Here is a neat m54 I picked up a few years ago with an A.O. Niedner barrel.

The Winchester dates to 1926 and the Niedner barrel to 1927. The marking on the barrel is A.O. Niedner over DAWOGIAC, MICH. The barrel isn't marked for caliber, so I had my gunsmith do a chamber cast. The gun is in 30-06. I hope to hunt with it this season.











*I also put this in the custom rifle forum.

Neat historical artifact. There aren't many alterations to original rifles that enhance their value, I feel this is one of them. Niedner's was a highly respected custom shop. His barrels were considered world class, and were used by many other custom gunsmiths. The only things I would do with this one is replace the godawful ventilated recoil pad and retrofit a period correct target scope in place of the current one, for paper punching. (I see the holes for the front base exist in the barrel - obviously added after the gun left Niedner's as they wouldn't have drilled through their name on the barrel.) Revert to the "modern" scope for hunting purposes, although it's kind of a shame they drilled that extra hole in the receiver bridge. At least the bolt handle wasn't altered, as far as I can see from where I'm sitting.

Unfortunately, rear receiver bridge is D&T, plus the bolt handle and safety have been altered to clear the modern scope/mount position.

That's a great Rifle!
Thanks for Sharing.
Enjoy,
HS 58

I'm a big fan of the Model 54. Unfortunately, contrasting to the Model 70 earned aura; "non-collector" 54 specimen extracts a steep value hit compared to a strong 70 sustained "functionality" aura of respect. The 54, irony as often a series of factual-functional enhancements, as economically condemned "originality" factor hit. Model 54 modernization formula: "More useful, less valuable"!

The Nieder barrel is a nifty artifact and era context "functional improvement" category... For those of us who recall the name in accurate barrel lore.

Concluding as noting your "Poof Pad Syndrome". You know, the era-correct recoil pad so old, worn, dried & decrepit, that that it goes "poof" with small cloud of rubber-dust debris every time you shoot! A replacement... or breathing mask, appears to be in your shooting future. Below: My similar era pad on Mod 54, 11K SN (without suffix) also in 30-06.

Good luck with that new toy of interest!
Best!
John

Ahh, I see it now.

Impossible to conventionally mount a scope on a M54 without altering the bolt.

I don't think the safety has been altered as the scope doesn't allow it to function, but I could be wrong. It gets in the way.

I didn't know the bolt handle had been altered, but it surely makes sense.

It would have been awesome if they wouldn't have drilled through Niedners mark, but at least it's still legible. Yeah, the recoil pad is way gone No hope for it. I hope to get it replaced before too long.

Should I load M1 Garand level loads in this rifle? Just to be safe?


Chris

Should be a very good shooter, provided the bore was maintained. "Normal" loads should be ok but there's nothing at all wrong with Garand-safe loads. They are what made the .30-06's reputation during the first half century of it's existence anyway. Strength-wise no moss grows on the M54.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to check headspace. Always a good idea with any gun that old.

Thanks for the help. Yes sir, I had my smith check it when he made the chamber cast to make sure it was 30-06.