K-31 or K98k?? You Decide!

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tdubya

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Well my finances are in order enough so I can buy my next toy. (poor college kid)

So yall get to help be decide, im stuck between getting a GERMAN Mauser K98k or a SWISS K-31.

I know i want to get both i just need help deciding right now!

Possible K98's

http://www.samcoglobal.com/rifles.html
Rare World War II 98K Carbine with Winter Triggerguard
Manufactured at Brno factory in Czechoslovakia under Nazi occcupation during World War II. Original markings ground off Receiver and Ring. Matching numbers, Bolt Receiver. Turned down Bolt, stamped steel Winter trigger guard designed for use with the gloved finger. Beautiful grained stock, inletted to accept the leather sling with side swivel on left side of upper band. A few with German markings. Phone for price.
Barrel Length: 23.62"
Overall Length: 43.6"

Sights: Front - Inverted V-with fixed cover. - Rear: V-Notch adjustable in elevation.

Very good condition: $199.95
Special Select: $209.95

why would the numbers be grounded off?

classicarms.us
THESE K-98 RIFLES ARE ALL RUSSIAN CAPTURE , ARSENAL REFINISHED , BUT RETAIN THEIR ORIGINAL MARKINGS AND WAR EAGLE STAMPINGS. THEY ARE ALL BENT BOLT MODELS . STOCKS ARE NICE, BLUEING IS CLOSE TO 100 PERCENT AND BORES ARE ABOVE AVERAGE OVERALL

BNZ, 42, #2734, LAM, FLAT, GREAT BLUE, NICE LAMINATED STOCK, DUAL EAGLES, BORE IS NRA VG/EX. NICE RIFLE OVERALL... $269.95


what exactly is "arsenal refinished" and im assuming they are not matching numbers because it does not say it.

AND THE K-31's
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Swiss_1931_Carbin_Scmidt_Rubin_K31_7_5Swiss_Cal_.html


OR
classicarms.us
BEECHWOOD STOCK K-31 RIFLES

K-31 RIFLE BEECHWOOD STOCK ...........$159.95
K-31 RIFLE ALL MATCHING WITH ORIGINAL TROOP I.D.TAG .........$169.95
HAND SELECT ON EITHER RIFLE ADD $10.00

WALNUT STOCK RIFLES NOW AVAILABLE.

K-31 WALNUT STOCK ALL MATCHING#'S ...........$179.95
K-31 WALNUT STOCK ALL MATCHING#'S WITH TROOP I.D. TAG...............$189.95
HAND SELECT ON EITHER RIFLE FOR $10.00 . (AND WE REALLY DO IT.)



Im still a little new with the Surplus Rifle Addiction so any help would be greatfull

BTW troop tags on the K-31 dont really matter to me
 
my vote is for the K31. if you ask me a much better deal. most are excellent shooters. only down side is some what pricey ammo.

K31's are going UP UP UP in price. and getting scarce. while mauser have gone up. they arnt rising at the same rate as k31's

get a k31 now. ( best quality you can)
then get a mauser later down the road.
 
I know that WWII firearms with matching numbers will also be going for more but how valueable are non-matching? This is going to be a shooter and down the road i will try to get an all matching K98k. Im leaning towards the K98 from SAMCO GLOBAL, anyone deal with them before?
 
I know that WWII firearms with matching numbers will also be going for more but how valueable are non-matching? This is going to be a shooter and down the road i will try to get an all matching K98k. Im leaning towards the K98 from SAMCO GLOBAL, anyone deal with them before?
Click to expand...

WWII was hard on firearms, and most all you find underwent arsenal rebuild at some point -- and that includes Springfields and Garands. The arsenals and field repair depots didn't give a rap about matching numbers -- they stripped all the rifles down, threw the parts in bins, and then after cleaning and reconditioning reassembled then with whatever parts came out of the bins.
 
A K31 will get you (odds are) a better maintained, cleaner rifle in overall better condition. A 98K could be a nice shooter or a "project".
 
Go with the K31. They are very good shooting weapons.
Ammo is on the high side,but 8mm surp has all dried as well.
Go for the walnut,hand select please,do the name tag as well!!!!

MRI
 
You are choosing between two great rifles. I have both. I like the K98 better, because of its fascinating history, that it went through actual combat and that it is battle-proven. It shoots very well, and ammo is cheaper. The K31 handles very nice, is very nicely balanced, shoots great, has a very fast bolt system and a detachable magazine. Ammo is more expensive. I admire it more than I love it. I love the K98.
 
K31.

The K31 is still undervalued right now due to the Swiss dumping a metric buttload of them on the market all at once. The price of both weapons will go up in the future, but the steepest rise will probably be on the K31 (unless there is another flood of the market). Nice K31s are under $200. K98s in comparable condition are two or three times that. Chances are in a year or two, the K98s will be fractionally higher, with the K31s being twice as expensive as they are now (guestimation). This says "buy the K31" if you think you'll ever be in the market for one.

By way of example, I bought my K31 late last year from SAMCO. I paid $109. They're already pushing $200, and won't stop there.

Mike
 
I'd go for K-31 hand select and start handloading if you haven't yet. K-98 wouldn't be bad too though. If at all possible, I'd get the excellent K-31 and the K-98 from Samcoglobal. Saves shipping. I would skip buying ammo (for the meantime) and put the money on the rifles first. The rifles would not arrive until you have money for the ammo anyway (based on my Samco experience). And I would say always, always get the best condition you can afford. The difference in price between VG and EXC is almost nothing if you are going to keep the rifle for a while. I have 11 K-31s and some came with well-used barrel, rounded rifllings and hazy bores. One have larger than spec chamber. Only 5 is in real like new condition - and they are the ones I appreciate the most.
 
I have both. The K-31 is definitely a precision rifle with very well engineered parts. RC K98s are very interesting pieces of history and a must-have for any historical collector, but practically speaking their fit and finish is crude, especially compared to the original German K98k Mausers. 8mm is much cheaper than 7.5x55 (when 8mm is available now a days).

To recap:
K98 pros: incredible WW-2 history, 20 cent/round ammo when available, must-have for collectors
K98 cons: crude Russian fit and finish (especially the clunky action), bore quality varies

K31 pros: extremely well-made rifle, exceedingly accurate (most people would argue that it's the most accurate surplus rifle available, even more accurate than Springfield 1903A3's and M39 Finn Mosins), typically mint bores, fit and finish excellent (except stock's butt), buttery-smooth action.
K31 cons: 50 cent/round ammo when available, odd ball caliber.
 
I have a K98k, most likely Russian capture. I like it. I also am working on getting funds together to get a K31. I've held one, felt how the action works, and liked it. Get both if you can.
 
I have one of each, and am hunting for another nice K98. I get a lot more questions about the K31 at ranges, but the K98 has more history behind it. if i had to buy only one i think i would get the K31. ultra slick action, rarer and becoming more rare, and wolf now loads 7.5 Swiss. As a added plus some K31's have the name of the soldier that carried them under the metal butt plate.
 
I paid $135 for my K-31. I paid $300 for my K98. Get the K-31, it'll be in better condition, shoot better, and easier on your wallet. The K98 can come later but like everyone else has said, the K-31 will continue it's steady increase. They're almost all gone.
 
Hey guys thanks for the GREAT response!

Ive decided on the Walnut K-31 with the Troop Tag

In August i will be getting my 98k!

Off tomorrow to the Shooting Range to get an FFL all set up for a transfer!
THANKS!!!!!!
 
The 'winter triggerguard' rifles are more likely than not rifles built or rebuilt from parts after the war at BRNO. I have one of these, its pretty much a late war model where certain shortcuts were taken: There is not rib on the bolt, there is no hole drilled in the stock to accept a cleaning rod, no locking screws. On the upside, the rifle was unissued and brand new from the factory- with the exception of the receiver being scrubbed during the rebuild process, its also a good shooter.

The russian captures will not have a matching bolt. The Soviets prety much tore these rifles down, threw all of the parts in seperate bins and rebuilt them. Parts like the lock screws and cleaning rods were recycled to use the steel elsewhere. The Soviets did correctly headspace the bolts during the rebuilds which is good, but you have no idea whether or not some importer monkey kept the bolts with the correct rifles- which is bad.


Of the bunch, I would get the K-31.
 
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