New Private series Swiss K31-with match stickers

[Mustang51]

I've got this thing for Swiss rifles, especially the late manufactured ones and especially the ones that have Swiss match stickers on them.

Today I scored a K31 hat trick...late manufacture, Swiss match stickers and a Private series serial number






Description advised as follows

Swiss Schmidt-Rubin Karabiner Model 1931 (K31) Straight-Pull Rifle, #268285, 7.5x55mm Swiss, 25.7'' barrel, blue finish, European walnut stock, with sling. Import marked. Condition is fine to near excellent retaining approx. 95% blue on receiver. Stock shows minor dings, scratches, thinning to finish, and light oil staining. Action is crisp, bore is fine. Minor corrosion near rear sight should clean easily.

 

[Float Pilot]

EXCELLENT !!!!

Now I need to take a cold shower....

 

[Lone Star]

Is that big ring the safety? Which direction is "on"?

 

[303tom]

Now that`s nice, fine looking rifle....................

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, guys.

LS, the ring acts a safety and recocking pull. To apply the safety, you pull it back and turn it clock-wise 1/8 turn. To take it off safety, you can use your thumb and turn it counter clock-wise 1/8 turn.

 

[wrench]

Way above average K31! The 'P' series serial number and the shooting stickers really make it special.

 

[Edarnold]

Would that have come from Simpsons, Ltd., by any chance? They have active Swiss connections and are bringing in good examples of all the S-R rifles from the 1911s onward. Now what you need for your rifle is a nice set of diopter Match sights to have it ready for competition!

Congratulations!

 

[MarshallDodge]

Very cool!

I love my K31 and was pleasantly surprised when I found the tag under the buttplate.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, guys

Would that have come from Simpsons, Ltd., by any chance? They have active Swiss connections and are bringing in good examples of all the S-R rifles from the 1911s onward. Now what you need for your rifle is a nice set of diopter Match sights to have it ready for competition!

Congratulations!

Actually, Ed, I got this at an on-line auction. I have a set of th eWF diopter sights and was planning on installing them. I also have a set of the Swiss Products diopters and they are nice also.

 

[Float Pilot]

LS, the ring acts a safety and recocking pull. To apply the safety, you pull it back and turn it clock-wise 1/8 turn. To take it off safety, you can use your thumb and turn it counter clock-wise 1/8 turn.

Yeap it was made so it could be done while wearing heavy ski gloves or mittens.

 

[Geno]

Wow, a very nice score! Thanks for posting the photos.

Geno

 

[Dave P]

Isn't the safety a quarter turn, not 1/8th?

 

[meanmrmustard]

Isn't the safety a quarter turn, not 1/8th?

Yes.

 

[meanmrmustard]

IMO, probably the finest WW2-era rifle out of Europe, if only second to the Swedish Mausers.

And you had to get one of the nicest I've seen.

 

[amd6547]

Beautiful. Sticker pics?

 

[Leadbutt]

Would love to have another left hand conversion unit for one, there are great rifles

 

[Silent Sam]

Yes.

Both are "safe". Depends on whether you want to lock the bolt or not.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, guys.

IMO, probably the finest WW2-era rifle out of Europe, if only second to the Swedish Mausers.

And you had to get one of the nicest I've seen.

MMM, my sons and I shoot Swiss rifles in vintage military rifle competitions on both silhouette and bullseye courses. The Swedish Mauser is our arch-rival, followed closely by the Finnish Mosins.

Beautiful. Sticker pics?

You can see the match stickers on the handguard and I'll post better when it arrives.

I've got several other Swiss rifles with match stickers on them and they look like this...

 

[Dentite]

Not bad but imagine how cool it would be in a synthetic stock and drilled and tapped for a scope.

I KID! I KID!

That's beautiful...I too like these rifles. I only have one but I enjoy it.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mustang51]

My new P series K31 arrived at my FFL last week. I got a chance to look it over before it went into his safe and everything looks as advertised. Bore is blindingly bright, a few dents on the stock and a little spot of corrosion on the rear sight and receiver. Should be a good shooter.

I looked over the match stickers and will post pics after the "10-day cooling off" period.

 

[eastbank]

i like them too.here,s my 96 mauser cg63 6.5x55 swedish match rifle with a norma barrel and target sights used in the swedish rifle matches. the rifle is super accrute. eastbank.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Can you explain the "private series"? I love my Swiss rifles but am unfamiliar with this concept.

 

[Mustang51]

i like them too.here,s my 96 mauser cg63 6.5x55 swedish match rifle with a norma barrel and target sights used in the swedish rifle matches. the rifle is super accrute. eastbank.

Beautiful CG 63, eb. Those are wonderful rifles. I've got a thing for Swedish rifles also.

 

[Mustang51]

Can you explain the "private series"? I love my Swiss rifles but am unfamiliar with this concept.

Sure. Most K31's were made for the military and when they were replaced with the Stgw 57 were eventually sold to the public.

However, some K31's never went to the military and instead were sold directly to the public. If you go to the Swiss Rifles website

http://www.swissrifles.com/

Click on "Schimdt-Rubins and K31's" on the left side, then "Manufacture Dates"...that takes you to this page...

http://www.radix.net...midt_rubin.html

Scroll down to the "Model 1931 Carbines (Karabiner)" table...

You can see that the last military issue K31 was 263330, issued in 1958...about 5000 short of mine.

Then scroll to the "Model 1931 Carbines - Private series" table. These are the K31's that were sold directly to the public and were never military rifles.

You can see a whole host of serial numbers, including in 1963, a run with serial numbers 267331 to 267380 and in 1971, serial numbers 269431 to 269580. That neatly brackets my serial number. According to the table, in 1968 and 1969 150 private series K31's, identified as only "various numbers" were sold. I can't say that my rifle was one of the 150 made in 1968 and 1969, but it is clear that it was sold directly to the public, probably some time in the 60's.

 

[hang fire]

IMO, probably the finest WW2-era rifle out of Europe, if only second to the Swedish Mausers.

And you had to get one of the nicest I've seen.

Both good, but cannot compare to the Finn M39 when it come to accuracy.