K-31 Swiss - should I go for it?

[jackinil]

Wideners also has K31's for $185.

 

[jjohnson]

Beat up Butt Stocks?

Oh, mine is all beat to hell, and no, I don't mean in general, I mean on the right side close to the butt plate. Obviously, there's some sort of use that was really common for these rifles for them to all get beat up in the same spot.

Anybody know what that practice might be? I mean, mine has little evident wear and absolutely no signs of abuse - but for that one area, where it's been repeatedly beaten with something (or used to repeatedly beat something else).

May as well go buy one of those soon. Great shooters, PRVI ammo is cheap (and good), reloads easily - and NOVEMBER is coming.

 

[Golden Hound]

Wikipedia says:

The stocks of many K31s are in poor condition, especially around the butt area. Most are very gouged and scratched. One theory for explaining this is that the Swiss soldiers would use the butts of their rifles as boot jacks for their cleated boots. They may have used the butts to clean snow and mud from their boots as well. Soldiers may also have carried the rifles in backpacks, with the buttstock exposed to the elements.

Another explanation for the poor condition of the stocks is that the Swiss soldiers would stick the butts of their rifles into the snow when they needed to put them down. When it was time to move out, the soldiers would kick their rifles (with their cleated boots) to dislodge them, as they had become partially frozen and stuck in the snow. This would also explain the discoloration from water damage on many stocks in the butt area.

These theories, however, are all speculation, as there is no hard evidence to definitively prove any of them. Collectors affectionately refer to the stocks as "beaver chewed" and "head bonkers".

 

[qajaq59]

The K31 is as accurate as you have heard. And it's a lot of fun to shoot 200 yard targets with old military sights and hit where you aimed.
And while the cases tend to be a little harder to size, it can be done readily enough with a decent lube. I've had good accuracy with both 150 and 165 grain bullets.
I'd say go for it. They have steadily increased in value since I got mine. So if you don't like it, simply keep it for a year, and then sell it for $250. But my bet is that you wont sell it.

 

[jd46561]

K31's are the best milsurp bolt action carbine out there ...buy one!.
Here is why the buttstocks are chewed up... (photos by Guisan)

 

[B BRI]

Bought 2 of these a few years back, one was a real looker and the other had "honest wear" throughout. I gave the better looking one to my best friend as a gift, and seems the joke was on him as the "honest wear" K31 will shoot! I have diopter sights on her now and she will shoot 1/2 MOA at 100yds all day long if I do my part. Damn fun and the surplus ammo is cheap, very good quality, and as close to match grade as they come.

Just buy one . . . it won't be your last.