*EXTREMELY RARE NIEDNER SMALL BORE CONVERSION OF A SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 BOLT ACTION RIFLE.

*EXTREMELY RARE NIEDNER SMALL BORE CONVERSION OF A SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 BOLT ACTION RIFLE. SN 617414. Cal. 22. Very rare Niedner conversion of a 1903 Springfield service rifle with 25″ tapered rnd bbl, service front sight and Buffington rear sight. Bbl & front receiver ring are mounted with Niedner scope blocks containing a Malcolm small tube scope with fine cross hairs. Top of front base & inside each of the scope ring dovetails is stamped “95” signifying that this is the orig scope that was mounted on this rifle. Rear scope base is marked “A.O. NIEDNER / MALDEN, MASS.”. The conversion is a sgl shot accomplished by attaching a color case hardened tray with built in ejector into the forward half of the bolt opening in the receiver and threading a color case hardened attachment into front of the bolt along with an offset firing pin. Left side of bolt body has had an additional guide attached. Trigger guard & floorplate, without spring & follower, are service issue blued steel. Rifle is mounted in a 1-pc full length walnut stock with grasping grooves, straight grip and checkered steel buttplate with trap. Left side of wrist has a “J.S.A.” cartouche in a rectangle and the standard “P” in a circle proof on bottom of stock behind trigger guard. Trigger guard front tang is stamped “N.R.A.” with a flaming bomb. It also has a full length handguard with two spring clips that have had the centers of the metal clips removed. Rear section of handguard has a mortised rectangular hole to accommodate the front scope base. This rifle is pictured in closeup detail on p. 88 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy, and is identifiable by the SN in the photos. Page 87 of the same publication shows what is this same rifle, identifiable by a small bruise on right side of stock just back of bolt handle. In addition to these small bore conversions Mr. Niedner also produced heavy bbl International Match rifles to some success. He worked closely with Dr. Franklin W. Mann to develop the scope mounts as found on this rifle. These mounts are without security screws, being tapered forward to tighten as recoil is experienced. This is one of the few surviving examples of this fine conversion and suitable for the most discerning collector. PROVENANCE: Bob Rosenthal Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Bbl & receiver retain virtually all of their fine custom finish with brilliant case colors on the bolt extension and tray in the receiver. Trigger guard & floorplate retain about all of their orig high polish armory blue. Wood is sound with minor storage & handling marks, retains virtually all of its orig armory oil finish with some hand wear on wrist and forestock. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Scope and mounts retain about all of their original factory finish, clear optics. 4-39203 JR19 (6,500-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1039	$6,612.50	EXTREMELY RARE NIEDNER SMALL BORE CONVERSION OF A SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 BOLT ACTION RIFLE. SN 617414. Cal. 22. Very rare Niedner conversion of a 1903 Springfield service rifle with 25″ tapered rnd bbl, service front sight and Buffington rear sight. Bbl & front receiver ring are mounted with Niedner scope blocks containing a Malcolm small tube scope with fine cross hairs. Top of front base & inside each of the scope ring dovetails is stamped “95” signifying that this is the orig scope that was mounted on this rifle. Rear scope base is marked “A.O. NIEDNER / MALDEN, MASS.”. The conversion is a sgl shot accomplished by attaching a color case hardened tray with built in ejector into the forward half of the bolt opening in the receiver and threading a color case hardened attachment into front of the bolt along with an offset firing pin. Left side of bolt body has had an additional guide attached. Trigger guard & floorplate, without spring & follower, are service issue blued steel. Rifle is mounted in a 1-pc full length walnut stock with grasping grooves, straight grip and checkered steel buttplate with trap. Left side of wrist has a “J.S.A.” cartouche in a rectangle and the standard “P” in a circle proof on bottom of stock behind trigger guard. Trigger guard front tang is stamped “N.R.A.” with a flaming bomb. It also has a full length handguard with two spring clips that have had the centers of the metal clips removed. Rear section of handguard has a mortised rectangular hole to accommodate the front scope base. This rifle is pictured in closeup detail on p. 88 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy, and is identifiable by the SN in the photos. Page 87 of the same publication shows what is this same rifle, identifiable by a small bruise on right side of stock just back of bolt handle. In addition to these small bore conversions Mr. Niedner also produced heavy bbl International Match rifles to some success. He worked closely with Dr. Franklin W. Mann to develop the scope mounts as found on this rifle. These mounts are without security screws, being tapered forward to tighten as recoil is experienced. This is one of the few surviving examples of this fine conversion and suitable for the most discerning collector. PROVENANCE: Bob Rosenthal Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Bbl & receiver retain virtually all of their fine custom finish with brilliant case colors on the bolt extension and tray in the receiver. Trigger guard & floorplate retain about all of their orig high polish armory blue. Wood is sound with minor storage & handling marks, retains virtually all of its orig armory oil finish with some hand wear on wrist and forestock. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Scope and mounts retain about all of their original factory finish, clear optics. 4-39203 JR19 (6,500-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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