K-31, $200 good deal?

[Steve N]

I stopped at a small gun shop today. The guy didn't have too much. Most of it was (he said) his personal collection he was selling off. He said he was 68 and a retired LEO from the small town I grew up in. I looked at several older rifles he had for sale, Yugo Mausers, M91, couple of older shotguns.

I'm not much of a rifle person, mostly shotguns, and an old Stevens .22. I will get my father-in-laws Type-99 from Okinawa someday, and have an interest in mil-surp, older bolt rifles.

He had a K-31 he wants $200 for. Looks like its in pretty good shape to me, and $200 doesn't sound too far off a fair price. The wood looks pretty nice, not refinished, with normal dings, etc. Didn't check the bore or get deep into the guts. What should I look for if I decide to make an offer? What is a fair price for a decent K-31 these days? I've read the threads about the K-31 and ammo availability and pricing. I probably won't shoot it more than 1-2X a year, and only for target shooting.

 

[PT140]

I was at the Ft. Wayne gun show a couple of weeks ago and a dealer had 2 of them there and he was asking $199.99 for them. They too had some dings and normal wear and tear. Hope that helps.

 

[akolleth]

Well $200 is a little high, you can still get them for around $130 and up online.

BUT, having the chance to see the gun up front and know its condition before you buy it is worth something too.

 

[PotatoJudge]

It depends if it is walnut, matching numbers (and magazine) and has a tag or accessories. If it's in good shape with a walnut stock and tag, $200 is a good price. You'll end up paying $20 for shipping plus a $25-50 transfer fee at your gunshop on top of the $130-170 price of the rifle. This way you get to check the rifle out in person.

 

[Slamfire]

It is always worth paying a premium when you can inspect the rifle. I have ordered any number of surplus rifles from importers and you are very lucky if it ever lives up to the condition description. Generally the rifle you get will be one step below the NRA condition. If it is described as new, it will come in as excellent. It it is described as excellent, it will come in as very good. Never buy anything sight unseen that is described as Very good. I received a couple of rusted out sewer pipe rifles from Century that were described as very good. After I sent them back, I got another set of rusted sewer pipe rifles back. Since I was out the shipment, I decided not to play a losers game with them anyone.

The first K31 I purchased, at a gun show in 1997, cost me $325.00. It was in almost excellent condition and I was happy to find one. They were real rare back then. At some point the supply will dry up, and prices will inch up, and one day in the future, I might get most of my money out of that rifle.

 

[cracked butt]

$200 might be a little high right now unless the rifle is in exceptional shape. 3 years from now, $200 might be a bargain. If it feels right to you, buy it and don't look back.

 

[plexreticle]

Can you get it cheaper? probably but $200 for a K31 is an excellent value.

 

[Steve in PA]

You think $200 is high?? LOL, my wife and I were in Cabela's down in Hamburg, PA and I was checking out the used gun rack they had a K-31 there for $495!!!

 

[270Win]

See if the guy will deal down to, say, $175 cash, or $180 if you buy some accessories, etc.

That said, $200 is the going rate for gun shops and gun shows right now, in my area (DC Metro).

 

[aaronrkelly]

Walnut or beech stock? Condition of the bluing? Did it come with ANY extras, such as sling?

I paid $130 + $12 shipping for my K31 from Classic Arms......

This is what I got, complete with troop tag.



If the guns nice and its what you want, $200 doesnt sound to far out of line.

 

[Hoppy590]

180 is the recent shop price iv seen. so as long as the gun is in good condition. and the store is one you like 200 is a fair price. you pay extra for the little guy. and you pay extra to inspect

 

[Essex County]

I bought my third one a few years back and paid less for a walnut one that didn't have a beaver chewed stock. However, a guy walked into the General Store this morning and laid down $108.00 for two cartons of ciggaretts and 95 cents for a candy bar. Makes a $200 K-31 sound like a bargain. Essex

 

[davera]

$200 is what I paid for mine at gunshow prices at the end of last year. Aren't the advertised prices for mail order only for CFL holders? Regular Joes pay retail don't they?

 

[cracked butt]

Aren't the advertised prices for mail order only for CFL holders? Regular Joes pay retail don't they?

Not sure if they carry them much anymore, but Dunham's often times has sales on K-31s that are around $100. I've bought 4 of my 7 K-31s from Dunhams, the most expensive being around $109 OTD. The other 3 from AIM with the most expensive being $120 (that includes shipping) and the cheapest being $59 (including shipping).

I paid a princely sum of $340 for a pair of swedish M96s about 6 years ago, not sure if its even easy to find one M96 for that price anymore. I never regretted the purchase, and wish I would have bought 10 more at $170/ea. The K-31s are going to be the same way in a couple of years.

 

[aaronrkelly]

$200 is what I paid for mine at gunshow prices at the end of last year. Aren't the advertised prices for mail order only for CFL holders? Regular Joes pay retail don't they?

Unless that regular Joe (and there are ALOT of us) has a C&R license. Send a application to the ATF with $30 - wait for a few weeks and then you can have K31s, Mosin Nagants, CZ52s, Yugo SKSs, Mausers etc all shipped DIRECTLY to your door. Most places see you as a dealer, just the same as the gun store down the street.

 

[davera]

I've been thinking about a CFL. It wouldn't save me any money overall as I would just buy more rifles.