K31 Useful Information

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Model 1931 Carbines (Karabiner)
YearQuantitySerial numbers
19331193520010-521202
193415534521203-536736
193513664536737-550400
193611326550401-561727
193711639561728-573366
193810344573367-583700
193915300583701-599000
194033575599001-632575
194154150632576-686725
194249350686726-736075
194350475736076-786550
194451900786551-838450
194526200838451-864650
194615600864651-880250
194720950880251-901200
194820100901201-921300
194915500921301-936800
195013200936801-950000
195123050950001-973050
195221400973051-994450
19535549
7450
994451-999999
215001-222450
195417150222451-239600
195511250239601-250850
19566400250851-257250
19572950257251-260200
19583130260201-263330


Model 1931 Carbines - Private series
YearQuantitySerial numbers
193416?
1935500400001-400500
1936100 Zoll401001-401100
1937150 Zoll
200
401101-401250
400501-400700
1938150400701-400850
193920401501-401520
1940150
530
50
50
400851-401000
401521-402050
402151-402220
402251-402300
1941300402301-402600
1942650402501[sic]-403150[sic]
1943350403151-403500
1944400403501-403900
1945600403901-404500
1946837404501-405337
1947929
30
405322[sic]-406250
E519767-E519796
1948400406251-406650
1949650406651-407300
1950400
50
407301-407700
408001-408050
1951300
50
407701-408000
408051-408100
1952300408101-408400
1953450
50
408401-408850
409051-409100
1954200
100
408851-409050
409101-409200
1955450
100
409201-409650
410151-410250
1956450409651-410100
195750
300
410101-410150
410251-410550
1958475410551-411025
1959425411026-411450
1960300411451-411750
1961300411751-412050
1962400412051-412450
196350
400
267331-267380
412451-412850
1968-1969150various numbers
1971150
50
269431-269580
269881-269930
Stand (?) 1972250various numbers

Note:
Zoll - Customs service
Model 1931 serial number allocation, valid after November 1, 1952
Serial numbersAllocation
215001-350000K31 Carbine series, ordered by KTA for KMV
350001-400000K31 Carbine series
P400001-P450000Private K31 Carbine series
450001-500000K31 Carbines with telescopic sights (sniper versions)
500001-500200Trials versions
E519701-E519900Various special K31s
519901-519999Cutaway K31s (running backwards?), last number 519970
520001-520150Carbine series ordered by KTA, delivered by W+F for special purposes
520081-520100Ditto, reserved for W+F
520151-999999Carbine series, ordered by KTA for KMV
after 550651Hardened magazine boxes
after 540001Hardened receivers

Notes:
KTA - Kriegstechnischen Abteilung des schweizerischen Militaerdepartements
KMV - Kriegsmaterialverwaltung
W+F - Waffenfabrik
Models 1931/42 and 1931/43 Sniper Rifles (Zielfernrohr-Karabiner)
YearQuantitySerial numbers
194396?
1944403?
19451537?
1946205?


Model 1955 Sniper Rifles (Zielfernrohr-Karabiner)
YearQuantitySerial numbers
19571701001-1170
195830301171-4200
19598004201-5000
?1505001-5150
 
What is the year of the serial: 2691xx?

1903 manufactured model 1889/96, later converted sometime from 1912 to 1920 to model 96/11 for use with GP11 ammo.

1889 has three groove rifling for lower powered GP90(1890) ammo, four groove barrel for GP11 replaced the original.
 
Model 1889 - Training Rifles (Instruktionsgewehre)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1893
40
E1-E39 (E20 doubled)
1895
2
E43, E45
1896
2
E42, E44



Model 1889 - Repeating Rifles (Repetiergewehre)
Manufacture ended on April 29, 1897
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1891
24900
1-24900
1892
90100
24901-115000
1893
59100
115001-174100
1894
8787
174101-174887
175001-183000
1895
12500
183001-195500
1896
12500
195501-208000
1897
4000
208001-212000



Cavalry Carbine Model 1893 (Kavalleriekarabiner)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1896
250
4251-4500
1897
250
4501-4750
1898
250
4751-5000
1899
250
5001-5250
1900
400
5251-5650
1901
500
5651-6150
1902
500
6151-6650
1903
500
6651-7150
1904
300
7151-7450
1905
300
7451-7750
1895-1905
96
P1-P96 - Private series,
numbers P46-P84 for a commercial company, Paris
1897-1903
11
E1-E11, extra series,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern



Model 1889/96 - Training Rifles (Instruktionsgewehre)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1897
2
E2-E3
1899
4
E4-E7
1900
4
E8-E11
1904
4
E12-E15
1908
4
E16-E19



Model 1889/96 - Repeating Rifles (Repetiergewehre)
Manufacture ended in November 1912
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1895
50
1-50
1897
9000
212001-221000
1898
15500
221001-236500
1899
15500
236501-252000
1900
16500
252001-268500
1901
11500
268501-280000
1902
12000
280001-292000
1903
10000
292001-302000
1904
8000
302001-310000
1905
6000
310001-316000
1906
6000
316001-322000
1907
5000
322001-327000
1908
5000
327001-332000
1909
4800
332001-336800
1910
6300
336801-343100
1911
1900
343101-345000
1912
4000
345001-349000



Model 1897 Cadet Rifles (Kadettengewehre)
Sub-caliber Trainers (per J. Walter) (Einsatzgewehre)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1899
18
E1-E18
1900
6
E19-E24
1901
9
E25-E33
1902
3
E34-E36 (P9+P34?)
1903
2
E37-E38
1904
1
E39
1907
1
E40 (P40)



Model 1897 Cadet Rifles (Kadettengewehre)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1898
2100
1-2100
1899
1649
2101-3749
1900
1580
3750-5329
1901
499
5330-5828
1902
193
5829-6021
1903
232
6022-6253
1904
151
6254-6404
1905
114
6405-6518
1906
183
6519-6701
1907
150
6702-6851
1908
82
6852-6933
1909
37
6934-6970
1910
236
6971-7206
1911
99
7207-7305
1912
115
7306-7420
1914
231
15001-15231
1915
33
15232-15264
1916
70
15265-15334
1918
2
15335-15336
1924
26
15337-15362
1925
20
15363-15382
1926
80
15383-15462
1927
15
15463-15477
1898-1919
45
P1-P45, Private series
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern



Model 1889/1900 Short Rifles (Kurze Gewehre)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1901
5000
1-5000
1902
885
5001-5885
1903
915
5886-6800
1904
1000
6801-7800
1905
1500
7801-9300
1906
1500
9301-10800
1907
1750
10801-12550
1908
1750
12551-14300
1909
1650
14301-15950
1910
1500
15951-17450
1911
1300
17451-18750
?
176
P1-P176 [sic], Private series,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern
1903 Zoll
89
P72-P150
1904 Zoll
300
P173-P472
?
50
P501-P550
Zoll
394
P551-P944
Zoll
190
P951-P1140
Zoll
103
P1141-P1243



Note:
Zoll - Customs service
Model 1905 Cavalry Carbines (Kavalleriekarabiner)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1906
810
1-810
1907
2790
811-3600
1908
2600
3601-6200
1909
500
6201-6700
1910
600
6701-7300
1911
600
7301-7900
1906-1914
39
P1-P39, Private series,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern



Model 1896/11 Infantry Rifles (Infanteriegewehre)
These rifles carry the serial numbers of the Model 1896 rifles from which they were modified
Year
Quantity
1912
5000
1913
40000
1914
51000
1915
38000
1916
1500
1918
200
1919
50
1920
20


Model 1911 Infantry Rifles (Infanteriegewehre)
Manufacture ended on October 1, 1919
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1912
6000
355001-361000
1913
14000
349001-355000
361001-369000
1914
5000
369001-374000
1915
22000
374001-396000
1916
32000
396001-428000
1917
31000
428001-459000
1918
20000
459001-479000
1919
3000
479001-482000
?
200
P5000-P5200, Private series,
last manufactured on October 10, 1919,
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern
?
1
P5219
?
698
P5251-P5948



Model 1911 Carbines (Karabiner)
Manufacture ended on July 11, 1933
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1914
6000
30001-36000
1915
4000
36001-40000
1916
13000
40001-53000
1917
16100
53001-54400
55001-62000*
62301-70000**
1918
19000
70001-89000
1919
2000
89001-91000
1920
6500
91001-97500
1921
8500
97501-106000
1922
7500
106001-113500
1923
7900
113501-121400
1924
7600
121401-129000
1925
7500
129001-136500
1926
9900
136501-146400
1927
12600
146401-159000
1928
11500
159001-170500
1929
12800
170501-183300
1930
9900
183301-193200
1931
8800
193201-202000
1932
9200
202001-211200
1933
3900
211201-215100
1913-1919
300
P2001-P2300, Private series
entry in the export book of Waffenfabrik Bern
Zoll
18
P2013-2030
Zoll
8
P2037-P2044
Zoll
30
P2071-P2100
Zoll
100
P2101-P2200
without entries
4
P2201-P2204
?
19
P2205-P2223
Zoll
50
P2251-P2300



Notes:
Zoll - Customs service
* Serial numbers 54401-55000 and 62001-62300 are missing (900 pieces)
** Serial numbers 69701-69750 have double entries, but are only entered once in this list. Consequently, the total of the Model 1911 Carbines listed here comes to 185150 pieces.
Special Model 1911 Rifles (Extra-Gewehre)
Year
Who
Serial numbers
1915
Kriegstechnische Abteilung, Bern -
E500
1914
Koenigliche Gewehrpruefungskommission, Ruheleben-Spandau -
E501
Spanische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E502
1919
Emile Galley, Lausanne -
E503
1920
Hollaendische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E504
Englische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E505
1915
Eidgenpessiosches Militaerdepartement, Bern -
E506-E507
1917
Sektion fuer Munition, Thun -
E508
1918
Amerikanische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E509
1919
Franzoesische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E510
1920
Franzoesische Kriegsministerium, Paris -
E511-E520
Tiro Suizo, Buenos Aires -
E521-E522
1921
Italienische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E523
Italienischer Militaerattache, Bern -
E524
Flugplatzdirektion, Duebendorf -
E525
Sektion fuer Schiessversuche, Thun -
E526-E527
1922
Eidgenoessische Munitionsfabrik, Thun -
E525?
Eidgenoessische Munitionsfabrik, Thun -
E528-E529
Internationales Wettschiessen, Mailand -
E530
The High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia, London -
E531


1923
Franzoesisches Kriegsministerium, Paris -
E532
1924
Eidgenoessisches Schuetzenfest, Aarau -
E533-E534
KTA, fuer Schweden -
E535
KTA, fuer Tschechoslowakei -
E536
1925
KTA, fuer Waffenfabrik Oviedo -
E537
KTA, Bern -
E538-E539
Schiessschule Walenstadt -
E540-E541
1926
Afghanische Regierung (mit Dolch 18) -
E542
KTA, fuer Tschechoslowakei -
E543
1934
J. Alder W+F, Bern -
E544



Notes:
KTA - Kriegstechnischen Abteilung des schweizerischen Militaerdepartements
W+F - Waffenfabrik
Special Model 1911 Carbines (Extra-Karabiner)
Year
Who
Serial numbers
1918
Amerikanische Gesandtschaft, Bern
E1
1919
Amerikanische Gesandtschaft, Bern
E2
1920
Hollaendische Gesandtschaft, Bern -
E3
Tiro Suizo, Buenos Aires -
E5
Tiro Suizo, Buenos Aires -
E6
1921
Direktion Eidgenoessische Waffenfabrik, Bern
E7
1923
Franzoesisches Kriegsministerium, Paris
E4
1926
Afghanische Regierung
E8
1932
Wojskorny Zaklad, Warschau -
E9
Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik, Oerlikon -
E10
1952
unreadable
E11



Model 1911 Carbines (Karabiner)
Converted from Model 1889/1900 Short Rifles and Model 1905 Cavalry Carbines
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1913
1000
1-1000
1914
8000
1001-9000
1915
8000
9001-17000
1916
8200
17001-25200
1917
900
25201-26100
1918
100
26101-26200
1919
70
26201-26270
1920
65
26271-26335



Model 1911 Trials Carbines (Versuchs-Karabiner)
Year
Quantity
Serial numbers
1923
KTA, Bern
V1-V10
1926
KTA, fuer Schiessschule Walenstadt
V1-V200



Note: KTA - Kriegstechnischen Abteilung des schweizerischen Militaerdepartements
 
1903 manufactured model 1889/96, later converted sometime from 1912 to 1920 to model 96/11 for use with GP11 ammo.

1889 has three groove rifling for lower powered GP90(1890) ammo, four groove barrel for GP11 replaced the original.

I saw a K31 with serial number of 2691xx, what is the year of made of this rifle? Can't find from the table above. Might be some time between 1968 to 1969?
 
Just about all that's needed, unless, of course, somebody wants to start a conversation about Swiss schtuff. Happy to oblige, me.

tac


K31, being the precise rifle that it is, has it been used for precision match up to 1k meters? If so how did it perform?
 
All the actual Swiss Shoots are 300meters with the ISSF size targets.
Ten ring is just under 4 inches diameter (10cm) and the X ring is just under 2 inches in diameter 5cm.

This will give you an idea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AshytBGukb4

This is a "fieldshoot" so not as nice as a 300m. club with electronic targets.

Over here, I've know some DCRA and PQRA shooters who have used our k31s out to 900/1000 at Connaught and St.Bruno, when that range was still open.

Some pics from my trip to the BC Swiss Rifle Club :
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/car...wiss Canadian Mountain Range Association 300m
 
Last edited:
K31, being the precise rifle that it is, has it been used for precision match up to 1k meters? If so how did it perform?

Don't know the answer to that one. I DO know that down there a gentleman has been ringing 18" gongs at 1000 yards with his K31 - you can see him on Youtube. Also, back in CH, one shooter has converted his .308 Win Accuracy International to 7.5x55 with good results, naturally.

Me, I'd like a nice shiny new Desert Tech SRS in that calibre - only the bolt would need futzing around, of course - the rest stays the same.

tac
 
Last edited:
All the actual Swiss Shoots are 300meters with the ISSF size targets.
Ten ring is just under 4 inches diameter (10cm) and the X ring is just under 2 inches in diameter 5cm.

This will give you an idea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AshytBGukb4

This is a "fieldshoot" so not as nice as a 300m. club with electronic targets.

Over here, I've know some DCRA and PQRA shooters who have used our k31s out to 900/1000 at Connaught and St.Bruno, when that range was still open.

Some pics from my trip to the BC Swiss Rifle Club :
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/car...wiss Canadian Mountain Range Association 300m

Don't know the answer to that one. I DO know that down there a gentleman has been ringing 18" gongs at 1000 yards with his K31 - you can see him on Youtube. Also, back in CH, one shooter has converted his .308 Win Accuracy International to 7.5x55 with good results, naturally.

Me, I'd like a nice shiny new Desert Tech SRS in that calibre - only the bolt would need futzing around, of course - the rest stays the same.

tac



Thanks for the info. I have the side clamp mount and looking for a scope to take it beyond 300m.

Did the front sight ever come in thinner post?
 
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