K31 shooter's grade

[REDSTAR]

OK you bastards. I had to order one but I went with the el cheapo because I'm way over budget this month. The guy at AIM said the shooter's grade still had really nice bores, just the outer appearance was beat up.

Someone who got one of $109 ones tell me the bore looks good please!

Plus I hate buying stuff with funky ammo. Dammit! grr.:mad:

[TheRifleman]

I'm headed to AIM right now. I'll give you a full report when I get back. I'm getting a $109.

[Schuetzenman]

Red,
The GP11 cartridge has always been noncorrosive. The Swiss never fought a war. Yes the bores should be spotless. But yes the stocks will be dinged up a bit.

[TheRifleman]

OK I'm back from AIM with another K-31 in towe. The $110. grade rifle.

I started to write this and then decided to really give the rifle the once over and complete clean. I'm glad I waited because at first I was going to write that these were right on the border of not worth getting. Not the case.

By far the most disappointing part of this rifle is the stock which I expected. It has dings and dents, mostly in the butt area and it is dirty and discolored. the very end of the butt looks like it was sat in a tar bucket or something. I have heard this is from soldiers sitting them in the snow etc...and getting mildewed or water damaged. I think I may go ahead and refinish the stock.

As for the rest of the rifle. On first inspection at AIM I thought well the stock sucks but the rest of her looks pretty good and I've bought lesser things that cost more money. When I got it home and looked closer I thought jeez, this is a candidate for a complete refinish job.

You know what rust looks like when it just starts to form. Just little spots right on the surface of the metal. This rifle had some of that. A little on the receiver, some on the barrel under the handguard, and a touch on the magazine. So I take it downstairs and comence to taking the rifle apart completely. I was able to remove, completely, all those little spots on all parts of the rifle by rubbing them out with the steel wool #0000. No signs of any rust anywhere now. If this rifle had sat with no attention it would have been ruined. I have saved it :D

Anyway, the blue is about 80%. The finish is worn off mostly on the muzzle end and front sight blades, where I believe putting that muzzle cap on and off is responsible for that wear. Also blue worn a little on the receiver but no to bad. One of the barrel bands, the one with the sling, is almost comepletly void of blue.

The barrel looks to be in excellent condition. It's bright, I would not say mirror but the rifling is in fine shape. I just ran a few patches down it I have not really tried to scrub on it.

Overall, for $110. plus tax so $116.00 all together this rifle is worth the money. With a little tender loving care on the stock I think it will look real good. And these K-31 really do shoot awesome.

You guys have any coments on what refinishing a stock does to the collectability of these rifles. I know several on the swiss rifle forums go ahead and refinish. I think if you do it correctly it won't hurt the value but make the rifle look a lot better.

Oh, everything I could find a number on matched. Receiver, bolt, magazine and stock. And it had the soldier ID tag under the butt plate.

[zouavexx]

I can see that there is a new hole in my collection.

[Schuetzenman]

Nice report TheRifleman. Now instead of thinking about getting a K31 here in the US to save the one I'm importing from getting shot too much I'm scurring around trying to find the $$ for the blasted Sniper Variant of these Swiss Watches of the rifle world!

[TheRifleman]

I'm scurring around trying to find the $$ for the blasted Sniper Variant of these Swiss Watches of the rifle world!

I'm extemely jealous. And I also hope you will post some pics of the rifle and accessories you get with your k-31 that is coming through customs. It sounds like a cherry.

[Schuetzenman]

Actually I already have color photos I took of it and the pack over in Switzerland. I just can't find where I put the freaking photos. I moved in March just after the trip to Switzerland and I haven't found them yet! Arrrgh! :mad: Otherwise I would have posted them already.

[REDSTAR]

Thanks Rifleman. I've done the same thing with rust on Mosins. I have plenty of 0000 wool so that's OK.

I'll have to decide on stock refinish when I get mine. I don't feel too bad about paying the shipping now since it's only a little more than your tax!

[TheRifleman]

After reading Ezra's post about cleaning up your old C&R I think with this stock I have I'm not going to have to actually refinish it but I'm going to use the Purple Power on it to try to get the grime etc.. out of it. This is more or less just cleaning it and I will put the oil finnish back on it. I will be able to help this stock out a lot with a wet towel and an iron as well. Luckily there are no long scratches or bad gouges or chips. Just small dents and dings and ugly looking stains.

10-4 on that tax thing. I think AIM charges $10. to ship but sales tax in OH is 5.5% which is unavoidable if they ship to you in OH or you pick up at their warehouse.