K31 ID ???

[BillinNH]

My K31 has a serial number on the receiver and on the bolt that correspond to the range of numbers assigned in late 1944. The magazine has a serial number assigned to the year 1952. Ok, no mystery there, the mag just got swapped out somewhere along the way. The buttstock under the buttplate (sorry, didn't find an owner's ID) has the number 111 54 stamped into the wood. It is nowhere close the bolt/receiver/magazine numbers.

Here's my questions:

Is the stock original to the bolt/receiver?
Is my stock walnut? Originally I thought it looked kind of light and orangey to be walnut but I'm no expert on wood. The bare wood under the buttplate looks sort of a medium brown color. I think birch/beech , whichever it is, was more light in color.

Can anyone enlighten me on this?

I also noted that on an earlier post that in 1944 chrome moly was used instead of chrome nickel for some parts and that it didn't work out. Do I have this on my gun? How do I tell? Do I care?

All help much appreciated.

Bill

 

[jd46561]

your k31

Hi, your k31 looks like a mixmaster. Your stock date would be March of 54 , and it is Beech. They started making Beech stocks in 46. Your rifle probably was refurbed sometime in its life , hence the different stock date . The mag , who knows? maybe changed during refurb also? Im not sure about the nickle plating deal , I wouldnt worry about it. Check out, swissrifles.com for more info. (a great site). Here are examples of BEECH....

..................... Except for top one, WALNUT.....

 

[BillinNH]

Thanks, JD, very useful info. Does the stock # 115 54 mean the 115th day of 1954? That would be April.

Since everything is so mismatched I guess there's no point in trying to keep it original. Guess I'll go for a complete refinish of the wood and a general rebluing. The bluing on the front of the receiver is pretty thin and the buttplate is essentially in the white.

Next issue is how to scope it. I was thinking of a non-intrusive scout scope setup but since it has no collectible value maybe I can drill and tap and get a standard type scope setup.

Any opinions?

Thanks again.

Bill

 

[cracked butt]

You can get a drill and tap St Marie mount for around $40. Clamp on mounts are good as well, but cost quite a bit more- either way, you'll pay more for the scope mount than the rifle, either for a gunsmith to drill and tap or for the clamp on.

 

[dawgtraxx]

look inside the barrel channel and inside the upper hand guard...mine has an earlier stock,but the correct serial #'s are stamped inside

 

[rust collector]

The butt date employs roman numerals for the month, so III would be the third month, March. X would be October, etc. Many rifles were apparently restocked, as the original stocks became quite tatty after knocking snow from the calked boots, being used as a hiking staff, and sitting stacked in snow for much of their lives (not to mention head bonking--it's a running gag over on the surplusrifles forums).

Most of the metal on these rifles is in great shape, but most of the wood needs help ranging from cleaning to rehab. You will enjoy your rifle nonetheless.

 

[BillinNH]

Need lower barrel band bolt

I don't seem to have the bolt for the lower barrel band for my K31. Seems like that one is essential to the accuracy of the gun. Is it the same as the front band bolt? If so, I can go find one. Otherwise, does anyone have the spec of the bolt (pitch, diam., length). Where do you get spare parts? Please don't tell me they are made only by hand by Bevenuto Cellini only on alternate Tuesdays on some remote Swiss Alp?

BTW, I find yet another set of serial numbers on the stock and handguard when I disassembled the gun. Boy, what a mongrel this is. But everything seems to be in decent functional condition.

Bill

 

[Gordon Fink]

Take your serial numbers here, and you may help to unite your rifle or someone else’s with their original magazines.

~G. Fink