion...unless they're chambered for .50 Browning.

cont.;

Many of the rifles still have the Niedner barrel. It will be marked on the bottom of the barrel with the Niedner barrel number and the date. The two rifles pictures are marked 245 12-1916 and 251 5-1917. The top of the barrel as well as the tops of the bolts and right sides of the� trough are marked in two lines with his standard Malden marking.

A. O. NIEDNER
MALDEN, MASS.

These rifles were originally fitted with the Mann-Niedner tapered dovetail bases and scopes with Mann-Niedner mounts. Most of these mounts have been changed to modern mounts (Unertl & Fecker), however the last rifle that I know of that sold at auction last year still had a Mann-Niedner mounted scope on it. 

For eighty-five year old rifles, they still do the job they were made for. As with any .22 rimfire target rifle you have to take the time to find out what kind of ammunition it likes, so I tried several different brands. All my testing was outdoors, bench rest at 50 yards with a scope. The more expensive ammo made by Eley and RWS performed poorly while CCI Green-tag and of all things Winchester T-22 did about as good as I could have hoped for. 

I have never seen one of these modified Springfields that was made at the Niedner Rifle Corporation in Dowagiac, Michigan. With the introduction of the Springfield model 1922 in caliber .22 LR there was little need for the more expensive custom conversion. It is interesting that Niedner charged $35 in 1916 and $40 in 1918 for the conversion. In an ad in Arms and the Man for November 1, 1920 there is a used one for sale for $60 and in June 1, 1920 there is one with a scope for $150. That's a lot of money for a .22 target rifle in 1920. 

The un-dated picture showing the shooters of the Boston Rifle and Revolver Club show Gibbons, Gerrish and Niedner using the Niedner-Springfields. The gentleman to Niedner's right-rear is Souther the Boston scope maker. Many other members pictured were nationally known pistols shooters. The scope on Mr. Niedner's rifle is a custom one made for him by John W. Sidle of Philadelphia. 

Over the years a few of these rifles have been converted into sporters and the Niedner barrels have been replaced. Mr. Niedner replaced the barrel on his rifle when he was at Dowagiac and had it restocked by Tom Shelhamer. 

Looks like more than one post

Every time I see that picture of CC Johnson's shop I'm impressed! He must have had the cleanest gun shop ever! Or he did a very thorough cleaning prior to the picture being taken! Amazing!

Who else wants to knock Lillian down and take her guns?