This rifle was originally manufactured c.1897-1916 and was subsequently customized by the talented gunsmith Adolph Otto Niedner who worked with many of the early 20th century's finest gunsmiths, including Harry Pope, and specialized in chambering and custom building single-shot rifles. It has a heavy target weight barrel marked "A.O. NIEDNER/DOWAGIAC MICH" on top and fitted with an unmarked blackened brass tube scope with external mounts on target blocks. The action has a pair of turkeys in a detailed wooded scene on the right, a bear on the left in a pastoral scene, various decorative designs on the balance, a gold plated/wash finish, adjustable double set triggers, and a No. 54 spurred lever with walnut grip panels. The XXX fancy American black walnut straight grip stock has a fancy checkering pattern, cheek piece, and gold plated Schuetzen butt plate. The large two screw forearm has a Schnabel tip, multi-point checkering, and plugged palm rest mounting screw holes. Provenance: Once owned by Iowa gunsmith and Stevens specialist Alfred Loetscher.

Very fine with 98% custom refinished blue finish on the barrel 90% gold plating with some minor fading at the high edges and minor wear beneath the finish, crisp markings and engraving, and general minor wear. The wood is also very fine aside from a pin repair at the front of the wrist, the noted filled holes, crisp checkering, beautiful figure (especially on the left side of the butt), and some light scratches and dings. The scope is fine and has 90% of the blackened finish, slightly foggy but still usable optics (may just need a little cleaning), and distinct crosshairs. Mechanically excellent.