I inheirited my grandfather's A.O. Niedner rifle. It has a Thomas Shelhamer- style stock that he made himself. On the barrel, 180 degrees from the Niedner stamp is the mark of another wildcatter in the '20s that bored barrels from Arizona (if I remember correctly),it's too late at night to be tearing the rifle apart. It has open sights, although I recall as a child it had what they called a spring mounted scope that must have disappeared over the years. I don't even know what it's Mauser action (1894 or 1903 or whatever?) is chambered for, a local gunsmith did a casting and opined it might be a .256 Gibbs Magnum. Anyway, is anyone interested in this rifle? I've got stories galore about it's history with not too many documents. I am not a shooter, but I am a mechanic and this is one beautiful piece of machinery. I would rather see it in the hands of someone who would enjoy it than to see it kept forever gathering dust in it's case under my bed. Not really interested in any e-bay sell-a-thon, just would like to know what it's worth and if anyone would be interested in it.

 

This rifle no doubt has some value however it would have to have all numbers cataloged & pictures taken, a bore scope readout is a must. Then & only then could you get top dollar for this fine old rifle.

I would make a lousy Gun collector, I could not own a gun, I could not shoot. I to have spent much time myself working on German racing automobiles, & look at certin guns as works of art.

It's good you want to see this rifle doing what it was built to do "Shoot" I would be willing to bet it is a good shooter & that scope can be found at a large Gun Show.

 

Well, you cannot sell guns on eBay. But you can sell them on GunsAmerica.com. A quick search turned up some pricey Neidner's

http://www.gunsamerica.com/search.cgi

If the link does not take you to them, do your own search.

 

Thanks for taking the time to help. I'll keep plugging away at it. A bore scope readout? I hate not knowing things. Your right, all I want to do is see this magnificent piece of machinery work in the hands of someone who would appreciate it.

 

[QUOTE]Thanks for taking the time to help. I'll keep plugging away at it. A bore scope readout? I hate not knowing things. Your right, all I want to do is see this magnificent piece of machinery work in the hands of someone who would appreciate it.

Remember I did say top dollar. You are the one who decides how much you want for the rifle. I know hundreds of shooters who would care for it the rest of their lives. Colectors are picky & can pay a lot for what they want.

I hope if it's your wish that your rifle is a real rare piece, it comes true for you. However to get top dollar the stories, & what if any paper work you can find all will all help. http://www.gunsamerica.com/search.cgi is that big city you will need to find the fat wallets. The small Mtn City where I live brings vendors here to Gun Shows to buy those rare guns the old Mountain Folk owned. From there the dealers take them to the Big Citys & sell them for a lot more.

Since this is DIY I am going to asume you will do the investagation needed to find out just how much you can ask. One last thing to ponder. This is Grandpas gun & now yours. My Father gave me a Zeiss Ikon Contessa German camera $55.00 in 1955 & $300.00 today the leather case has his name embossed in gold. There is not enough $ in the whole Wide World to buy it from me. Someday my Son will have a hard choice to make, & so the world keeps on turning & the choices keep getting harder.

Good luck on your quest.

 

You're right, it is indeed priceless. There will never be another grandfather to hand make this stock and see that the rifle makes its' way down to me. Still, it lies in the carrying case he made, under my bed, where I take it out once a year to clean and watch the bluing gradually fading and knowing that someday rust will win out. A vet, I am not really that fond of guns. But thanks for taking the time to answer. Hey, just saw your from NC. My son lives outside Charlotte and I lived for a few years on the coast in the 70"s and spent some time in Boone. Revisited those places this past summer and you can never go home again.

 

Hi medic291

Every once in a while someone goes back to where we came from, & discovers we made a wrong turn somewhere.

Flitz, Mothers, Harley, all make a Carnuba Wax product. Even though 2 say car & 1 says gun That's the real ticket to long gun life. For a Firearm in use just use a lubricant where lubs are needed wax everywhere else. Carnuba wax gives a firm grip to a wet Gun or Bow.

Start by washing off the old oil & grease on & in the barreled action with Brake cleaner spray, AKA Gun Scruber but less $ Clean any oly areas on the action area of the stock & use denatured alcohol for the rest of the stock.

Flitz is a liquid & harley is a hard yellow block but unlike Mothers it has no cleaners, no harm cleaners just not needed. Use the flitz to flow into tight areas + swab the chamber & bore. Rub in the paste wax all over the open areas of stock, & all metal for storage, do not wipe wax off.

Wax does dry & unlike oil & grease it harms nothing, all it does is repel water & air. Get a Silicone Sock-ups for a Rifle & forget about rust & rot also bluing wear. You may give that rifle/Tool of liberty, to a family member who will need what Grandpa left it with you for someday.

War touches everyone diferently, my Father fought in WWII & Korea & could never hunt with me. I spent 17 years growing up in the US ARMY, & have no problems hunting after it was my turn. Yet my Son now 27 did not join & perhaps it was something he saw in me, nor do I judge him as my Father would have me. My Son & I have hunted together since he was 7, I look back & I wish my Father could have joined us.

Good luck with cleaning & preserving this fine piece of history.

 

Something like that must have meant alot to your Grandfather. Why don't you just hang it on the wall and then someday when you're old and grey you can pass it down along with the old stories that go along with it.

I'd give almost anything to have my grand dads old single shot 12 just because of the memories.

 

Looks like family, heritage and everyone's opinion matched my wife, who has been telling me the same as you all. I will take better care of this one of a kind keepsake and compile a better written and oral history so that someday some unsuspecting nephewor niece will find themself in possesion of a treasure worth more than gold.

 

You will not regret this one. I have some WWI vintage, Winchester Model 12, Nickel-Steel shotguns that were my grandfathers. Used to have every guage, but the 28 guage was stolen

I would not take anything for them, and altho my son is not dazzled with them as much as me, I don't think he will sell them when they become his.

Sometimes, sentimental value overrides the greed in everyone