K31 - Switzerland's answer to the Kar98K

[tac]

Let's not forget when thinking about the efficacy of the wax ring that this cartridge is also in use in every armoured vehicle co-axial MG and ground-mounted support MG - the magnificent MG42/MG3 - that shoots around 1200 rpm.

 

[revjen45]

I really regret having not bought one when they were milsurp.

 

[tac]

I really regret having not bought one when they were milsurp.

They still ARE milsurp.

 

[CLT65]

A couple of years ago I had a cousin visiting me from Switzerland. I was showing him and his teenage kids some guns, and of course had to pull out the K31. I showed them the little wax-paper troop tag that I had found under the buttstock, and he laughed. He said that the town written on the tag is a village that he drives through every day on his way to work.

 

[revjen45]

" They still ARE milsurp. "

No, now they're expensive collectibles. They go from Milsurp to Expensive Collectible when the importation stops and there ain't no more where that came from.

 

[tac]

Simpsons recently imported - or so I read on another forum - around four pallets, each of 130 K31s.....

 

[DunRanull]

Boy howdy, did I miss the boat when I didn't get one of these! I was warned that I might well regret not doing so.. On the bright side I do have a nice Swede 96...

 

[gmerkt]

that long ogive can be tricky to replicate, but 168gr or, if you can find them 175gr Sierra Match King

The 168 gr. Sierra Match King is what I used successfully.

 

[tac]

The 168 gr. Sierra Match King is what I used successfully.

Me too, when I can find them. Right now Id be more likely to find a can of fried eggs.....

 

[Mikej]

Right now Id be more likely to find a can of fried eggs.....

You Brits eat some weird stuff.

 

[tac]

So do us Canadian/Irish. I'm amazed that you took my comment seriously. 'can of fried eggs'? C'mon, Mike..............................

 

[Mikej]

I'm amazed that you took my comment seriously.

 

[Phantom Man]

I have no issue with restoring Swiss rifles as they were never used in war. The Swiss themselves took K-11's for instance took off the linseed oil brightened the stocks to K-31 standards. tac's was tastefully restored.

 

[tac]

Swiss rifles did not use linseed oil on K11s. K11 has not been restored - the shellac finish is original. The K31, however, WAS restored by the American previous owner, but he took extreme care about the edges of the thumb/finger grooves and canton stamp on the RHR of the butt.

 

[Phantom Man]

Swiss rifles did not use linseed oil on K11s. K11 has not been restored - the shellac finish is original. The K31, however, WAS restored by the American previous owner, but he took extreme care about the edges of the thumb/finger grooves and canton stamp on the RHR of the butt.

I'm pretty sure raw linseed oil was used through World War II then the Swiss moved to shellac..

 

[Phantom Man]

I'm pretty sure raw linseed oil was used through World War II then the Swiss moved to shellac..

Swiss Rifles dot com-K31 stock finish

What is the original, or the most easily reproduced stock finish for the K31, walnut stocks. I could not find it in the archives. I have a pretty waln

www.tapatalk.com

 

[Aero Denezol]

Did they use the shellac on the earlier walnut stocks too, or only the beech?

 

[Phantom Man]

Did they use the shellac on the earlier walnut stocks too, or only the beech?

Yes, after WW2 many k-11's and earlier K-31's were redone in shellac. Then later something synthetic like polyurethane. I have a bright 1916 in that light synthetic later finish.

 

[tac]

Until mid-1944, when they finally ran out of walnut, they used shellac, as seen on my K11. Thereafter, using beech, like my K31, they used linseed oil. Dunno what mine is, but it is VERY hardwearing - not a mark on it since I got it back in 1989. The two slices on my K11 are from carelessly cutting open the preservation covering - I've left them there. Look under the '36' on the wood. the other one is on the butt-piece.

 

[Phantom Man]

Raw linseed oil on walnut. Shellac on beech. Later, shellac was put on walnut then the shiny syn...