Well I have been looking feverishly for several months in search of the elusive k31. I have missed a few good buys on EE but they move to fast to catch it seems. I been phoning around to gun shops but to no avail. I suppose with any good thing it does take time. But I thought I'd open this so that if anyone out there spots one in a small gun shop somewhere they could let a guy know. It's a long shot but worth a try right?
K31 Swiss inventory
- Thread starter mctrigger
- Start date
Its been a while since I saw any reasonably priced K31's in store. Last one I saw was in Calgary in early summer at a small shop. walnut stocked, decent looking rifle for about 500. I wish I picked that one up. Calgary Shooting Center (CSC) actually has some converted to .308. but not cheap, about 1400.
Even the gun shows I went to recently are slim picking when it comes to K31's. Only one at the last show I went to was not for sale.
I was fortunate enough to pick up an example from CSC when they brought in that lot of about two hundred (?) rifles back around 2013/14. Mine was bottom of the barrel as they only had a handful left but is still a great rifle. My only regret is I didn't buy two, or all of the rifles they had left. Would have been a decent long term investment considering I picked mine up for just over 400 if i remember right and now they are selling for about 600.
I would really like to find a nice walnut stocked one for the collection and relegate my beat up beech stocked one as a shooter.
Problem is these rifle were not made in the numbers needed for market saturation. Only about 500,000 rifles were made, which is pretty small considering most other rifles from the time period are in the millions. The rifles are also still quite popular in Switzerland. I am not sure but I think CSC managed to get on of the last lots the swiss Govt. had for sale. Everything else is from private sales.
Even the gun shows I went to recently are slim picking when it comes to K31's. Only one at the last show I went to was not for sale.
I was fortunate enough to pick up an example from CSC when they brought in that lot of about two hundred (?) rifles back around 2013/14. Mine was bottom of the barrel as they only had a handful left but is still a great rifle. My only regret is I didn't buy two, or all of the rifles they had left. Would have been a decent long term investment considering I picked mine up for just over 400 if i remember right and now they are selling for about 600.
I would really like to find a nice walnut stocked one for the collection and relegate my beat up beech stocked one as a shooter.
Problem is these rifle were not made in the numbers needed for market saturation. Only about 500,000 rifles were made, which is pretty small considering most other rifles from the time period are in the millions. The rifles are also still quite popular in Switzerland. I am not sure but I think CSC managed to get on of the last lots the swiss Govt. had for sale. Everything else is from private sales.
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Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Tons of K31s and other Swiss rifles were imported into Canada over the years. Only recently the supply finally dried up, and because a importer raised the prices (not blaming them, the ones they brought in were more expensive as they were private purchases rather than buying directly from the Swiss gov.), it caused others to raise there prices as well. For whatever reason demand has gone up, much like the M39s. The prices were stable for years and just very recently they have doubled to almost tripled what they cost.
I couldn't even say what they are worth as they don't sit on the EE long enough to gauge the price. I recommend place a WTB ad on the EE, that's how I got my Nagant Revolver (within two weeks of posting), and you rarely see those for sale on the EE here.
I couldn't even say what they are worth as they don't sit on the EE long enough to gauge the price. I recommend place a WTB ad on the EE, that's how I got my Nagant Revolver (within two weeks of posting), and you rarely see those for sale on the EE here.
I got lucky when I bought mine from WSS back in November/2015.
Paid $299 and hand picked it myself ,a very very nice specimen to say the least with almost perfect wood(no beaver chewed butt stock)It had the plastic owners card behind the butt plate as many did.
It was basically being at the right place and right time ,as I was there to buy another laminate Russian SKS (bought that too) and as well as a crate of GP-11 ammo (cheap and on sale)
In retrospect, I perhaps should have bought several of them ,but who knew the difference a year could make.
BB
Paid $299 and hand picked it myself ,a very very nice specimen to say the least with almost perfect wood(no beaver chewed butt stock)It had the plastic owners card behind the butt plate as many did.
It was basically being at the right place and right time ,as I was there to buy another laminate Russian SKS (bought that too) and as well as a crate of GP-11 ammo (cheap and on sale)
In retrospect, I perhaps should have bought several of them ,but who knew the difference a year could make.
BB
Straight pull rifles really weren't all that popular until the K31 rifles became available. When they first came into Canada they were priced under $200 and that included a cleaning kit, sling and non matching bayonet. Of course they all had the ever present handling marks associated with service use, mostly on the butts where the troopie's boots contacted them. When I had my chance to pick through the lot that came into my LGS all were Walnut stocked and all were in Very Good or better condition cosmetically but in excellent condition mechanically. Later lots had the bayonets/slings/cleaning kits removed by both the distributors and LGS owners because they could enhance their profit margins. Not a big deal really because it was only later when CSG brought in a lot of overall excellent condition rifles that were I believe from Swiss police or border patrol units that prices started to move. Those rifles were beautiful with matching accessories but about double what the run of the mill imports were fetching. I believe they mostly had Beech stocks.
I made the mistake of shunning the Beech stocked rifles in favor of the Walnut furniture versions. I say mistake because some of them were cosmetically far superior to the Walnut versions.
The thing about the K31 rifles is that all of the rifles I've seen in Canada were the cream of the all the lots. All of them had excellent bluing, sound stocks and as new barrels. Some of our southern brethren weren't so lucky. It is my understanding that many of the K31 rifles distributed there had worn throats and bores. This makes perfect sense to me. There isn't a nation in the world that doesn't have wear standards dictating when it is time for a barrel replacement. The Swiss shoot their rifles a lot. Of course they wear them out beyond a certain point. The same thing happened with the Swede Mausers when they came into Canada. All of the early imports were Very Good to the odd one that appeared to be New in Wrap. I bought a hundred M38s on a part pallet. Of course I cherry picked the lot. One of the nicests rifles had an Elm stock with incredible figure, was still wrapped in brown oil paper and had a small factory target in a plastic wrapper in the chamber showing how well the rifle shot with issue ammo. That was just after the M96 rifles were almost dried up. The first batches of M96 rifles included several made in Germany by Mauserwerke and were all dated pre 1900. They did and still should command a premium as they were the smallest lots of M96 rifles made. Now for the big surprise. The M94 Carbines came first. I only scooped one of those as they were never cheap and highly sought after as a basis for bubba to build a sporter. Next came the M42B rifles and of course inbetween all of this a few different model M42 sniper rifles, complete with scopes appeared.
One thing was obvious. As the shipments progressed the quality of the rifles waned. They were mechanically sound but often had worn bores and mismatched numbers. The prices on the matching units are starting to climb dramatically.
All of the K31 rifles I have seen are blessed with 95% or better bores. Like the early Swedes this means they shoot wonderfully well. I will surmise that the later batches of K31 rifles will not be as accurate and may not have matching numbers. This is just an observation from previous experiences. When this stuff first starts coming in, grab it while it's cheap and usually of best quality.
There is always the exception to the rule though. Mosin Nagants. The early Soviet released rifles were Fair to Good at best for the most part. All of the imports I saw had pitted bores and the stocks had been to hell and back. Many only had remaining blue under the wood line.
Ammo was unobtainable unless you could afford expensive Norma offerings.
I made the mistake of shunning the Beech stocked rifles in favor of the Walnut furniture versions. I say mistake because some of them were cosmetically far superior to the Walnut versions.
The thing about the K31 rifles is that all of the rifles I've seen in Canada were the cream of the all the lots. All of them had excellent bluing, sound stocks and as new barrels. Some of our southern brethren weren't so lucky. It is my understanding that many of the K31 rifles distributed there had worn throats and bores. This makes perfect sense to me. There isn't a nation in the world that doesn't have wear standards dictating when it is time for a barrel replacement. The Swiss shoot their rifles a lot. Of course they wear them out beyond a certain point. The same thing happened with the Swede Mausers when they came into Canada. All of the early imports were Very Good to the odd one that appeared to be New in Wrap. I bought a hundred M38s on a part pallet. Of course I cherry picked the lot. One of the nicests rifles had an Elm stock with incredible figure, was still wrapped in brown oil paper and had a small factory target in a plastic wrapper in the chamber showing how well the rifle shot with issue ammo. That was just after the M96 rifles were almost dried up. The first batches of M96 rifles included several made in Germany by Mauserwerke and were all dated pre 1900. They did and still should command a premium as they were the smallest lots of M96 rifles made. Now for the big surprise. The M94 Carbines came first. I only scooped one of those as they were never cheap and highly sought after as a basis for bubba to build a sporter. Next came the M42B rifles and of course inbetween all of this a few different model M42 sniper rifles, complete with scopes appeared.
One thing was obvious. As the shipments progressed the quality of the rifles waned. They were mechanically sound but often had worn bores and mismatched numbers. The prices on the matching units are starting to climb dramatically.
All of the K31 rifles I have seen are blessed with 95% or better bores. Like the early Swedes this means they shoot wonderfully well. I will surmise that the later batches of K31 rifles will not be as accurate and may not have matching numbers. This is just an observation from previous experiences. When this stuff first starts coming in, grab it while it's cheap and usually of best quality.
There is always the exception to the rule though. Mosin Nagants. The early Soviet released rifles were Fair to Good at best for the most part. All of the imports I saw had pitted bores and the stocks had been to hell and back. Many only had remaining blue under the wood line.
Ammo was unobtainable unless you could afford expensive Norma offerings.
Paid a little over $300 (tax in) for my 1942 walnut stocked K31 from Tradex 3 years ago. (Came with an original cleaning kit).Other than a wrist repair, she's a beauty! I also bought an accessory pack from Calgary Shooting Center a few years ago including a bayonet with scabbard and frog, brass muzzle cap, and 2 original stripper clips. ($80). Pretty good investment, IMO, even though I have no intentions of selling this one!
The K31s are part of the unfortunate reality of surplus rifles. When the stock piles are depleted they are gone and the trickle that remains demands a premium price. Springfields, Lee Enfields, Kar98s have all suffered the same fate, along with the supplies of cheap surplus ammo.
All the military rifles produced much after the 1950s venture to full auto fire and will never be permitted inside our borders. Along with UN restrictions becoming more confining it will be ever more difficult to bring in future rifles.
The K31s have doubled in price in the last 3 years and the last bite of military rifles will be the Russian vintages of Mosin and SKS rifles. Whether they are your type of rifle or not, they will be the last of the surplus rifles. Get what rifles and ammunition you can, and stack it deep. They will not go down in price. Nothing else will come in other than high priced small forgotten batches of surplus.
All the military rifles produced much after the 1950s venture to full auto fire and will never be permitted inside our borders. Along with UN restrictions becoming more confining it will be ever more difficult to bring in future rifles.
The K31s have doubled in price in the last 3 years and the last bite of military rifles will be the Russian vintages of Mosin and SKS rifles. Whether they are your type of rifle or not, they will be the last of the surplus rifles. Get what rifles and ammunition you can, and stack it deep. They will not go down in price. Nothing else will come in other than high priced small forgotten batches of surplus.
I'm torn right now.
I bought a K31 a couple of years ago after reading so much about them, however I just never felt the love like so many others do. I find it awkward, and just a generally goofy design. I personally much prefer my Swedish Mausers.
I've been thinking about putting it on the EE for trade or sale, but I worry I may regret it if I do.
I'll give it another chance next time I go out to the range and see if she can win me over.
I bought a K31 a couple of years ago after reading so much about them, however I just never felt the love like so many others do. I find it awkward, and just a generally goofy design. I personally much prefer my Swedish Mausers.
I've been thinking about putting it on the EE for trade or sale, but I worry I may regret it if I do.
I'll give it another chance next time I go out to the range and see if she can win me over.
I am very lucky to have gotten my k31s early, (3 years ago aprox from Canadian Tire). I needed the K31 because I was so addicted to my first Swiss rifle, the Schmidt Rubin 1911, and so i needed this awesome carbine as a starter to begin a collection. I swear, i could not imagine starting my Swiss rifle collection now, as the prices would be nuts. To be completely honest, out of all my Swiss rifles... yes i have probably shot the k31 the most due to the fact that i probably trust it more with modern Gp11, but, I do spend more time twiddling and playing around with the older Schmidt Rubins, 1889s, 96/11. 1911, ect. I find them more interesting historically and mechanically, so don't ignore them.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
I actually prefer my Schmidt-Rubins to the K31. The real advantage the K31 has for me is the 100m sight setting. If it wasn't for that, I doubt mine would leave the safe too much.
I'm in the same boat. I bought a very nice 1934 from WWS when they were $299 and purchased a skid of GP11 when it was on sale. I like it, but I'm not as enamored with it as my K98s or SVT40 sniper. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and its a tack driver, but it is far from my preferred range rifle. I'm 6'1" and find the length of pull to be uncomfortable and awkwardly short. I just received a no mod adapter plate from T&T Arms and I'm going to make a custom recoil pad to stretch the stock out, hopefully it will make a difference and I'll enjoy shooting it.
But I tell you, as the prices/demand keep going up....its getting awfully tempting to put it on the EE and take the money to invest toward another P08,P38 or K98.....
Brookwood
