Bought my first K31 today!

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Big_E

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Less than an hour ago I picked out and took home my first Swiss K-31.

Mandatory pics:







As you should be able to see in the pics, I think the stock was refinished. I took the buttplate off and to my disappointment there was no issue card. Just some serial numbers or something. Looks like there was some sanding there too. Not sure if this is a beech or walnut stock.

Otherwise, metal is in great shape. Action is smooth and the bore is pristine. All matching numbers too. The trigger sure is nice on these rifles too. I found out this rifle was made in 1939.

I can't wait to get out and shoot this. I need to order some ammo for it and I am used to paying for 9mm and .22 lr. :eek:
 
Oh it is Beech? I actually wanted a Beech stock since I have so many Walnut rifles.

I don't mind if it really was refinished since I was going to do it anyway. Still a little bummed on the missing issue tags. :(

The accuracy of these rifles is nice, but the one reason I wanted one was because of it's unique action. I wish more modern rifles had straight pull besides Biathlon rifles.

**I was going to order some GP-11 from JG. I was wondering how easy and expensive 7.5 is to reload for though.
 
It's just as easy and expensive as reloading for 308Win, You can even work up using 308 data. They are ballistic twins.
It looks like walnut to me. Refinished or sanded? hard to tell. A close up look at the finger grooves might help out. Are they crisp or rounded off.best
 
I would say they are "crisp". The more worn ones I've seen at other stores were more rounded.

I still need to get into reloading. But it's good to know it's not too expensive.
 
If it's refinished, it's at least a fairly good job, from the pics. Sometimes these rifles do better to be refinished, since the stocks are sometimes in horrendous shape. If the cartouche is still on the side of the butt, it's an excellent refinish (collectors only seem to care about that, for some reason). Hopefully the metal was left unmolested, since these rifles are always in stellar mechanical condition (you'd think they were stainless or something, from the ones I've seen).

The accuracy of these rifles is nice, but the one reason I wanted one was because of it's unique action. I wish more modern rifles had straight pull besides Biathlon rifles.
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That's why I bought mine. They are probably the finest-made rifles you can get today, unless you frequent the Blaser gallery.

TCB
 
Unscrew the butt plate.

See if you have the original owner's ID tag in it.

:)

I owned mine for almost 3 years before I read about that, and sure enough... there it was. Original owner name, address, on a plastic laminate card.
 
They are sweet rifles, you will enjoy it. Buy a decent supply of GP-11 then think about reloading. The 7.5 Swiss is a little picky when it comes to shoulder angles and and certain brands of dies. And you really cant improve on the original GP-11 ammo, just duplicate it if you are lucky.
 
fireman 9731 said:
They are sweet rifles, you will enjoy it. Buy a decent supply of GP-11 then think about reloading. The 7.5 Swiss is a little picky when it comes to shoulder angles and and certain brands of dies. And you really cant improve on the original GP-11 ammo, just duplicate it if you are lucky.
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Redding makes 7x55 dies specifically for the K31 chamber, which is cut a bit larger than the earlier models. Other makes of dies will still work, but size the brass unneccessarily.
 
Yep, I think Hornady New Dimension Dies are cut for the K-31 also. The dies will say specifically. They are a little more expensive too. I plan to reload for my K-31 someday, I just have enough on my plate already with what I'm reloading now.
 
It's a beech refinish; I know, cuz I've done it. Congrats on what is in many opinions to be one of the finest, most accurate rifles to come out of ww2 era.
 
TheGrimReaper said:
Nice! I want one so bad!!!
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Get on it! When I buy a rifle that's 60+ year old rifle, put a 165 soft point in it and blow up a quart milk jug at 150 yards, it's a serious shooter. Amplify that by the fact that it's styled nicely, mag fed, and quite unorthodox...just buy one!
 
I said I already checked for the Issue Tags. Nothing there :(

My ammo can't get here soon enough.
 
Big_E said:
I said I already checked for the Issue Tags. Nothing there :(

My ammo can't get here soon enough.
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Bummer. Mine did, fella by the name of Ulrich Something OrOther. Mountain Division (no joke, the whole place is a giant mountain), and issued in 1943. I'd PM LJMosinFreakBuck, he's got info on manufacture dates by serial number.
 
I was really hoping to see who the rifle belonged to since I am related to a Swiss guy who was there in WW2. Oh well, maybe next rifle :D

The most important thing for me is that I have a well crafted tool that I can shoot.
 
Without more detailed pics, I'd say, probably not sanded or refinished. And I'll stick with my first story. It looks like walnut to me and if mrmustard's gun is like yours is, it too is probably a walnut stock. Opinions are cheap.best all
 
lonniemike said:
Without more detailed pics, I'd say, probably not sanded or refinished. And I'll stick with my first story. It looks like walnut to me and if mrmustard's gun is like yours is, it too is probably a walnut stock. Opinions are cheap.best all
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Nope, mine was beech. I refinished it. I'm going purely off the grain and the color. It looks like no walnut K31 I've personally seen, and if it is, it's stained oddly. Doesn't mean I'm not wrong. But, mine is beech, shellacked and amber. No more though.

I stick to my assumption; I believe it's beech.
 
Beautiful looking K31. You will enjoy this! It does look like beech to me as well.
 
Congradulations Big E, you may have the only pre ww11 made K-31 with a 1939 beech stock!
Actually, I guess ww11 did start in 39, and so your rifle isn't pre war. Some say an official walnut/beech conversion date is in 1946. Unofficially others say beech started showing up in 1944 or 1943. Most K-31s made during ww11were walnut stocked. You may have a 39 beech E but it would be unlikely.
Some serial # dates may vary from the butt stock dates.
mrmustard and Big E, what dates are on the butts v/s serial dates? I wish I had a few pics for comparing beech v/s walnut and a close up of the stock in your rifle.best and enjoy
 
I wouldn't doubt if it was possibly refinished in the arsenal, it's quite possible the original stock split or was damaged; wood stocks are a "wear part" on issue guns, they take some wear and tear. Wouldn't matter to me though one bit.

I will add, though, that the stocks on these rifles are miraculous pieces of engineering. :)
 
Beautiful rifle! You will love it. They are great.

Beechstock.jpg

There is no way that stock is Beech. The grain is too dark and tight. Its walnut. It has been refinished at some point as well. Possibly arsenal. Hard to say with provided pics.
 
When I get back from running errands I'll try to take some better pics. Sorry for the cell phone pics.

I'll take a pic of under the butt plate, but what other things should I take a picture of to help determine if it is an arsenal refinish?
 
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