doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com nice custom rifle on gunbroker

The marking " A O Niedner, Dowagiac, Mich" means the rifle predates the Niedner Rifle Co. I'm sure one of Michael's books gives the date of incorporation of that company, but it is around 1920 as I recall.

Waterman asked:

Any proofmarks?

on the Single Shot Mauser 88 Stalking Rifle

Photos of rifle:

http://zincavage.org/88MauserStalkingRifle1.jpg

http://zincavage.org/88MauserStalkingRifle2.jpg

http://zincavage.org/88MauserStalkingRifle3.jpg

http://zincavage.org/88MauserStalkingRifle4.jpg

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http://zincavage.org/ProofMarks1.JPG

http://zincavage.org/ProofMarks2.JPG

http://zincavage.org/SerialNumber.JPG

Terry Buffum:

"The marking ' A O Niedner, Dowagiac, Mich' means the rifle predates the Niedner Rifle Co. I'm sure one of Michael's books gives the date of incorporation of that company, but it is around 1920 as I recall."

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Petrov says this stamp was used 1920-1929. Which consideration seems to establish that this rifle must be chambered for the pre-Remington (1934) wildcat original .257 Roberts.

Any more opinions on altering the chambering to either the commercial .257 Roberts (Remington) or to the .257 Ackeley Improved?

David,
On the 88 Mauser, the tang sight, is it spring loaded so that it folds down, out of the way, when you exercise the bolt and pops back up when the bolt is returned to battery?
Nice looking gun.

No, there's a kind of thumb stud you use to flip it up.

There's a reason the seller provided no photos of the front end of the rifle. The barrel was held in the stock originally by the Teutonic sort of key that goes through two escutcheons, the kind of thing you find on old black powder guns. The key and escutcheons are gone, and the escutchion holes are filled with solder. The trigger guard is held on by wood screws. And the front sight is missing. Fortunately, it was very cheap.

"One rifle I know about has a barrel marked A.O. Neidner Dowagiac Mich. On top and W.A. Sukalle Tucson Ariz. On the bottom without a Niedner or Sukalle barrel number. You figure that out."

-Michael Petrov, Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century, 2005, p. 84.

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Did Petrov possibly know about my rifle, or is there another (pre-1930) Neidner-Sukalle? Who knows?

Aren't those flip up tang sights intended to be light focusers for allowing sharper sight pictures when using the barrel mounted sights, and not a sight itself per se? That's an explanation I've heard and it makes sense to me. Am I right?

David,
Gary is correct about the use of the tang "sight". I explained in your thread at the GGCA forum that the rifle is not a mauser, even though refered to as such. The rifle can be repaired with replacement key,etc.The key will be tapered as will the lug on the barrel.This dictates that the key be made so that it goes in from the right side.
Mike

Gary said:
"Aren't those flip up tang sights intended to be light focusers for allowing sharper sight pictures when using the barrel mounted sights, and not a sight itself per se? That's an explanation I've heard and it makes sense to me. Am I right?"

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That flip up sight is the only rear sight on this rifle, and there is no evidence of any other rear sight having previously ever existed.

Gary said:
"Aren't those flip up tang sights intended to be light focusers for allowing sharper sight pictures when using the barrel mounted sights, and not a sight itself per se? That's an explanation I've heard and it makes sense to me. Am I right?"

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That flip up sight is the only rear sight on this rifle, and there is no evidence of any other rear sight having previously ever existed.