K31 question

mustafa92

mustafa92

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Edmonton
Hello everyone,

I recently acquired a 1943 K31, however, I noticed on the left side receiver theres a marking that says "Simpson Ltd" and then some guys name. It's hardly visible but it's there. How much does this bring the value down? If i were to "remove" it would that bring the value down even further?

Thanks,
Mustafa
 
mikerock said:
Personally I would pass on an import marked rifle.
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I don't believe there are many K31 rifles that aren't import marked. The same can be said about a lot of milsurps these days.

The import markings are part of history. Some people feel they are defaced somehow.

I've been collecting for 50+ years. I remember feeling similarly about sold out of service stamps. Many of the imports during the 60s didn't have them, depending on where they came from. I didn't even want to purchase a Longbranch or Savage with the "ENGLAND" stamp on the receiver. Common sense finally took over. Those stamps are part of the rifle's history.

Mikerock, I'm not knocking you one bit but most collectors nowadays don't have a chance to find or purchase surplus firearms without such marks.
 
bearhunter said:
I don't believe there are many K31 rifles that aren't import marked. The same can be said about a lot of milsurps these days.

The import markings are part of history. Some people feel they are defaced somehow.

I've been collecting for 50+ years. I remember feeling similarly about sold out of service stamps. Many of the imports during the 60s didn't have them, depending on where they came from. I didn't even want to purchase a Longbranch or Savage with the "ENGLAND" stamp on the receiver. Common sense finally took over. Those stamps are part of the rifle's history.

Mikerock, I'm not knocking you one bit but most collectors nowadays don't have a chance to find or purchase surplus firearms without such marks.
Click to expand...

From a retailer I would imagine that is so but there is a healthy trade of used Swiss rifles in Canada and the vast majority of them came into the country directly from Switzerland or through countries that did not require import marking. I don't recall seeing import marks on rifles for sale here until recently and the ones that people are talking about seem to be coming up from the US. Your comment about the sold out of service marks is a good analogy but it also reinforces my point in that the (US) import marked rifles are a relatively new phenomenon. To collectors who are getting into the hobby I imagine it will be seen as something that comes with the territory but for those of us who have been (un)fortunate enough to have been around longer it's something that is undesirable.
 
All the K31s that the Canadian Swiss Rifle Clubs use were all legally imported in the early 70's, before all this marking nonsense started.
Mikerock is used to seeing them in this condition. I too was surprised when I saw my first after-import marking law import marked K31.
Makes me appreciate all the club rifles in my care more.
 
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