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Looking for a nice Swiss K31 to add to my modest WW II collection. Since I am very new to these guns, is there ANYTHING , I need to be on the lookout for ?
By this I mean, good years / bad years/ certain "issues " with certain vintages, etc. ?
Thanks. :wave:
It's a shame you didn't find the post a few days earlier about AIM.
There really isn't much to look for. Quality is outstanding no matter what year. Nearly all will have matching numbers with the possible exception of the magazine. So I guess if you find one that doesn't have matching numbers on the bolt, I'd look for another.
Walnut stocks are 1943 and prior and are "preferred" due to the wood holding up better than the beech and most prefer the look of Walnut. You can expect to pay a little more for walnut. The butt stocks on most beech stocks are beat up pretty bad. No one is really sure why but rumor has it they set them down outside the door of the building they were entering and when they came out they were frozen to the ground so they kicked them loose. I would think simply moving the barrel away from the house would break they loose better but who knows.
Each rifle was "owned" by the individual soldier. Most have name plates under the butt plate. If the individual took better care of his rifle than others, it will be in better shape. When they left the service they were given the opportunity to keep their rifle through a purchase of a small amount. If this is the case there will be a "P" stamped on the receiver. Not many of these on K31's but are more common on the earlier rifles coming into the country. There is a site which will tell you what year it was made based on the serial number. The stocks will be stamped on the interior about a year to 16 months earlier although I seem to recall someone having one 2 years earlier.
Don't force them apart to disassemble. Find instructions or you'll butcher the fore end and replacement parts are hard to come by.
Thank you...a good start and much appreciated . I am currently looking at a 1941 K31 with "hammerli barrel " as well as a 1949 K31 in good overall shape . Any clue as to the hammerli barreled gun? Rare, aftermarket of good quality, etc ? Thanks :thup:
Barrels were made by Hammerli and SIG as well as receivers. They were assembled at Eidgenossische Waffenfabrik in Bern and will often have a Hammerli barrel on a SIG receiver and vise versa. Quality is going to be the same. These rifles are all "match" quality as well as the ammunition. I've heard there is some restrictions on their use in competitions but have no personal experience with that. Unless it's been abused or neglected, you shouldn't have any problems with one of these despite how bad the stock looks.
Did I mention how FUN these are to shoot? Just beware if you're shooting at a range with a roof. Those empties fly pretty high.
I just ordered a K31 from a place in Calgary.... $250 .. I couldn't resist.... now to find ammo....
My friend from the north did a fine job with the pointers. The only issue which I have read about that he did not mention is the fact that you need to close the action firmly to ensure the bolt is completely in battery and a rare issue with the op rod discussed here http://theswissriflesdotcommessagebo...tSAFETY-CHECKS this is on a great Swiss rifle specific website you will find interesting if you like Swiss Watches, I mean rifles.
Can't go wrong with a K-31.
This thread should be a sticky!!
really can't go wrong with a K31. the Swiss made it perfectly. every one of them.
Ill bet Aragorn cleaned AIM out before I could get an order in.:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by kar98k
The troop tags are a very interesting plus.
I broke down and ordered a pair of the Alpinflage bibs as rangeware . Are the Swiss short? XL fit prefectly but the suspenders are about 2" short.
You should knob by now I only need one. My next is an 1889.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
Thanks , so far, for the replies. :thup:
Just looking for folks who have experience with these guns and possibly know of { if there are any ? } inherent issues , or things to watch out for .
Any real advantage as to Beechwood as opposed to Walnut ?
Personally , like a darker wood on a rifle, but just an opinion. :dunno:
I only needed one until I got one and saw how well made and maintained they were. Need and want have merged for me when it comes to Swiss rifles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Watch out Swiss rifles multiply like rabbits. I started out with 1 K31 and now have over a dozen of various flavors including 1 K31/42 Sniper and 2 K31/ZFK's aka K31/55 Snipers and a very rare Hamerli K31 Match rifle with match sights..:thup:
Walnut is the better wood. That's why most commercial stocks made of wood are walnut. Beech is cheaper and easier to come by and that is why the Swiss made the switch in 1943. The war had been going on for several years and their supply of walnut dried up. As they dry the wood for a year or more, their supply of walnut ended in 1941 or '42. If you find a nice looking beech stock no problems with them, it's all appearance. They simply didn't stand the abuse as well as the walnut stocks did. If you see a nice looking beech stock, check for the Swiss emblem. There should be on on the butt stock. If it is missing, it's been sanded and that's why it looks nice.
I think the only reason I would buy another K31 is if I found one nicer than the one I own. I went the other direction and got a K11 and then a 1911 so they did multiply, just not the same type.
Watch out Swissicon rifles multiply like rabbits. I started out with 1 K31 and now have over a dozen of various flavors including 1 K31/42 Sniper and 2 K31/ZFK's aka K31/55 Snipers and a very rare Hamerli K31 Match rifle with match sights..
Is there ANY advantage to a K31 with a Hammerli match barrel ? I have heard little about them on the K31 model ..........
A match barrel is going to be better than a regular barrel but the regular barrels are pretty good themselves.
Please note that Eidgenossische Waffenfabrik is SIG, now known and registered as RUAG.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Another note.... k31's stamped with a P and cycled into the hands of private citizens are far more likely to have been shot a lot in competitions. Those with the sought after "competition labels" are in the same boat. Fired a lot more than those not taken into the private sector. If it has a bunch of labels or a P, have the seller gage the bore before you buy it. Simpsons will gladly do that for you.
---------- Post added at 07:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 AM ----------
And actually there is a potential issue with 1944 mfg'd k31s. This is from Guisan on the SRDC
K31 accident...SAFETY CHECKS... in Straight-Pull Rifles Forum
Also please note that not all original stocks have the Swiss proof stamped on the buttstock. If a stock was damaged or for any other reason required an arsenal refurbish, there were many that did not get the new stock stamped. This was far more likely on the refurbishing of earlier mfg'd k31s
And I said that wrong. Sig is it's own company separate from Bern, but closely tied with RUAG
I have 2 1942 K-31's:dancingbanana: and to this day i still haven't shot them. But after reading this thread I hung one of them on my wall cause its a thing of beauty.
New to this SWISS K31 site...:)
Just got my first K31 yesterday from AIMS and just want to say hello.
I will probably need few advise from all you K31 experts...
My advice don't be stingy. Post some photos.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddogthegreatest
You will not be sorry you purchased a K-31. Unless you go broke buying more.
Just yesterday, finally found what I was after on the Simpson LTD website :
1944 K31 with walnut wood, 75% finish, muzzle cap, sling, and a very good bore with a .752 ME . :thup: Wanna reload for it, as I do with all my WW II military guns, but wow, the stuff is pricey !! :(
Found a box of muzzle caps at a fun show yesterday. Two for $5. Guess I now have an excuse to find four more k31s.
Simpson LTD has a ton of Swiss rifles, just bought a K31 from them last weekend . She arrived today, sweeeeeeet !! :thup:
Photos perhaps?Quote:
Originally Posted by Roofuss
I use only an old canon 35 mm "camera " so it may be a little while before I can post. Took several shots today ;)
Just acquired K31 number 2, a 1936 with Walnut stock stamped 33. This will go nicely with my 1950.
..... And 4 battle packs of GP11!
:thup: Congrats !!
Time to upgrade to the 21st century perhaps. :) Where do you get it developed these days? I have a Nikon 35mm and upgraded to the digital version of the same thing so I can still use all my old lenses. Haven't used film since and instead of a couple hundred photos a year I now take thousands.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roofuss
Yeah, that's what my wife keeps saying, too !! LOL ! :bow:
I get my fim developed at the local Wal-Greens Drug store here in town, and usually have a CD burned with the developed pic's also.
Some day, soon, I'll break down and upgrade ........:rolleyes: