Description
The Karabiner Modell 1931 (K. 31) is a magazine-fed, straight-pull bolt action rifle & was the standard issue rifle of the Swiss armed forces from 1933 until 1958 though examples remained in service into the 1970s. It has a 6-round removable magazine & is chambered for the 7.5×55mm Swiss Gewehrpatrone 1911 or GP 11, a cartridge with ballistic qualities similar to the 7.62×51mm NATO/.308 Winchester cartridge. Each rifle included a 6-round detachable box magazine with matching stamped serial number. A charger can be used to load the magazine from the top of the receiver.
The Karabiner Modell 1931 replaced both the Model 1911 rifle & carbine & was gradually replaced in service use by the Stgw 57 from 1958 onwards.
Although the K. 31/Kar. 31 is a straight-pull carbine broadly based on previous Swiss “Schmidt–Rubin” K11 service rifles & carbines, the K. 31/Kar. 31 was not designed by Colonel Rudolf Schmidt (1832–1898) as he was not alive in 1931 to do so. Mechanical engineer Eduard Rubin (1846–1920) was the designer of the 7.5×55mm Swiss ammunition previous Swiss service rifles & the K. 31/Kar. 31 are chambered for. The Karabiner Modell 31 was a new design by the Eidgenössische Waffenfabrik in Bern, Switzerland under Colonel Adolf Furrer. The first 200 K. 31/Kar. 31s were made in May 1931 for troop trials (serials 500,001 – 500,200), thus the model number of K31.
K31’s are noted for their excellent accuracy & quality for a service rifle. The Swiss armed forces considered individual marksmanship to be of utmost importance so the K. 31/Kar. 31 was made to tight tolerances & excellent overall craftsmanship. According to the Swiss Military manual for the Karabiner Modell 31 using standard issue 7.5×55mm Swiss GP 11 ball ammunition in a fixed mounting the expected accuracy of fire at a range of 300 m (328 yd) is 4 cm (1.6 in) in the horizontal (windage) axis & 6 cm (2.4 in) in the vertical (elevation) axis. Accuracy of fire at a range of 1,000 m (1,094 yd) is 21 cm (8 in) in the horizontal axis & 43 cm (16.9 in) in the vertical axis. At a range this means the closest 50% of the shot group will all be within a circle of the mentioned diameter at that distance.
The Karabiner Modell 31 is noted for its straight-pull bolt action, meaning that the bolt handle is pulled directly rearward to unlock the action & eject the spent cartridge case in one motion, then pushing the bolt handle forward again to chamber a new cartridge, cock the striker & lock the action, rather than being manually turned & pulled back & forth, as in contemporary bolt action service rifles, like the German Karabiner 98k, or the British Lee–Enfield Rifle No. 4. A straight-pull bolt action reduces the range of motion by the shooter, with the goal of increasing the rifle’s rate of fire.
This particular rifle was manufactured at the tail end of WW2, in 1945 to be exact with only 26,200 made this year.
Condition is excellent with a historic stock repair as can be seen in the photos with a great bore so would make an excellent choice for combined service rifle comps.
Do your own research & you will know if this is for you. Please view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.
We think we have described it accurately & correctly but do not claim to be infallible so if we have got anything wrong, it is unintentional & are happy for feedback from people who know more than we do.
Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an ‘as is’ basis. As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.
We have a pretty unique refund policy on our collectable guns whereby we will refund your money if it is not as described when you receive it. Just let us know before you send it back.
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