So, I'm Considering a K31...

Well, Idk about brass forming, but brass is readily available and GP11 ammunition, which is basically match grade, is available for about .50 cents a round.

-My LGS has about 6 in stock, and is asking 325$-415$. The lowest serial (6xxxxx) has highest price, but they all seem about identical in bore quality and function. The highest serial is in the 8xxxxx range, are these superior/inferior to the earlier weapons? Are these prices reasonable? These guns have obviously been on the rack for a while (dust), what are they going for in gunstores these days?

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That's a typical price, roughly industry standard. Good deal, in my opinion.

-Since these guns have been on the rack for years (at least the two I'm aware of) are they any issues that could be caused by storage, lots of cycling, or dry-firing? (Trigger has a lot of take up but the second stage was very crisp)

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None. They're like any other center-fire. And that is the typical two-stage trigger. You will have no complaints. That take up is normal.

-Two of the carbines (the lowest 2 serials) have a much darker wood grain, with more pronounced grain striping. Are these the Walnut or Beech stocks, and is one preferable to the other?

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Walnut is more preferable, and I'm thinking they are Beech, but I could be wrong.

-I checked locking lugs and the bolt-handle stud for wear/cracking, since I've heard some tales of issues there, and all rifles look good. Is there anything else I need to be sure to check up on?

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Not off the top of my head, but I would check and make sure they're chambered in 7.5 GP11 and not .308.

-Can these rifles be rechambered (into anything else) without a 1000$+ custom rebuild? Or can a more common cartridge be reformed into the 7.5 Swiss via die or fire-forming?

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They can be successfully re-chambered in .308, but I'm not sure what the change entails.

The K-31 is practically a match-grade rifle, anyway. I believe most of the shooters here can get around 1.5 MOA consistently out of theirs any given day. One a good day, in the groove, mine will group just under an inch at 100 yards. Those days are few for me, and I typically get about 1.25 - 1.50 MOA

Anytime. Post pics when you pick yours up. I know you won't be able to resist.

Buy buy buy. You won't regret it. They are easily one of the best buys as far as craftsmanship, and ammo, as already stated, is not that expensive. I'm looking to buy a second one to scope and I'm positive it will be the only rilfe I would own two of.

Bojangles is definitely right on that. If I can find a good deal on another one, I'll likely pick up another one.

My understanding is that despite their 7.5 nomenclature, they can be reloaded with standard .308 bullets. It's just a matter of finding or adapting usable brass. You can buy Prvi Partizan, and I have a vague recollection of someone mentioning fire-forming .284 cases, but I'm sure it's a possibility.

http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php...rt=4a&osCsid=8c41319610e4b853b7b99e627fa791b6

Simpson LTD still has a few going for $250. That's around $290 shipped+transferred depending on how cheap your FFL transfer is. I suppose it might be worth the money to support your local mom-n-pop shop, but I still wouldn't pay a dime over $350. They're incredible rifles, but they can be had cheaper.

Darker wood generally indicates Walnut. It's a purely aesthetic choice, but walnut generally commands a $10-$20 price increase.

Yes, you can reload with .308 bullets. I'm sure you could find an accurate recipe from one of the members here.

You won't regret a K31. Walnut stocked models generally bring a slight premium, but aren't any more functional than a beech stocked model. Switzerland, being a neutral country never had the wartime pressure to pump out weapons, so the quality was high throughout the whole production of the K31. There aren't likely many more of these to import, so even if you overpay a bit, the value should increase (10 years ago they were selling for under $100). Brass can be formed from .284 Winchester, but that is harder to find than 7.5x55 lately.

It's true, the guns that are on the market currently aren't military surplus. They're privately-owned Swiss rifles, sold off the Swiss civilian market and imported here - it was Swiss regulation to allow a soldier to keep his rifle when his military service was over, if he desired. So these represent probably the last of them. That's why most of the guns have troop tags under the buttplate.

If you can, you should get a bayonet to go along with it. They're very nice pieces, and compliment their bigger brothers well.

Mine's military surplus (thankfully) and I see it worth more because of that. I have the troop-tag. I just wish I could have the bayonet and the gear that the rifle was issued with. I have a bayo, but it's an unserialed Victorinox.

buy all of them, then send one to me...

K31's are great rifles. As everyone else says, go buy one! (Or three) you will love them. I just got mine in December and got to getting a scope on it. Took it out a couple weeks ago and with Prvi factory ammo it shot .75-1 moa 5 shot groups one after the other. Incredibly asccurate rifle and now I have 60 pieces of brass. One thing you can look for with them is if you unscrew the screws on the buttplate some of the rifles have soldier tags in the buttstock and you can find an online source to decipher what it says and some people have sent the owners e-mails and have sometimes gotten responses! Just something that would be fun to look into, IMO.

Mine's military surplus (thankfully) and I see it worth more because of that. I have the troop-tag.

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Strictly speaking they're all military surplus because all rifles came from the military. I merely make the distinction between rifles sold straight out of Switzerland's armories or through private sales to importers who brought them in by the truckload. I don't see how it would be possible for you to determine the rifle's point of origin.

Strictly speaking they're all military surplus because all rifles came from the military. I merely make the distinction between rifles sold straight out of Switzerland's armories or through private sales to importers who brought them in by the truckload. I don't see how it would be possible for you to determine the rifle's point of origin.

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That's half true. There were K31s manufactured solely for civilian purposes. I don't know the serial number ranges, but the SN's are different, and the rifles are generally in 10-15 times better condition to their military brethren.

Soldiers were allowed to keep their rifles, yes. But there were folks who had K31s that didn't serve with them or get them from the military.

Compared to the Swedish M96 mausers, are the K31's equally or more accuate?

K31's seem like a more accurate platform, but the Swede shoots a more efficient and accurate cartridge (6.5x55).

And I hear that the K11 or G1911 rifles are technically more accurate than the K31.

Well, the GP11 round was initially designed for the earlier rifles, but was since adapted for use out of the shorter barrels.

I've never shot a Swede next to my K31 for comparison, nor have I had my hands on one. I can't elaborate on that.

LJ, thanks for posting the picture! I take it that is a walnut stocked model (since it's not orange). The two best(est) condition stock models at the gunstore are a walnut and beech. I'll probably end up refinishing either (I'm addicted from my CZ52 rehab project). I'm trying really hard to resist getting both...

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I'm not totally sure, haven't actually had it out of the safe for a while. I'm pretty sure it's walnut, though.

I did refinish mine, more of a restoration, really. Steamed most of the dents out, cleaned it up, and put a more resilient finish on it (sealed with Tung Oil).

I may remember it backwards, but I think the walnut had a much lighter bluing-job than the later beech rifle. Didn't look like wear, just a lighter grey color, almost like parkerizing or something. I don't know if this is typical or even matters, they were all spotless of rust, or even wear. I don't recall seeing any import marks, which if not visible would be fantastic.

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It could be wear, it could be park'd. Just gotta take it out of the stock to be sure, you'll be able to tell if the bluing is differing. Really doesn't matter, AFAIK.

Import marks will usually be on the end of the barrel (muzzle end) and on the bolt handle side of the rifle, or on the left side of the receiver. They did real nice work on the importer marks on mine, you can barely see 'em.

I'm not usually one for buying up accessories to go with a gun that will just be used as a gun at the range, but that bayonet is gorgeous, LJ! Almost looks better than the rifle.

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Almost is key! lol. And thank you. Like I said, it's a Victorinox un-serialed. Meaning it wasn't issued to the rifle. I purchased it from www.CheaperThanDirt.com, though I'm not sure they still offer it. Worth a look, though.

The fitment of the blade, tang, and guard are just superb. Even the latch to hold the bayo on the rifle is so finely recessed, that you can barely see the line on the other side. I'll post a picture of that when I get home, working now.

Those Swiss could have marched all the way to Moscow if they'd wanted, leaving nagant-wielding peasants in speechless stupor yeah, like that

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Maybe if the Swiss had a bigger army and the ambitious mindset that led Hitler to that insanity. However, they were more concerned about the defense of their own soil than conquest of other's. Their soldiers were taught accurate fire.

They could hold up in a mountain pass while an invading army could try and come in, bottle-necking the enemy in the mountain pass. This way, a smaller amount of troops could hold off a much larger force.

Thanks for the peer pressure guys, I think I'll make a little withdrawal tomorrow

(crud, I'll just bet this thing won't fit in my safe, but who'd steal it?)

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Now there's some thinking. Get that puppy home and give it a better home than collecting dust. As far as someone stealing it, I couldn't advise you in either way.

Here's a close-up of the bayo, and it's better quality.

As it turns out, you can see on the bayo what I was talking about for the latch recess. You can see it, but some parts just disappear, and you can't even feel the difference.

K31 Picture Thread

When you bring yours home, feel free to post pics up in the link above.

They are the most well-constructed military surplus rifles I've seen (and I've seen/own a few).

I'm still open to a trade for mine (for either 1000 rounds of XM193 or XM855) and it includes 2 60-round packs of GP11 (plus a couple loose boxes) should you live nearby and be interested. LOL

Click here for the original offer. In the few days since I posted that offer, I have actually located and purchased a comforting amount of both XM193 and XM855. However, more is always welcome.

Anyway, the K31 is one astounding surplus rifle without a doubt.