Just Got It NOW!

Abulg1972 · Jul 23, 2014

Machodoc said:
That may be, and the gun may look different in person, but from what I can see in the photos, the finish that's on it appears to be semi-gloss polyurethane, rather than old-school varnish. Also, you'll notice that there's a darker patina toward the grain ends of the the furniture, and the wood is not very patinated at all when you get away from those ends. Usually, an unmolested finish and the wood beneath it darkens pretty evenly.

In the last two photos it looks like the finish that's on it now has been flowed into old scars. Again, it's hard to be certain from photos, but that's how it looks. When a scar or scrape happens to the original finish, you don't get the flowed-in appearance that seems to be there. Of course, since there are so few of those showing on your stock, it's tough to tell for sure, but you should be able to look specifically for that when you examine the rifle ... is that finish going into the scar on the wood, or is the scar going into the finish?

Again, it's hard to tell for sure from photos, and that's all we have to work with, but what you showed really looks like someone stripped that stock, probably sanded it a bit, and then put on a couple of coats of modern semi-gloss finish. You'll have to make that determination, though. You're the one who can hold the gun in your hands and examine it.

I understand and I'm not defending this one way or another. The pictures were taken with my iPhone inside my home. The rifle does look different in "real life". It basically looks unissued, and there are very few marks on the stock. Either way, I'm just going to leave it as is and enjoy shooting it. It is a nice looking rifle that I got at a cheap price ($375). I'm not too worried about whether the varnish does or doesn't detract from its value, etc.

Thanks for your insight.

Melnic · Jul 23, 2014

Local Pawn Shop find
$20 replacement stock for the Royal Tiger $199 cracked stock special from last year. My crack repair was not holding up and I have not shot it since the fall. I will Macodoc rejuvenate this one
Hope to make Noka proud

Alphabrew · Jul 23, 2014

Nice find for $20 dolla

Machodoc · Jul 23, 2014

Nice find, Melnic. I'll bet the rifle that originally went into that Sino-Albanian furniture is now over bubba's mantle in a craptasticwannbeplasticstock-o-matic special ... just like all the other cheap clones. It's in FAR better hands now!

And you can only hope .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamur_Noka

MacGuns · Jul 23, 2014

Here are my photos of the new/unissued K31's that were available from Samco. I bought a Beech and a Walnut. The Beech are still available. http://www.samcoglobal.com/1-k31.html

The Walnut is dated 1944 and the Beech is dated 1949. They are in great shape for being 65+ years old.

a shot with my recently acquired Pioneer bayonet.

They do have some storage and handling marks, but overall they look brand new.

Most K31's you find will have water damage at the buttstock. These are nice and clean.

A small import mark at the end of the barrel.

An example of the marks from storage and the sling.

After getting these two yesterday, I ended up ordering 2 more of the Beech. I guess I collect these like some people collect Mosins

Alphabrew · Jul 24, 2014

Holy chit those are amazing. Are you going to shoot them? I don't think I would.

Dave91 · Jul 24, 2014

I would be tempted to keep that second one as a safe queen. There are plenty of rough k31's to shoot. That's awesome you got two almost pristine rifles. I still have 0 k31's...

nobis1 · Jul 24, 2014

MacMoov said:
Here are my photos of the new/unissued K31's that were available from Samco. I bought a Beech and a Walnut. The Beech are still available. http://www.samcoglobal.com/1-k31.html

The Walnut is dated 1944 and the Beech is dated 1949. They are in great shape for being 65+ years old.

a shot with my recently acquired Pioneer bayonet.

They do have some storage and handling marks, but overall they look brand new.

Most K31's you find will have water damage at the buttstock. These are nice and clean.

A small import mark at the end of the barrel.

An example of the marks from storage and the sling.

After getting these two yesterday, I ended up ordering 2 more of the Beech. I guess I collect these like some people collect Mosins

Those are beautiful. The beech looks exactly like mine, basically brand new. I too am tempted to order more, but the price tag makes it difficult to justify. Not sure about you, but I ain't shooting mine. They are safe queens. I will shoot my other ones and call it a day.

One final thing, how do you upload such nice photos? The size restrictions on this site make it really hard to upload crisp pictures like you have.

Alphabrew · Jul 24, 2014

nobis1 said:
Those are beautiful. The beech looks exactly like mine, basically brand new. I too am tempted to order more, but the price tag makes it difficult to justify. Not sure about you, but I ain't shooting mine. They are safe queens. I will shoot my other ones and call it a day.

One final thing, how do you upload such nice photos? The size restrictions on this site make it really hard to upload crisp pictures like you have.

I'd love to pick up one too, but they're priced just a little too high for me. Maybe I'll cross paths with one in a few years for a little less.

MacGuns · Jul 24, 2014

nobis1 said:
Those are beautiful. The beech looks exactly like mine, basically brand new. I too am tempted to order more, but the price tag makes it difficult to justify. Not sure about you, but I ain't shooting mine. They are safe queens. I will shoot my other ones and call it a day.

One final thing, how do you upload such nice photos? The size restrictions on this site make it really hard to upload crisp pictures like you have.

I will not be shooting these. I have a couple of K31's that are in good condition that are my shooters.

I don't upload the photos to the site. I host my them on my own server and then use the img tag to link to the remote photos.

nobis1 · Jul 24, 2014

Alphabrew said:
I'd love to pick up one too, but they're priced just a little too high for me. Maybe I'll cross paths with one in a few years for a little less.

That is the thing. I am not so sure these will be cheaper. There is a limited supply in this condition that will only get more limited because some people will use them and the condition will no longer be unissued.

Simpson Ltd gets really nice condition ones that have been rearsenaled and they sell for $400 or more. I bought a beautiful walnut K31 from them that was a lighter walnut with very few nicks/dents and about 90-95% original bluing for $500 a while back. When compared to these, it is nice, but not nearly as nice as these rifles. These are pristine. That, and on the Swiss Rifle Boards Guisan says that actual new K31's in the same condition cost around $1800 to $1900 a pop.

I am really considering ordering another one.

Alphabrew · Jul 24, 2014

nobis1 said:
That is the thing. I am not so sure these will be cheaper. There is a limited supply in this condition that will only get more limited because some people will use them and the condition will no longer be unissued.

Simpson Ltd gets really nice condition ones that have been rearsenaled and they sell for $400 or more. I bought a beautiful walnut K31 from them that was a lighter walnut with very few nicks/dents and about 90-95% original bluing for $500 a while back. When compared to these, it is nice, but not nearly as nice as these rifles. These are pristine. That, and on the Swiss Rifle Boards Guisan says that actual new K31's in the same condition cost around $1800 to $1900 a pop.

I am really considering ordering another one.

K31s are still made currently?? If so, for $1,800+ they probably have upgraded Hammerli match barrels and all match grade components or something.

You may be correct about them never being cheaper, but I'm happy rolling the dice since I already have several nice K31s that were much less. Nobody buying these at $600 + shipping is going to shoot them since even one round down the pipe would probably knock $100 off the value, so they are likely to remain in pristine condition. I'm not seeing these as investments at the price they're selling for. These are once in a lifetime rifles and Samco is charging a one in a lifetime price. At best, I think they'll keep up with inflation. I could be totally wrong of course.

why2kmax · Jul 24, 2014

Wow those are nice. I balked at the Price but after seeing those pics, jeez thats difficult to say no to. Going to have to think about this.

Machodoc · Jul 24, 2014

Alphabrew said:
Nobody buying these at $600 + shipping is going to shoot them since even one round down the pipe would probably knock $100 off the value, so they are likely to remain in pristine condition.

These are outside of my field of expertise, but wouldn't they have had a few rounds put down the pipe before they left the arsenal?

Abulg1972 · Jul 24, 2014

So tell me what the heck "special select" condition is and what I might expect to get if I ordered such a grade?

Abulg1972 · Jul 24, 2014

Dang, these are nice.

MacMoov said:
Here are my photos of the new/unissued K31's that were available from Samco. I bought a Beech and a Walnut. The Beech are still available. http://www.samcoglobal.com/1-k31.html

The Walnut is dated 1944 and the Beech is dated 1949. They are in great shape for being 65+ years old.

a shot with my recently acquired Pioneer bayonet.

They do have some storage and handling marks, but overall they look brand new.

Most K31's you find will have water damage at the buttstock. These are nice and clean.

A small import mark at the end of the barrel.

An example of the marks from storage and the sling.

After getting these two yesterday, I ended up ordering 2 more of the Beech. I guess I collect these like some people collect Mosins

sxs · Jul 24, 2014

Wow, those k31's are tempting the crap out of me. Trying to resist as I just bought a Sauer 38H and a Sauer Prussian Drilling plus looking at a possible local deal with an MDS'er.

But it sure is tempting.

Alphabrew · Jul 24, 2014

Do the beech stock rifles have the Swiss cartouche in the stock? I see it on the Walnut but don't see it on the beech. I know my beech stocked rifles at home have it, I'm not sure when the cartouche is added.

MacGuns · Jul 24, 2014

Alphabrew said:
Do the beech stock rifles have the Swiss cartouche in the stock? I see it on the Walnut but don't see it on the beech. I know my beech stocked rifles at home have it, I'm not sure when the cartouche is added.

The Beech I received didn't have the cartouche.

Here is a photo of the walnut cartouche.

And the Beech stock without the cartouche.

Abulg1972 · Jul 24, 2014

I had to buy one. I couldn't pass it up after seeing your pictures. AND, I intend to shoot it.

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