Bought K-31

[DaveN]

De sided to get a K-31 from J&G. my local said they had one so went to look. I was told it did not have a pistol grip so I used this site and a book and thought it might be an earlier 1911 or as i saw here a sporterized one. you guessed it. Sporterized. I passed and ordered through them (FFL) but may be getting a C&R lic. if the K-31 turns out okay. I ordered the one with the walnut stock.

Information

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[gunner]

As an advice Dave, take the bolt of the K31 and let it X-ray, cause it can happen that the front locking lug has small and not visible cracks which are making them unsafe. No i don´t want to create a horror scenario, but it had happened that on some excessiv used K31 this lug was broken and the bolt came backwards. If it has no cracks, and thats propably the case, there will be no problem by using the original GP11 or any mild load. I did it with the bolt of my rifle and nothing was to see.

[Latigo]

Cracked lugs are extremely rare, no more common than any mauser bolt problems.
Since the 1911 was a regular conversion by Golden State Arms and a few otheras to .308, you won't have to worry about shooting a mild load. Since it easily handles .308 pressures of 50,000 cpu, you have nothing to worry about staying within currently published full load data. We're reloading at 2,500fps with RE17 and Berger 175 VLDs.
Good luck and reload safely.

Latigo

[Latigo]

A side note: Haemmerli made/make k31's in .308, 30-06, 300 Winchester Magnum as well as 7.5x55. For the right money one can still be ordered today. That gives you an idea of the receiver strengthn of these rifles.

Latigo

[gunner]

Latigo, yes its indeed very rare that something happens with an K31. But here is an official link to the Swiss Gunmakers society and in that they writ that this can happen. Look at it, its in German but i translated it

Schweizerischer Bndlerverband[COLOR="Silver"] Click at "Aktuelles" And at the left side into the grey bar "Wichtige Mitteilung zum Karabiner31".

Important Message
by Swiss gunsmith and weapons dealer association

Dangerous problems with carabiner 31
In more recent times have occurred carbine 31 with cracked locking lugs. It is highly dangerous with a carabiner having this defect
(K 31) to shoot.


Why?

The 2 locking lugs on either side of the cap and have the task of the gas pressure of 3200 bar to catch. These two locking lugs prevent the closure of the shot is pushed out the back.
But if a defect occurs here the possibility exists that the lock is not guaranteed and will shoot out the lock on the gas pressure to the rear. The injuries to the face are considerable, and then the sight of the objective eye is probably lost or severely damaged.

This must not be!

This defect is usually heralds a crack at right on the locking lug.

The trained eye of the federally licensed gunsmith can detect such defects. In the early stages but only with optical aid. Here it's like people that early detection is an important contribution to health. When present in a weapon that is cracking, should never be shot! This is easily explained.
When present in the one locking lug a crack, the stress on the second lock twice as large and there is a question of time when these tears as well. Will now be shot, the very high gas pressure goes to the closure away from the rear. The shot goes in the proverbial sense, going backwards. Note again what they have facial area behind the closure. This is then destroyed and can not be restored with the best medical science.

Who can make such a defect in the repair?

The federally licensed professional gunsmith, who was trained in the repair of the carbine 31st

What can you do for your safety?

Please select one of the gunsmiths listed below, because only these can make a repair on the carabiner. He will examine the carabiner 31 to this defect now and then you can indulge without concern again the beautiful shooting.

What does it cost?

This control is CHF 35 - including VAT. A well laid amount to maintain health.

On behalf of SBC

the President

Hubert Bonderer

[Rob]

I have read alot about Swiss rifles and have never heard of any problems like that.I will shoot my K31 and K11 with no worries

[gunner]

Hi Rob, this is a " it can happen" not a it must happen at time. It has happened and that mostly at worn out ones. If you will shoot them with normal loads nothing will happen. I shot my G11 without any problem and without fear. The Swiss gunmakers are saying that this can eventually happen with bolts which have the marking "CM" or "MO" on it. Personally i haven´t heard that this happened to an shooter but there is an retired Engineer of the swiss Solothurn AG who said that this can happen. Nothing more, nothing less!

[Latigo]

Hi Gunner. My father speaks german and he translated that quite a while ago. There's another story behind all of that and its mostly "crying wolf" without solid reason unless you're a "federally licensed gunsmith" and need to make some Euros.
I'll see if I can get him to post here sometime. None of this is any more alarming than any other rifle of that vintage. It is definitely not a weak point in the rifle. Any rifle with lugs can experience the same thing, but how many have you ever heard about? For me its two. Two out of how many hundreds of thousands world wide?
You're right of course. As with any other rifle in the world, older well shot rifles should be watched more closely than a modern rifle, but even modern rifles sometimes have their problems.

If he's going to do anything at all, its should be Magna Fluxed, not xrayed, but I think its a waste of money.

"The trained eye of the federally licensed gunsmith can detect such defects." Politics and self promotion exists all over, including the Swiss Gunsmith's Association.
Your eye and my eye can detect the same things Gunner, but Magna Fluxing detects what the "trained eye of the federal licensed gunsmith" cannot.

Interesting stuff isn't it? Thanks for the translation. I do have one here that's put into correct english, but I'd have to type the whole thing.
Thanks again!

Latigo

[Latigo]

Gunner ! You have a PM!

[gunner]

Yes Latigo, thats a method to earn money! Same like the rumors about the Blaser R93, but some Swiss veterans knew about troubles with the K31.