Don't Hate Me Because I Have This

[lencac]

Seems like the consensuses are split. Have no doubt I have a very itchy trigger finger for it right now, particularly with the new diopter sights on it. I'd bet it would shoot lights out. I have a ton of GP11 ammo and a bunch of superb handloaded 150 gr. FMJ ammo for it also.
What will probably happen is I'll mount the diopter sights on my other K-31 and get my jones out on that. That way I can push the whole issue back for awhile.
The thought that keeps me is that what has been fired can't be unfired.
I completely understand the analogy of the Ferrari and not driving it but that is exactly what many people do. For instance have you ever seen Reggie Jackson's or Jay Leno's garages? Rifles in museums don't get fired either.

On the Island in the #7 photo those other rifles are a couple of Finnish M39's I had laying around

 

[redneck2]

But what are the things that look like electrical sockets?

Jeez, anybody can figure that out. It's so you can plug in the spot light at night for varmint hunting. In this case I think it was German varmints.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

That's a real beauty. I'd shoot it; but sparingly.

 

[G'dale Mike]

It's only a virgin once. How many folks can say they have what you possess? Fired, it's just a nice rifle. I bought 2 pre 64 model 70's one in 308, unfired, one in 30-06 that is pristine, but has been fired. I will rig the 30-06 and shoot it, the 308 will never be fired.

 

[G'dale Mike]

Just looked over the photos, what a BEAUT! Man, that wood is georgous, the whole rifle is super. Tell the story ,please, of how you acquired it etc

 

[lencac]

It's so you can plug in the spot light at night for varmint hunting. In this case I think it was German varmints.

LOLOLOL

Getting it was nothing special, no covert activity, no leg breaking. But I did have to open a secret Swiss bank account with a $10,000,000 deposit to get my new member reward
Just kidding
I got it on GB. Paid $580 for it. Depending on your perspective that could be good, or that could be bad. About 20 years ago I paid $99 for a K-31 that was cosmetically well used but still shot lights out. Shudda kept that one.
I paid $330 for the Swiss Products diopter sights. So I've got $910 in it.
Here's a few pics of her ugly younger sister. She does the heavy lifting at the range and makes many newer and much more expensive fancy pants rifles look silly.

How bout we give the new sexy Swiss honey a name

Any suggestions?

 

[atomd]

Shoot the barrel out. Then hang it on the wall and tell everyone how great it shot. The memories of shooting it will be worth more than the gun anyways. That applies to most guns I guess.

 

[Swampman]

My thought is that if you didn't intend to shoot the rifle, why would you spend over $300 putting the diopter sights on her?

It's not like they really complement the asthetics of the weapon or add to the sense of history that one gets from looking at a perfectly preserved, painstakingly crafted personal weapon from a bygone era.

Admit it, you put the diopter on her so that she'll shoot as perfectly as she looks!

Of course, I might be completely off base here and you may have other, perfectly sound reasons for mounting those sights...
















But PLEASE post pics when you shoot her first groups!

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

But remember, he's got other examples of the gun. The sights could go on one of those. Then the rarity, and value, remains.

900F

 

[chicharrones]

Fella's;

But remember, he's got other examples of the gun. The sights could go on one of those. Then the rarity, and value, remains.

900F

Yep.

The most I'd do with the virgin K31 is maybe a dry fire or two, saving the live firing for the other K31.

 

[HoosierQ]

Sorry. I hate you.

Shoot it. Oh yes, it's special. That'll making shooting it special.

 

[SC Shooter]

I love old military rifles, and have always said that I would not buy a gun that I wouldn't shoot. However, if I owned something like your acquisition that has never been fired, I might just rethink my position. Congratulations, it's a beautiful piece of history.

 

[lencac]

My thought is that if you didn't intend to shoot the rifle, why would you spend over $300 putting the diopter sights on her?

It's not like they really complement the asthetics of the weapon or add to the sense of history that one gets from looking at a perfectly preserved, painstakingly crafted personal weapon from a bygone era.

Admit it, you put the diopter on her so that she'll shoot as perfectly as she looks!

Of course, I might be completely off base here and you may have other, perfectly sound reasons for mounting those sights...

Swamp you do have a keen precision of cutting my heart out with the scalpel of guilt. (that would be assuming I have a conscience )

Your observation is spot on. So who in there right mind spends $330 for very nice diopter sights for the sole purpose of taking photos

If you read my first post, some of you may notice I also acquired a spare bolt sleeve and bolt plug. This may be my way out of this quandary we seem to have found ourselves in It's not so much the shooting it that I have reservations about. It's the marking of the serial numbered bolt sleeve, bolt plug and magazine follower as they are complete without marks from the action having been cycled.
So using the spare sleeve and plug with the magazine from my other K-31 I may just be able to pull this off.

 

[LeonCarr]

Shoot it.

Let your bragging rights be based on your marksmanship, not your Safe Queens.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[bannockburn]

lencac

Yes I suppose you could own a truly pristine Ferrari (taken right off the assembly line and transported to your garage), but other than putting it away and treating it like it's in a museum, I think the greatest (and most pleasurable), thing you could do with it is to use it. Certainly not in the everyday sense, but at least on enough occasions just for the sheer thrill and satisfaction of putting it through its paces and knowing this is exactly what it was designed and built to do. Bottom line for me is life is too short for safe queens or museum pieces.

 

[lencac]

Hi Bannockburn;
In all reality I probably will shoot it but on a very limited basis. Enough to know that it is a kin to the rest of its species being the most accurate standard issue military rifle ever made.

But going back to the Ferrari analogy.
Ferraris are race cars. Albeit street legal in most cases they were designed and built to be race cars. Wolves in sexy sheeps clothing so to speak.
The purpose of a race car is to be raced which includes modifications, decals, and probable bumps, bangs and crashes.
And much like a race car's purpose is to be raced a main battle rifle's purpose is to engage in battle.
On that basis I would venture a guess that not a single person in this discussion has used their military issue rifles for its intended purpose.
Of course excluding veterans who have used their gov't supplied rifles for combat purposes.

 

[1KPerDay]

Bubba that stock, screw on an aimpoint and drill the chamber out with a hand drill.

 

[BCRider]

I'm not a collector. I'm a user. So my first inclination would be to shoot it.

But part of me says that there is an odd breed of folks called "collectors" that might just pay me enough for it to let me buy TWO of something else. So I'd likely list it for a suitably high price or auction reserve and see if I get an bites. If after a few tries it fails to bring in a "two gun" price then I'd just go ahead and treat it respectfully while feeding it a steady diet of ammo.

After all once you start shooting it then a few rounds or a few hundred isn't going to change the price by that much. It's that first couple of magazines which produces those first signs of wear that will depreciate the "new and unfired" price tag the most.

 

[hardluk1]

Where and how did you come by that beeeeutifull rifle.

 

[lencac]

Bubba that stock, screw on an aimpoint and drill the chamber out with a hand drill.

1K you nailed it. I have my Craftsman drill, mill bastard file and cutoff tool in hand (yes, I have 3 hands).

I am going to make such an incredible improvement to this old wooden rifle that you will beg me to sell it to you at whatever it takes.

Here's a picture of an unissued 1903 that I improved in the same fashion.
Pretty nice uh

 

[ninja45]

Shoot it!

How else can you tell anyone how well or how bad it is if you don't shoot it?

It's like marrying a virgin (after a long search) and not sleeping with her so she can remain a virgin and you can brag about her to your friends! You're missing the point, my friend, you're missing the point!

 

[Orion8472]

My merely using a visual inspection, how can you know whether or not it has been fired? Maybe the person who owned it before took really good care of it and cleaned it good after range trips?

Regardless, . . . a beautiful rifle!

 

[lencac]

I obviously I can't say with certainty that it has not been fired except for the arsenal test firing it which you know was done.
I do know the person I got it from said he had it for several years and never fired it.
There is also certain things that are marked or scratched even if the action is just cycled, i.e. the bolt sleeve, the magazine follower, the cocking handle slide. The bolt face is unmarked. As I said in a previous reply I see none of those markings. So even if it has been fired outside of the perview of the arsenal test firing it, it has to be next to nothing.

As for the virgin analogy I hope that when I do shoot it that she does not bleed

What should we name her?

 

[waffentomas]

I don't know, I'd have to say shoot it.

After waiting for so very long (20+ years) to find an affordable, decent, .308 Galil, I bought one in very rough, but fully functional shape.

Somehow, recently, I stumbled on another.

This one, an unfired .223, earliest Magnum Research import (May 1982). It's the opposite of my well used .308, this one, just pristine.

It followed me home, though I'm $2k lighter now.

I don't care, I'm going to shoot the bejesus out of it, I decided.

And by god I did, the very next day. What a ball, shooting a .308 and .223 Galil at the range. I can't tell you how many guys came up and said 'what the hell are those?' or words to that effect.

I'm glad I <deleted>

Yeah, yeah, no pics, it didn't happen ...

 

[1KPerDay]

sexy...