Re: No sniper rifle but my Swiss K31 shoots .5 moa
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the gman</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Volucris</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I believe those who keep historic firearms should keep them as historic firearms by not altering them permanently. If it's missing the stock, find a replacement. They are not supposed to be modern rifles as the majority of their value resides in their historical status.
Just because something is partially damaged it doesn't logically conclude that it's correct to completely turn it FUBAR.
That's how a K-31 should look and always stay looking. They're not made anymore, never will be made again, and are dwindling in numbers. It's an endangered species of Swiss precision. </div></div>
Balls. There is no shortage of K31 rifles in original condition to satisfy every possible collector of them twice over. The damn things are so hard to modify due to lack of interest, incredibly tough receivers and odd ball caliber that there is no risk of them not surviving the odd US or Swiss civilian market bubba.
Value? So many of them were imported here that value is through the floor unless, like me, you own one of the very rare ZFK 55 sniper variants. I own a couple of the regular K31 and like them very much. If there was a simple way to mount a scope on one, I might consider it. As it is, it's gonna be somewhat of a pain in the ass to mess with.
The K31 isn't like a small ring '96 Mauser made in Oberndorf that I saw buggered up the other day; that one really made me upset. I see your point but there were over 500,000 K31 rifles manufactured which hardly makes them rare or even endangered.
Grow up. </div></div>
+1
volucris, coming from a country that may arguably be responsible for the "conversion"/recycling or just good old hacking of more Mausers post-1945 than any other, your concern for the preservation of historic artefacts, though well intentioned, is probably a little late.
Although I agree 100% with the importance of saving rare/historic/collector grade rifles, saving a run-of-the-mill, "nothing special" or shot out surplus rifle by well-executed modification or restoration is not a crime!
IMHO there are three distinct needs for these types of rifle:
1) Replica sniper variants. The classic rifle enthusiast who can either not afford to but a get an original due to cost/rarity or the enthusiast who wants to shoot the sniper variant regularly but does not want to risk buggering a rare/valuable original with regular use
2) Older shooters who can no longer get the results they want with iron sights due to deteriorating eyesight but who wish to retain a favourite rifle and continue to use it so investigate ways of adding a scope
and
3) Shooters/gunsmiths who want to use a specific action for project or new rifle builds. I know a local dealer who, as recently as a couple of years ago, was still sourcing Mauser actions across Europe for resale to smiths like Holland and Holland for their rifles. This market has existed for a very long time both in the US and Europe and probably always will as long as shooting exists as a recreational sport.
The first two demographics are growing in the UK and, I suspect in the US - especially with Vintage Sniper Rifle competitions growing in popularity.
These old rifles are tools designed to do a job and they should be used for that purpose, not left to rot in cupboards, safes and museums.
And let's be honest - how many true old battle rifles still exist in the condition in which they left the factory? Years of field use, arsenal or unit level repairs and modifications will have had their effect.
With the K31 figures above there should be more than enough stock available for all purposes. Just try looking at Simpsons web site....695 Swiss rifles of which a high proportion are K31...
They are good, accurate and affordable rifles....
However as for the true "historic" value of the K31, whilst it may have a place in the evolution of firearms, I'm not sure that it ever contributed to, or participated in world changing events in the way that the Enfield, Springfield, Garand, Mauser, Moisin did.....other than perhaps keeping kids out of the chocolate mines and Nazi gold safe in the vaults under the Cantons!
