Bought my third K31...

[270Win]

Today I decided to check out a new-to-me gun store I found out about at the last gun show. It's apparently been there a year and a half, but I only recently discovered it. It appears to deal primarily in milsurps, although it appeared to sell some new handguns as well.

Browsing the rack for things on "the list" - and specifically for a hex-receiver Mosin with a good bore - I found two Swiss K31s that the owner had definitely NOT brought with him to the last show. I also found a hex-receiver Mosin with a bayonet and sling and laminate stock... but with a rather poor bore, very pitted and dark.

But back to the K31s, one had a beech stock and one a walnut. They were both all-numbers-matching. The walnut had very very little stock damage. They both had absolutely perfect bores. The walnut had a 694xxx serial, giving it a 1942 date. I picked it up.

I'm more than happy! I plan to take it to the range on my next trip; I'll post pictures, and later, a range report. So, more to come...

 

[Coronach]

Head up to the Valley Forge gun show. There's a guy there who was at Harrisburg last week. He has a whole truckload of Mosin's, and about one third of the ones I saw had hex receivers, and most of the ones out on the table had pretty good bores.

Trust me. I took one home with me.

If I may ask, what did you pay for the K31? I'm trying to find out what current real-world market price is on these things, or if I should just order from Samco.

Mike

 

[Manedwolf]

As a side note on the K-31s, does the GP11 seem to be drying up? I'd noticed that Sportsman's Guide and others are showing OUT OF STOCK.

I'd just found a $150 480rd battlepack at a local shop, and snagged it...it seems to be much higher than that in new ads.

 

[270Win]

Paid $200 even. I forgot to note it came with sling and muzzle guard already installed. For the condition of the bore and stock, I didn't feel cheated at all; the few I've seen from AIM or Samco at the local range have been much more chewed up; of course, those might not have been the "handpicked" ones.

I also have been seeing the slow disappearance of GP11. I picked up two Big Black Bricks, just in case.

 

[TimboKhan]

Coronach,

I bought a K31 here a month or so ago at Jensens Arms in Loveland, CO for $175.00. Most of the time, they are a little cheaper, but that is in large part to the rifles being pretty beat up, at least stock-wise. The ones that I have looked at have had pretty good bores, and I am willing to bet that most of them would look quite a bit better if they were de-cosmolined. The one I bought just happened to be the nicest one I have seen there before or since, but not the nicest one I have ever seen! Anyway, I have seen a few around, and 175.00 to 200.00 seems to be the going rate.

 

[jd46561]

270win, just wait, you will get the Swiss flu. I caught it 5 yrs ago , and im up to 22 Swiss rifles. Best quality bolt action milsurp out there.IMO.

 

[Manedwolf]

Someone told me that there are literally mountains of those black box cases of 480 rounds stuck away over there, languishing for lack of love and affection.

Mountains of match-grade ammo that should be flying downrange in tight groups...to make the owners of $$$$ custom sporting bolt-actions turn purple with indignant jealousy that an under-$200 milsurp is outshooting theirs. How sad.

 

[farmallmta]

LOL, Manedwolf! My friend and I make great sport out of going to the rifle range and doing 1.5-2" groups at 200 yds with our VZ-24's and K-31's while the high priced gun guys struggle to do the same with their $1,500+ rifles. Some can, some can't. But you ought to see their faces when we tell them we gave $60 - $70 bucks for our guns. Man, that hurts 'em!

But the fun part is letting them try our guns and seeing them start to get all excited about those models. Eventually most of them go K-31 or VZ-24 or Swede 6.5 for best shooting at the best price!

 

[270Win]

Coronach, thanks for the Valley Forge recommendation. Since I simply MUST have a good-bore hex-receiver 91/30, I think I will be making the pilgrimage!

 

[Coronach]

Err...alas, the last day for the Valley Forge show was yesterday. If you hang on a moment, I'll see if I can find the receipt, so you know what gunshop had the table.

Mike

 

[Coronach]

PM en route, and thanks for the 411 on K31 prices.

 

[m.p.driver]

ive been a fan of the schmidt rubin since i purchased a 1911 about 15 years ago,bought a second k31 just to have a second magazine for rapid fire in matches.start hoarding .284win and do a little hand rolling.

 

[ohioarmedneutrality]

I got my K-31 at Dunham's in Richmond IN over a year ago for $80. It was a one-day sale. Probably among the best purchases I ever made. Except for the pricey ammo, the K-31 is super. Buy them while you can. They won't be around forever.

 

[270Win]

Coronach, thanks for the PM - I will be getting ahold of those guys!

Yeah, the looming shortage of K31s is always on my mind when I enter a gunshop. Anyone know how many are destined for import?

 

[Coronach]

Most of the surplus places have been advertising "last shipment" on them for a while now. Whether or not that bears any resemblance to reality is a whole other question. Any way you cut it, even current prices are a good deal (though I'm kicking myself for waiting) on a really great gun.

Mike

 

[silverlance]

k31

k31s should run between 150 to 200 for a very good to excellent condition gun. i have one beech excellent with a chewed up stock; paid about 150. i have a mint k31 with a walnut stock... a definite safe queen except the last owner drilled and tapped it for a barska scope. sad injury but then again with the scope i am doing amazing shots at 250 yards offhand!

i'm not buying any more k31s for now, but if i had my own house i would have 5 or six.