By Staff
Years ago when I first went to work at the state liquor store in the old downtown Elks building, we had a nice old white-haired fellow as a customer.
It wasn't until recently did I know how famous and well-known he was.
Not too long ago one of the readers of my column let me see some pictures and a lot of information on the Niedner Rifle Corp.
I remember this old gentleman used to tell us of his days of fighting Indians out West.
This old man was Adolf Niedner.
It was around 1920 or '21 when William Stolley (Dick's father) started the Niedner factory with Mr. Niedner.
This was in a building north of Franklin Street where Casco or Raymond Phillips' business was located.
These buildings and the area were Du-Wel and now ICG Casting. Even Poplar Street has been eliminated.
In 1923, Thomas Shellhamer, a well-known gun stock maker, came and joined the factory.
At the time, Paul Slack, Lew Baker, Elmer Stahl, Clyde Schum, Ralph Brower and Harley Coble were all employees. In 1930, Carlyn Behrmann and Fred Hall joined the company. It was 1939 when Raymond Langguth bought the company.
Ray brought with him Vernon Gibson and Frank Brychta when he bought it. Ray left the company for a while, but came back later and he and Bill Fox founded the Fox Niedner Corp. in 1957 and it was sold in 1963.
When Carlyn Behrmann left Niedner's, he went to work at Heddon's and was there in 1947 when I worked there.
I remember Ray Langguth as we passed his house every day on our way to old Oak Street School taking our short-cut route up the alley next to Ray's house on McOmber Street.
Of course, Thomas Shellhamer was known around the world for his beautiful gunstocks, his work all done by hand. When he left Niedner's, he continued his work at home.
In looking at all the pictures and writings, I found it interesting that Mr. Niedner built his first rifle at age 14.
In 1880, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, spent four years in the cavalry and was engaged in 17 Indian fights with the Apaches. Years before his hair turned white he had a silver streak across his scalp where an Apache bullet creased his head.
He was also the Army's pistol champion. At one time he belonged to the Milwaukee Gun Club and took first place in the Centennial Exposition in 1876.
He was quite a marksman and had more than 180 medals and was an honorary member of 27 rifle clubs. He also had a large collection of guns, some of which he had made special for himself. His guns were sold all over the world.
Besides guns, Niedner's also made gunsights and many were used in World War II.
I don't know when the Niedner Rifle team first started, but in a picture of the 1935 team of nine men there were Ralph Burling, Alva Bennett, Carlyn Behrmann, Dr. Harold Rose, A.O. Niedner, Ray Jones, Gordon Leich, Everette Hoffmiester and Don Gray.
A friend brought four of Gordon Leich's medals to show me.
He won these in 1932 and 1933. One was a 1932 range record - 71 bullseyes-500 yards, 63-V (means right in center).
Another was the A.O. Niedner grand aggregate indoor, which Gordon took first place in 1933. Also one for T.R.I. County Rifle Association Indoor Champions (1933) and a 200 yards Niedner Team Match Tri-County.
I'm not sure, but was told that indoor shoots were held in the Oppenheim building.
Another thing that came from Niedner's was the Stahl-Niedner Sleeve Lock Trigger Guard Safety and the Aperture Rear Sight for the Springfield Rifle.
In 1983, Carlyn Behrmann and Alva Bennett were the only two left of the original group.