$69 K31 from AIM, pix of its ID tag

Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
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Another milsurp thread. But even if you don't collect guns, this is interesting:

The Swiss K31 rifles sometimes have an ID tag under the stock's buttplate, put there by the soldier it whom it was first issued. They keep that rifle for their whole service, and can purchase it when mustering-out.

I'm stripping & redoing this ugly duckling (really not bad) I got as a "stock blem" at AIM last week. Sho 'nuff, it had the ID tag:





Sometimes people contact the original owner in Switzerland, but I don't I'll go there. He might want it back, and I ain't gonna give it up. $69 is a steal for a K31, especially with a walnut stock. It's getting the Tru-Oil treatment after a sanding.

Was made in July, 1943. Got a splice, but not bad:

splice9ks.jpg


Overall shot:

oa3ss.jpg


Well, here's to what's-his-name. J.B. Boecourt, I guess. Hope he had a peaceful service to Switzerland. Just by toting this one up and down the Alps, he kept the nazis out of his country.

Thanks for looking.


Mike
 
Wonderful.

Makes me ache to see military surplus of that quality and I don't own any.


munk
 
Its got a nice look to it . Where is the splice ? Is it a repair or a join between Butt and forestock . The forestock seems to have a slightly different look to the wood . It looks like a pleasure to shoot as long as that long barrel isn,t too heavy .
 
The K-31 is a wonderful rifle. I've got a walnut model made in the 30's and a beech from the 50's. Both are much easier to shoot well than most milsurp rifles. Excellent sights and trigger. The "feel" is just right for a rifleman. And the barrels/rifling on K-31's is always very good. Something about it being your own personal rifle that you take home! (Plus I think I heard once upon a time that they never had corrosive ammo fired in them.)

And the 7.5 Swiss cartridge is a great round. You can buy surplus GP11 but it is expensive. Easy to reload since the brass is available in quantity and it uses standard .308" bullets.

I'm always tempted to buy another one!

Gregg
 
That was a very good price you paid for that gun, congrats :)

The K-31's ooze with quality craftsmanship, those Swiss sure did not hold back while making them.

Just as the poster above, I also own a walnut stocked 1930's specimen, which after getting it home and removing the buttplate, found no service ID tag. Would of been kinda neat, but no such luck for me.

Did the Russian Wolf ammo company ever come out with new ammo for it?
 
AA, that is a terrific buy!!!

I couldn't try for one because I don't havs a C&R license yet. The great mil surp I've been priviledged to see on this site prompted me to submit my C&R license paperwork one week ago. I can hardly wait.
 
JimmyJimenez said:
Did the Russian Wolf ammo company ever come out with new ammo for it?
Click to expand...

Prvi Partisan is making the reloadable 7.5x55 Swiss; Wolf is putting their name on it. Same ammo, $10 or so a box. The Ruag Swiss GP-11 ammo is Berdan primed and not easily reloadable.

Some have tags, some don't: they sometimes check and charge extra. Neat bonus.

Barrel's not really long Kevin, called a carbine in a day when rifles were really long; they're just right.

Steve, I'd be happy to share my C&R dealer bookmarks & sources. Your license might take 3 weeks or 5 months. Y<<V.

Gregg, the Swiss never used corrosive primers, so the neglect thing rarely ruined these, but sometimes they are worn from a lot of use. So I've heard. Mine all have nice lands & grooves.

The ID tag thing, that's just neat. Glad the Mosin's don't have it; my M38 would have about 5 tags in it from 1941-42. :eek:

and munk?

Make it down my way and I'll trade you a K31 for a rock or a khukuri or something.


Mike
 
Ad Astra said:
Another milsurp thread. But even if you don't collect guns, this is interesting:

The Swiss K31 rifles sometimes have an ID tag under the stock's buttplate, put there by the soldier it whom it was first issued. They keep that rifle for their whole service, and can purchase it when mustering-out.

Well, here's to what's-his-name. J.B. Boecourt, I guess. Hope he had a peaceful service to Switzerland. Just by toting this one up and down the Alps, he kept the nazis out of his country.

Thanks for looking.


Mike
Click to expand...

My French is a little rusty, but I think his name is Fusilier (Fus.) George Fleury and he was 'domiciled' (stationed) at Boecourt. 'Arme' I think is the arsenal number of the weapon. I am in two minds about 'GP/CP 111 - 24', could be March 1924? or something like 3rd Company - 24th Regiment? I favour the latter.

Nice weapon anyway and nice to have the personal touch.

Quick check http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-ju002.html
http://w3.jura.ch/boecourt/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boécourt It is a tiny place. Population 837

Boécourt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boécourt is a municipality in the district of Delémont of the Canton of Jura, Switzerland.
Jump to: navigation, search
Coordinates: 47°21&#8242;N 7°13&#8242;E
Boécourt
Canton Jura
District Delémont
Coordinates 47°21&#8242;N 7°13&#8242;E
Population 837 (December 2004)
Area 12.28 km²
Elevation 516 m
Postal code 2856
SFSO nbr 6702
Mayor
Website www.jura.ch/boecourt

And finally, leaving the best for last. Here is the owner! Some of his books have pictures, so you might see him carrying your rifle!

http://www.alibris.com/search/searc...ges&siteID=wv1I9XM390g-JNA38jCRAFUMwdtd_YyiAw

This is the book titles translated to English.

1.

The Fighter
by George Fleury
see all copies from $23.95!

2.

The warrior
by George Fleury
see all copies from $23.53!

3.

The para
by George Fleury
see all copies from $48.95!

4.

Marine fusiliers and commandos: fighters of the royal one
by George Fleury
see all copies from $20.65!

5.

The ninth companion
by George Fleury
see all copies from $57.95!

6.

Marine Fusiliers of free France
by George Fleury
see all copies from $34.69!

7.

French of the D-day
by George Fleury
see all copies from $19.76!

8.

Good-bye sergeant
by George Fleury
see all copies from $59.95!

9.

The non-com
by George Fleury
see all copies from $59.95!

Copies are available from Denis McDonnell Bookseller | Honesdale, Pa, UNITED STATES

This is a huge 17.5 Mb file, but it is a book of cadets including a George Fleury. Seems to be Air Force though?
http://www.52g-52hpilots.org/classbooks/52-H Craig/52-H Craig French.pdf
attachment.php


I just LOVE finding stuff!
 

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Oh man!............. If it's the same guy, you just gotta buy some of those books to go along with the gun :)

It's kinda sorta like finding a Picaso at a yard sale or something ;)

That's cool :)
 
Andrew, that is some amazing detective work! :eek: Many thanks! The six-digit no. is the serial.

I only got the tag out of it last night; swissrifles.com also is a source.

http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/tags/

Just found this...

Füs (Füsilier) = Fusilier (Soldier of Unit). That takes care of the Fus part. :p


If George wants it back, I will trade for gold bars and chocolate.


Sincere thanks,
Mike
 
Wonderful. Great story if true.

There won't be any notes in my weapons; the boys will divy them up.

Rusty's old man really pissed me off; he buried a Thompson and forgot where!!


munk
 
Ad Astra said:
Andrew, that is some amazing detective work! :eek: Many thanks! The six-digit no. is the serial.

I only got the tag out of it last night; swissrifles.com also is a source.

http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/tags/

Just found this...

Füs (Füsilier) = Fusilier (Soldier of Unit). That takes care of the Fus part. :p


If George wants it back, I will trade for gold bars and chocolate.


Sincere thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike

No problem. I got the 'Fus' bit last. I did add it to my post, but it's not there. It was pretty late and I had two windows of the post open. I guess I must have added it to the wrong window and didn't press 'Save'. Fusilier is a rifleman, 'Fusil' is French for Rifle.

Mind is really playing tricks, it is there!

"his name is Fusilier (Fus.) George Fleury".

Incidentally there is a really nice French Burgundy wine called Fleury. It is from the Cote du Rhone area of France. It used to be really cheap until George Beeching, (the Gov minister who closed down most of the UK railway system) 'discovered' it and imported it and marketed it.
 
My hat is off to Andrew Taylor for a nice piece of work. I would note that there just might have been more than one Georges Fleury in Switzerland at that busy time.
 
That is a very nice rifle. I handled my first one last week, and it was $99 out the door.:rolleyes: This really is a curse, these cheap milsurps.

How accurate are these rifles?

I fire from the left shoulder, and believe there is an attachment made that converts this rifle for left hand use.

Thanks for the pics.
 
Where do you guys find these great MilSurp rifles at? I want to snag a few when I get back. One for me, one for my soon-to-be wife, and one for my brother.
 
Ad Astra said:
Steve, I'd be happy to share my C&R dealer bookmarks & sources. Your license might take 3 weeks or 5 months. Y<<V.
Make it down my way and I'll trade you a K31 for a rock or a khukuri or something.


Mike
Click to expand...

Hi AA:

Your bookmarks and any other C&R info would be very useful. I'm looking forward to getting it.
 
The first thing you have to do is figure out what rifle you want to buy. Then, you can start doing searches for forums and dealers.

There is literally a world of info out there.
 
Terry Newton said:
The first thing you have to do is figure out what rifle you want to buy. Then, you can start doing searches for forums and dealers.

There is literally a world of info out there.
Click to expand...

My first purchases will be a K31 and then another mauser. Next will be a Check or Russial semi-auto pistol. Enfield jungle carbine is on the list, too.

Then ???
 
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