K31 soldier tag deciphering help

canuck75

canuck75

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Hi all,

I took my k31 apart for a good cleaning and took a pic of the soldiers id tag under butt pad. All I glean from it is "Neuchatel" a Swiss canton. I'm more curious than anything else, but any help is greatly appreciated. On a side note, these guns rock.



 
@diopter.... nope, just the serial number. I'll throw in some pics. Other than a quick clean and a few coats of blo I don't have the heart to refinish the stock. Feel like every dent and chip has a story that's more important than a more cosmetically appearing stock. On a side note, can anyone tell from the pics what kind of wood the stock is? I hear that they were usually beech or walnut and I don't know anything about wood species.
On to the pics



 
canuck75 said:
@diopter.... nope, just the serial number. I'll throw in some pics. Other than a quick clean and a few coats of blo I don't have the heart to refinish the stock. Feel like every dent and chip has a story that's more important than a more cosmetically appearing stock. On a side note, can anyone tell from the pics what kind of wood the stock is? I hear that they were usually beech or walnut and I don't know anything about wood species.
Click to expand...

Looks like beech. There is a sticky here that will help you determine year of manufacture based on serial number. The older production rifles had walnut, the "newer" rifles used beech. I just recently picked up a K31 as well - some cool history surrounding them for sure!
 
canuck75 said:
@diopter.... nope, just the serial number. I'll throw in some pics. Other than a quick clean and a few coats of blo I don't have the heart to refinish the stock. Feel like every dent and chip has a story that's more important than a more cosmetically appearing stock. On a side note, can anyone tell from the pics what kind of wood the stock is? I hear that they were usually beech or walnut and I don't know anything about wood species.
On to the pics



Click to expand...

^ European Walnut, lighter color than most other walnut species. Tiger stripping is extremely rare to non-existing in beech

V Beech has crescent shapes in it's grain structure.
P1010021_zps5060d033.jpg

P1010023_zpsddebc93f.jpg


Your's has a nice stock. Clean it up with furniture cleaners and then wax it with bee's wax or Renaissance wax, helps protect the wood.

Walnut examples
P1010177_zpsf1a2d6ec.jpg

P1010175_zpsba733d64.jpg

P1010174_zpsd6ded356.jpg

220548_zps8f6fd6c5.jpg
 
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That is a very nice troop tag. I have 3 from my 1911, 96/11, and k13... overall one of my favorite things about Swiss rifles. I still haven't fully deciphered the tag from my 96/11. I remember the time i found the tag under the but plate of my 1911, i was so exited...because i knew nothing of the tags at this time, i was about 17 and only had my 1911 rifle (best gun ever), and so to find that tag blew my mind.
 
diopter said:
^ European Walnut, lighter color than most other walnut species. Tiger stripping is extremely rare to non-existing in beech

V Beech has crescent shapes in it's grain structure.
P1010021_zps5060d033.jpg

P1010023_zpsddebc93f.jpg


Your's has a nice stock. Clean it up with furniture cleaners and then wax it with bee's wax or Renaissance wax, helps protect the wood.

P1010174_zpsd6ded356.jpg



Is that a two piece stock or an arsenal repair ?

Grizz
Click to expand...
 
Some lovely wood in the photos above. My K31 wood looks nowhere near as good. What about cleaning and rewaxing? Any advice on how to clean and what to use?
 
Grizzly Adams said:
diopter said:
^ European Walnut, lighter color than most other walnut species. Tiger stripping is extremely rare to non-existing in beech


P1010174_zpsd6ded356.jpg



Is that a two piece stock or an arsenal repair ?

Grizz
Click to expand...

No, one piece stock with usual handguard.

I do have one stock that was spliced together from the begginning to make it long enough for specs. Walnut of sufficient length was getting difficult to find by 1944-45.
They did a wonderful job of matching the pieces.

P1010206_zps961f4a36.jpg

P1010207_zps877cce97.jpg

P1010212_zpse7341dc4.jpg

P1010211_zps5e5fef19.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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sailor723 said:
Some lovely wood in the photos above. My K31 wood looks nowhere near as good. What about cleaning and rewaxing? Any advice on how to clean and what to use?
Click to expand...

I use Scott's Liquid Gold spray to clean. Avoid alcohol since most K31 stocks have shellac, even over original oil finish.
Miniwax paste finishing wax works well enough or just try Pledge.

Renaissance wax:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlToim_s0c0
 
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