If this was your rifle

redneck2 said:

I see no value in holding onto a chunk of wood and steel because it may increase $200 in ten years.

Click to expand...

It will appreciate a lot more than that...

redneck2 said:

Buying an unfired firearm then never using it makes as much sense as marrying a gorgeous woman and never sleeping with her because you want to keep her untouched

Click to expand...

The gun will never deteriorate with age. The girl will. The gun will still be lusted after in forty years. The girl won't. And if you wanted to keep her "untouched" you would never have married her in the first place.

Your comparison is ridiculous. Apples and chainsaws. But, once you sleep with the girl, or fire that rifle for the first time, neither one will ever be looked upon the same way.

That’s a beauty!

I guess it just comes down to what you want. If the rifle is just going to sit unused (but admired), and the XXII would be used, then a swap may be worth your while. If it is a safe queen for a safe queen swap, I would just stand pat with the K31.

Stay safe.

K31 prices are actually a little “down” over what they were 2-3 years ago. More so when you factor inflation. I suspect this is because of the shortage of readily available ammunition. These tend to be prized by milsurp shooters more so than collectors per se, since Switzerland didn’t do much fighting during the 20th century wars. Average examples have sold recently in the 500-600 range. Retail outlets will be somewhat higher. Yours, however, is not average, it’s exceptional (assuming the stock hasn’t simply been refinished, which it doesn’t look like to me but I’m not the foremost K31 expert.) I think $1300 isn’t too much to ask, and if that bayonet happens to be matching, even more. (Very rare, but one that nice is also very rare so, worth checking.)

Add me to the long list of those who have replied: "Don't sell/trade your K31"!

I've got a K31 and it isn't that nice. Sure is purty.

I’d keep it, and if I saw it for less than $1k I’d buy it.

The grasping grooves are rounded on the stock, indicating a probable refinish. The buttplate also looks slightly oversized, indicating sanding.

Even still, I'd put it at $450-$650 right now. The bayonets aren't cheap either. I'd keep and shoot, especially if you have ammo. Maybe sell when the ammo runs out unless you handload or don't mind paying the price for it.

I really like K31s. I still have some GP11 ammunition, but it's hard to find and expensive now so I only shoot every once in a while. I'd shoot more if 7.5x55 ammunition wasn't such a pain to procure or handload.

Clamp-on scope mounts and diopter peep sights are also available. I find the open sights on them really easy to pick up for sight alignment too. I bet it shoots really well.

Those used to be a dime a dozen when they first hit the US market. Now they are harder and harder to find in the condition yours is in. Obviously it's just me, but I would NEVER get rid of that rifle in the condition you have. Has to be a better option! Though Gunbroker has them listed between $600 and $900.

Love me some Swiss rifles!

NuclearMeltdown said:

The grasping grooves are rounded on the stock, indicating a probable refinish. The buttplate also looks slightly oversized, indicating sanding.

Click to expand...

Uhhh.... I have never seen a K-31 in my life where the grasping grooves on the stock were NOT rounded. Go to the Simpson's link Dave Laurent posted and try to find one where the grooves aren't rounded. Also note that the finish on almost all of the guns shown closely matches the OPs gun, in both color and finish, they just aren't as pristine.

The buttplate? Every K-31 I have ever examined has a buttplate that overhangs a bit...or more than a bit. This is because the butts of the guns were often standing in snow while the soldier rested. Most K-31. This wasn't kind to the wood. Most K-31s I have seen have a rather cobby looking three or four inches of wood next to the butt plate. In order to sand this out in a refinish you would have to take off so much wood that the butt plate would be hanging out so much you could use the exposed edge as a wood scraper. The butt plates were not hand fitted to each individual gun. They all hang out a bit. Look at the inletting of the stock around the trigger guard and the upper tang on the receiver. The wood is flush with the metal. This is no re-finish job.

Post deleted

Keep It and Shoot It !

In 1965 7.5 Swiss K11 sold for $20.00 ... several of us in high school bought them and shot them , cut them down to hunt with and I restocked mine with a Herter's Sporter Stock . Later I bought another but left it in military form . The sporterized K11 is worthless ... the Military K11 now sell for $400 - $800 ... quite a bit more than the $20 I paid .

Your K31 is in excellent codition with all the accessories ... KEEP IT ... take care of it and enjoy shooting it . Very accurate and enjoyable rifles and shooting vintage military rifle matches is becoming a popular thing . You have it ... it's paid for and trust me , if you sell it you will regret selling it ... no more will be made .
Gary

No way I'd be selling that rifle if it were mine. No way, no how.

Jeff olson:

Grüezi! And Excellent decision!

If not much else to many people, it certainly is a unique design, and has very good sights.

Swiss quality should be nothing to underrate. I’ve known only 2-3 people who have Any gun made in Switzerland, and guess which type of gun it was?

To own a K-11 and a Sig handgun made there would be quite a special “club” membership.

Tell him you want to disassemble the Weatherby! Watch how fast he says "NO!"

It's the oldest Scam in the books. Your "individual" who probably knows nothing about the gun, would have disassembled it, probably messing up some screw heads and scratching the finish, and then he would find some imaginary flaw and demanded a big discount. You were wise to tell him no.

Find a Swiss forum and post some pics there. You will probably see an explosion of interest and offers to buy. And you can learn a lot about the gun.

You made a wise decision.

Do you have ammo? I have a box of Norma 180 gr. softpoints I'll give to you if you want them. I'll pay shipping. Shoot me a PM .

Sell it or not, your decision.

Trade for that Weatherby? I would NEVER do any trade with that azz.

Jeff olson said:

I have about 140 rds of herters, pmc and others. It's unlikely I'll ever shoot this rifle, but who knows?.

Click to expand...

Wow! that ammo is worth several hundred dollars by itself!

If you decide to keep it ---------- this is how they shoot!

Jeff olson said:

That being said, the individual involved in the proposed trade wants to disassemble the rifle before he would agree.

Click to expand...

He sounds like someone to avoid in business dealings

In the end, it’s your gun and you should do what makes you happy

You chose wisely (to quote the knight in Indiana Jones 3). They are great rifles. Mine looks like dung compared to yours, but it still shoots great. My K31 is the first rifle (outside of military service) I have shot with irons @ 100y. I was very pleased with how it shot. A buddy of mine has one and laid into a pretty good amount of the GP11 ammo and it shot like a target rifle.

When I got mine for $125 around 2006-2007 the bayonets were around $210. I couldn't wrap my head around that.

I went online and found ammunition for this -- "available" and not sold out. Prices I found were not horrid. Are you a reloader? That would be even better in keeping ammo costs down.

If that rifle is accurate, I'd say keep it. Perfectly fine rifle & chambering. In this day and age, if you have a performer, then keep it. Heaven only knows how many times in my youth I let quality performers go on trades. Wished I'd kept several of those. Well kept, firearms live longer than humans live. The rifle's exterior looks dynamite, very well taken care of. It's a rifle that you will be able to pass on to your kids and grandkids.
.

Here is what AIM Surplus is looking for K31 "nice rifles with average wear"..

https://aimsurplus.com/products/swiss-k31-7-5x55-rifle

OP: I think you're wise to hold onto it.

Speedo66 said:

Here is what AIM Surplus is looking for K31 "nice rifles with average wear"..

https://aimsurplus.com/products/swiss-k31-7-5x55-rifle

OP: I think you're wise to hold onto it.

Click to expand...

That thing is an absolute DOG compared to the OPs gun!!.

That is the absolute nicest condition one I have ever seen. Should probably be in a museum. If you do decided to sell you should sell it at an auction site or find the collector community and get top dollar for it because it is exceptional.