1949 Waffenfabrik Bern K31 Carbine

[Capybara]

Finally took a decent picture of it.

1949 Waffenfabrik Bern K31 Carbine

 

[rswartsell]

Just gorgeous!

 

[bainter1212]

Great looking blonde! How does she shoot?

 

[Capybara]

Better than I do. I will eventually be putting the removable mount and an optic on the rifle. I really want to get her out to 300-500 yards to see what it can do but my eyes will not go much past 200. They are great rifles, probably one of the most accurate milsurp ever made, beautiful machining. Every C&R collector should have one, especially since they still sell in the $300.00 to $400.00 range. These things are a steal at that price and they are drying up.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Keep an eye out for the 1896/11 as well if you can. I thought my K31 was accurate but that one blows it out of the water. 30 inch barrel helps I guess

 

[Jackal]

Keep an eye out for the 1896/11 as well if you can. I thought my K31 was accurate but that one blows it out of the water. 30 inch barrel helps I guess

Same with the K1911, shoots circles around most K31's.

 

[Capybara]

Good to know guys. Perhaps someday I will round out the Swiss part of my collection and acquire both of those.

 

[DownEaster]

Good pictures of an awesome rifle, I bet it shoots lights out.

But I just wanted you to know that the muzzle cover is on upside down, the the little arm goes over the front sight.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"Keep an eye out for the 1896/11 as well if you can. I thought my K31 was accurate but that one blows it out of the water. 30 inch barrel helps I guess"

"Same with the K1911, shoots circles around most K31's."

___________________________________________________________

Guess I'm from the Missouri part of North Carolina, because I'm going to have to see this. K31's are usually in the top four desirable rifles for vintage military matches along with Swedish 96's, Springfield 03's, and the odd Finn or other Mauser.

I can't remember ever seeing an older Swiss on the line, and if they were more accurate I guarantee competitors would seek them out.

 

[Speedo66]

Aim currently has various Swiss rifles and carbines in stock in their C&R section.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/

 

[Capybara]

Thanks for the tip Downeaster, I had no idea I had that muzzle cover on upside down.

 

[Capybara]

My credit card is down for the count and crying for mercy Speed066. Must resist...

 

[Speedo66]

I don't want to be an enabler, but at Aim you even have your choice of beech or walnut stocks on the rifles at this point.

 

[holy-diver]

I dont agree that the predecessors shoot better than the k31. Using the 7.5 swiss they should be very very close.

 

[tark]

I have a 1911 and a K-31. Both shoot very near minute of angle at 100 yards with Swiss surplus ammo. Not quite as good with Norma 180gr hunting ammo. I don't see any difference in accuracy.

 

[Capybara]

I am a reloader but have never reloaded Berdan primed, but I keep my GP11 brass, it is far too nice to throw away. I bought 200 rounds of PRVI 7.5mm brass but I would like to reload the GP11 as well.

 

[Trent]

Holy smokes that's a great looking rifle!

I'm envious.

 

[Capybara]

Thanks Trent! You should buy one while they are between $300.00 and $400.00. As far as I am concerned, K31s are todays K98 Mauser, once affordable, but once the market realized what they were, the prices tripled and quadrupled. They are truly great rifles, so well made, so accurate.

 

[holy-diver]

Aim is sold out now??

 

[Trent]

Thanks Trent! You should buy one while they are between $300.00 and $400.00. As far as I am concerned, K31s are todays K98 Mauser, once affordable, but once the market realized what they were, the prices tripled and quadrupled. They are truly great rifles, so well made, so accurate.

I've had one for years. Got my K31 back when they cost $150; paid an extra $25 for a hand select over that.

They must have been saving the really good ones for later imports though. Mine is a bit over a decade older, and it's not *nearly* as pretty as yours!

Shoots good though!

 

[bainter1212]

Aim is sold out now??

Go through Simpsons LTD. Hi def, multi angle pictures and detailed descriptions of each and every rifle. The guy who does the grading has been doing it forever and is very skilled, so you know exactly what you are getting. He even measures the rifling grooves so you know the exact measurement.
Most of theirs are between $425-$500. You just can't go wrong buying from Simpsons.

 

[browningguy]

That looks very nice.

 

[Capybara]

Thanks Browningguy. The K31s are a hidden treasure, they are almost all with really good bores and metal although the Swiss Hobnailed boots often were kicked against the butt stocks to remove snow and dirt from them, notice the dark spot on the butt stock of mine? But mine isn't that beat up. They are probably the most accurate milsurp out there, other than maybe some of the Swedish Mausers.

 

[Jenrick]

Capybara: Real simple to deprime the GP11 cases.

Fill with water
Slide the expander rod into the case neck a bit
Whack with a hammer
Dry everything off

The hydraulic pressure will pop the primer right out. You can use spare expander and polish it down so it doesn't actually expand the case mouth, and then it'll come right back out after you drive it in with a hammer.

-Jenrick

 

[Capybara]

Thanks for the tips Jenrick.