K-31 from Aim for Your Viewing and Opinions

[320th INF]

Guys,

I purchase a K31 from Aim on 5/2014. I selected the "walnut stock" and the "hand pick" options.

I received an October 1943 production stock with a serial number corresponding to a 1944 production date.

I have a few concerns you may be able to help me with:

1. The barrel and the bolt cap are dated 1942. Is this the manufacturing date because of
a refurb or is this a manufacturing code? My guess is its a refurb barrel and bolt from
1942.

2. The rear barrel band has a three number code stamped on it. Is this a manufacturing
code or is this a band from an earlier rifle that had the serial numbers stamped on it?

3. There is a "P" stamped on the barrel, is this a private sale marking or just a contractors
mark?

Please see the below photos. I would love to hear all options, good or bad on what I've got.

Thanks in advance,

320th















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/IMG_5028_zpsebf71777.jpg[/IMG]

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aragorn243]

Stocks are usually about a year earlier than the receivers. They have a drying time. That's not a date on the barrel. Most of the others are inspection marks. That is a date on the bolt and since your bolt serial matches is probably original to the rifle. The P typically does indicate private sale but I believe they put that in front of the serial number, not on the barrel where it is. But, that could be what it is. It matches no inspection marks I can find.

[320th INF]

Aragorn,

First of all thanks for your reply and information.

I agree with your thoughts on the stock and rifle build dates as I posted this just for everyone's information. The markings on the barrel of 1942 just seamed odd that it matched the bolt cap. Glad you could share some incite on what this means, I feel better now knowing the barrel markings are not a date. I agree with you 100% on the location of the "P" marking I just could not find any inspectors marks that should be in that location either.

Any thoughts on what the "432" markings on the rear band could be? Everything I've read said it should be unmarked.

Thanks again for all your help,

320th

[Aragorn243]

My sources say the rear barrel band is marked with the ordnance acceptance mark. That does not mean it couldn't be marked with something else such as a rack number although that seems an odd place to put one as it looks like it would be UNDER the sling. So beyond that possibility, I don't know what the 432 is.

[320th INF]

Thanks for the reply, I haven't been able to find out what it means either. I thought it may be a rack number as well, but it seems to be in the wrong place. Some things we may never know.

Thanks again,

[kar98k]

Stocks are usually about a year earlier than the receivers. They have a drying time. That's not a date on the barrel. Most of the others are inspection marks. That is a date on the bolt and since your bolt serial matches is probably original to the rifle. The P typically does indicate private sale but I believe they put that in front of the serial number, not on the barrel where it is. But, that could be what it is. It matches no inspection marks I can find.

My K31 was made in 1941 and sits in an October 1941 stock.

[Aragorn243]

Mine is March of 1941 and it is an early 1942 production rifle, probably late January-February time frame.