Advice needed on next purchase....

[WelshShooter]

You cant go wrong with a K31, generally the metal work is fine but the woodwork can be a bit rough. Nothing that cant be sorted if you are bothered. The prices are on the up, any of the swiss rifles are worth looking at including 7.5x53.5.

try http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/ for lots of information on all things swiss

Thanks for the link (I already see Rob a.k.a DW58 is a member on there!).

I'm a big fan of the Schweizer Karibiner K31 (it's not a Schmidt Rubin) - it's a very well built and extremely accurate rifle in an altogether different league to the Mosin Nagant.

Of the ones you have linked to, the Sword and Musket example looks the best cosmetically, but I'd avoid it for two reasons - the price is ridiculous, and the year of manufacture could be a bit iffy as late war K31s were sometimes made of slightly sub-standard steel and for that reason I'd avoid it.

The GunTrader example looks not bad at all and the price is more reasonable. The colour of the wood suggests it's pre-WW2 and thus a walnut stock, but as the serial number isn't given it's not possible to determine when it was made. I'd ask the seller for the serial number from which can be determined the year of manufacture (I can help you with this). The price isn't bad.

The GunStar examples are a bit vague - the wood doesn't look great, but that's not unusual and iseasily corrected. I'd ask the seller for more details on condition, serial number etc. The price is better.

Thanks for the advice. I don't mind paying a bit of money for a nice version but if the compromise is substandard metal quality then I'd rather not.

Don't dismiss the earlier Swiss versions.

Hope to bring in another Finn later this year....

I've done a bit of reading up and it seems that the 1911 is a nice rifle too, more of a collectors item too since it was produced in lower numbers. I've just discovered that my local RFD has two Swiss rifles for sale, one looks to be a K31 with matching bayonet @ £475 and the other looks like a M1911 @ £275 (possibly with sling?). They look in great condition so I'm excited to see them up close on Tuesday!

I've looked through the below link, but still cannot see any obvious differences between the 1896/11 and the 1911? Are there any obvious markers that could differientiate between them (e.g. like do the 1896/11 serial numbers start with a different set of digits compared to a 1911?)
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/detail/

Thanks for all the help so far.

[dromia]

The 96/11 was a conversion whereas the 1911 was built as such.

The easiest way of spotting the difference is the half pistol grip, it was added to the 96/11s but the 1911 stocks were made with it. If you look carefully at a 96/11 you can just see the join that isn't there on the 1911 stocks.

Personally I far prefer the 96/11 and 1911s to the K31.

[WelshShooter]

The 96/11 was a conversion whereas the 1911 was built as such.

The easiest way of spotting the difference is the half pistol grip, it was added to the 96/11s but the 1911 stocks were made with it. If you look carefully at a 96/11 you can just see the join that isn't there on the 1911 stocks.

Personally I far prefer the 96/11 and 1911s to the K31.

Thanks Adam. So from your post, the image below is from a 96/11?



The advert from which the image was taken from advertises it as an M1911. Do you think it was a mis-identification on their behalf?
http://www.byswordandmusket.co.uk/fac-r ... 1-rifle-2/

[dromia]

Well at least is a 96/11 stock.

[dromia]

Having looked at the advert and by the serial number it is definitely a 96/11 converted from a 1889/1896 rifle made in 1909. Which explains the sellers admitted confusion over the serial numbering.

[WelshShooter]

Having looked at the advert and by the serial number it is definitely a 96/11 converted from a 1889/1896 rifle made in 1909. Which explains the sellers admitted confusion over the serial numbering.

Good detective work

[DW58]

One little tip - if you can fine any of the Swiss Straight-pull rifles already fittrd with an aperture/diopter sight then grab it, as they shoot so much better than with issue sights.

There also various scope mounting options - some good/some terrible.

All in all the Swiss rifles are superbly made and shoot as well as you'd expect.

[WelshShooter]

Slightly off topic question - I handload tracer for my 308. Since you can use 30cal bullets for the 7.5x55 is it possible to shoot tracer in the 1911 or K31? Has anyone here tried it?

[DW58]

I don't see any reason why not - but why would you want to?

My son and I use normal .308 bullets (currently 178gr A-Max) in our K31.

I currently fancy a Model 1886 in 7.5x53mm.

[WelshShooter]

I can use tracer on Sennybridge F range where we have targets over 1,000m away. I've shot the Enfield and Mauser at 1,000m and thought tracer would be beneficial for windage when I miss. If I can use this in the 7.5 that would be really useful for me.

I have an assortment of Lapua 155gr and 167gr scenar's lieing around so they'll be put to good use!