doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Niedner Rifle...?

Just found this. Is it anything special? besides the sight

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=157340306

The "NP" proofmark shows that's it was made late at Dowagiac. I do not know what the 7mm Special was but suspect it's a close chambered job. Likewise with the stock I can't tell who made it and I don't like all the cracks in the butt. Action MAY be a commercial, can't tell. If you have an interest in the rifle ask the owner what the barrel number and action number is. The barrel number will be under the stock and the action number might be on the action bottom flat. Let me know what find out and I'll help if I can.

Michael: I don't see why Niedner would not put his name on the barrel and it doesn't look like Shelhamer to me. The owner of this shop is one who purchased odds and ends from my sister in law after the guns went to Rock Island. He was very fair to her.

Does anyone know definitively what a 7mm Special is? I have an idea but have not found any information on this cartridge anywhere and to keep the research pool pure, I wil not say my thoughts until I hear yours!

Chas. Newton's 7mm Special was the '06 case necked to .288", later .284"

Thanks Jim, a new one for me. I forgot to ask did you break the aquarium when you shot the goldfish?

Nope, it was a truly wild one. Populations do exist. I've been after one for nine years.

When I first saw this rifle I called and asked the gunshop was the 7mm Special a Newton Special? I did so because he has in his ad 7x57 after the words 7mm Special. They explained to me a 7mm Special was "just" a 7x57 with a different twist rate than a normal 7mm Mauser [7x57]. I said I had never heard of this derivation and was told the gunsmith had done a chamber cast!!!!! He also allegedly fired several rounds of 7x57 without a change in the brass and with no problems!!! I for one don't think I have ever heard anything like this in my 50 years in the business. THE RIGHT HONORABLE Mr. Behrman... WHAT SAY YOU? Warmest Regards

I am certainly not the expert that Michael is, but I see nothing that I would call Shelhamer. Barrel is a mystery I think there should be a full Niedner Marking. Even the Niedners I have seen that were only rebarrel jobs were marked with the Dowagiac address.

If Tom Shelhamer made a stock that he did not like (ie. runovers in the checkering), he would saw thru the offending section and throw the pieces in the closest wood stove.

As far as the dealer in his other auctions he shows an obviously parkerized Colt New Service and claims it unfired.

I am leery of these two guns.

Thank you for your kind input! It is very much appreciated! Warmest Regards as always.