Question about Swiss K31 bolt operation

Hi folks,

I just bought my first Swiss K31 ... and I admit I know very little about them. I've read the Wikipedia entry and some of the excellent entries here, but cannot find the answer to one question:

Should you be able to easily pull the bolt back on this rifle when it is cocked? On my rifle, I can slam the bolt forward into firing position, and then simply pull back on on the handle gently and it will open again. If I dry-fire it in this position, with the handle slightly back, it seems to close the bolt and then still fire. I'm worried something is not locking up right.

This may be normal operation, but this is my first K31, and also my first straight-pull rifle. I have visions of an unsecured bolt through my right eyeball tomorrow at the range .. not a comforting thought.

My rifle is serial number 939499. It has a VU 47 stamped on the wood under the buttplate (and a plastic soldier tag -- I left it in place for now). All serial numbers match, stock looks like it was fed to an alligator, but the metal is 95+% blued still. Bore is very bright.

Your K31 was manufactured in 1950, one of 13,200 they made with serial numbers from 936801 to 950000. ;)

I'm sure someone can answer your bolt question here, but if not, here's some resources I've extracted from our site that may help you.

Swiss Service Rifles YouTube Videos Playlist (click here)

Watch some of the videos and see how these various shooters handle their K31's.

Also, here's the original manuals and some various links to Swiss Rifle sites.

Quote:

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Switzerland - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

1958 Swiss Army Rifle Manual (English Translation) (Model 11, Model 31, Scoped Model 31/42, 31/43 and 55) (click here)

1967 Swiss Army ZFK55 Sniper Rifle Armourer's Manual (English Translation) (click here)

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Quote:

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Swiss Rifle Collector Web Sites & Forums

Switzerland - Milsurp Knowledge Library

CanadianGunNutz.com Milsurps Forum

Swiss Rifles.com Main Web Site

Swiss Rifles.com Forums

C+R Gun Collector Forums - The Swiss Rifle Forum

Gunboards.com - Swiss Rifles Forum

ParallaxBill's Milshooter.net - Swiss Rifles Forum

The Guns Network LLC ~ Swiss Rifles Forum

The Curio and Relic Firearms Forum - Swiss Rifles

Surplusrifleforum.com - Swiss Rifles Forum (requires registration)

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Regards,
Badger

Thanks! I'll pore through those links and see if I can find out about my safety concerns. Lots of good information.

The locking lugs are on the outer sleeve. You can see the sleeve rotate to lock. The serial number will be top dead centre when the bolt is completely locked. If the bolt handle is pulled back slightly, you will see the sleeve start to rotate slightly. When the trigger is pulled, you will see the sleeve rotate back to locked position. This is part of the safety interlock system to prevent the rifle from firing unless the bolt is closed. Almost all rifles have some sort of similar system built into them.

Thanks!

I just got a crash course in disassembly/reassembly of the bolt, when I accidentally took it apart while cleaning it. Man, that thing is complicated for a bolt-action rifle. Fortunately I found a good web page for directions other than the translated Swiss (it had pictures of the parts).

Firing pin cannot hit the primer until the locking lugs are fully locked.
If not fully locked, the striker will try to lock up the lugs further by using up the firing pin spring energy. Grab the ring and re-cock the striker.

I can completely dis-assembly and re-assemble a K31 bolt in about ten seconds.
Once you learn which slots to line up, it's a breeze.

Yup, I practiced with it last night until I understood how everything lined up. Got it down now. I took the rifle out to the range today -- it shot very well. Kicks about like a .30-06 or .308.

I'm considering putting some Mojo sights on it, since the real Swiss diopters (nice nick, by the way) are so expensive. The Mojos look like they will get the job done, and my eyesight is not really good enough to use the dovetail sight that is on it right now.

I've also got to decide what to do about the stock -- this one is too far gone to restore easily, due to the number of nicks and the amount of actual water damage on the buttstock. Metal on this rifle is almost pristine though.

Later,
John