[themosinator]

I bought a k31 from a friend, he told me that the original seller to him was the fellow who bought the firearm back in the 80's after initial import, and said there was no soldier's tag under the buttplate...so, he believed him...and shared the info with me when I bought it...and, I believed BOTH of them...

...but, curiosity got the better of me...

...so, just on a whim, I went ahead and took off the buttplate and, lo and behold, A SOLDIER'S TAG!!!...

...I took some photos, any help in translation, assistance on how to track down the original owner, etc. would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

Thanks!!! :thumbsup:

 

[themosinator]

Here's my original posts about my k31:

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...ts-to-do-a-FTF-What-to-look-for-What-to-avoid

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...long-rifle-a-mate-for-my-k31!!-WITH-PHOTOS!!!

 

[cukimik]

It´s a nice feeling when you find a soldier´s tag. It would be wondefull if this would happen with other firearms. I enjoyed it very much when I found mine in my K31. I sent 2 letters to 2 possible matches like 10 days ago. I hope I get an answer. I´m still waiting for an answer, it could take as long as a month to get an answer if any.
One of this two may be the former owner: http://tel.search.ch/index.en.html?was=bebie,+alfred Probably his son or relative, as the senior should have now around 85-95.
For the letter: http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/3203
Beautiful rifle by the way.
Good luck!

 

[tacfoley2]

Just to point out that Herr Bebie is now at least 91 years old - maybe 92. He was in a Heavy Infantry unit and if you want to find him, you can try looking in the Swiss phonebooks. If the person in the post above this is a relative, he will be a German speaker, and the correctly formal and polite letter to him asking about the gun that was previously his relatives can be found as a sticky on the swissrifles.com website.

http://theswissriflesdotc...board.yuku.com/topic/3203

And address the letter like this - remembering that on the tag his surname comes first -

Name and surname
Street and house number
CH-zip code Town/abbreviation for Canton
Switzerland

Good luck!

tac

 

[Ben Gunn rev2]

What is a heavy fusilier?

 

[tacfoley2]

What is a heavy fusilier?

Well, could be 'schwere' - heavy or 'Schwadron' - 'squadron' to tell the troof.

What do you think?

tac

 

[Parashooter]

The 4th company of a Swiss infantry ("fusilier") battalion was normally the "heavy weapons" company, armed with more and bigger machine guns, mortars, etc. than the line companies. In US terms, it would be something like "Company D (heavy), 109th Infantry Bn."

 

[themosinator]

Hey!!...Thanks to all of the above posters for their input so far!!!...REALLY appreciate it!!...

...so...at this point, should I join the other Swiss rifles site that I have seen y'all mention here on the boards before??...seems I could be getting even MORE input over there!!...

 

[tacfoley2]

should I join the other Swiss rifles site that I have seen y'all mention here on the boards before

You mean like the rest of us?

Of course.

tac

 

[themosinator]

...okay, folks...


...what are the numbers on the BACKSIDE of the tag (photo 5)?...

...didn't see reference to this on Swissrifles.com...

 

[Guisan]

That should be the serial of a rifle.

Guisan.

 

[GUNZABLAZIN]

Are you going to have a different name on that board, maybe..... theswissanator?? :laugh:

 

[Guisan]

No way, there was only one WWII General in Switzerland and he should know about these things no ?

Guisan.

 

[themosinator]

That should be the serial of a rifle.

Guisan.

THANKS!!!...that is the serial number on all of the metal components on this k31 (that is, all of the metal parts that have SN's!!)...

...but...hmmmmm, so, even though the SN's on the metal parts point to 1940...and, the tag under the buttplate has a number that matches the metal components...BUT...the date on the buttstock under the buttplate is III 37...doesn't that mean that the stock is from March, 1937...and, doesn't THAT make the stock NOT match the rest of the components??...ugh...I am now more confused than I was before...

 

[Parashooter]

Don't believe everything you see!

On April 1, 1940, stockmaker's apprentice Hans Nussbaum uncovered a stack of 431 K31 stocks that had been stored since early 1937 under a brown tarpaulin in a corner of the wood shop at Waffenfabrik Bern. As a result, Nussbaum was awarded an extra ration of beer with lunch that day and, after thorough inspection, 417 new rifles were fitted with "new old stock" stocks. Advanced collectors know these as Nussbaum Specials and will often pay a 500%+ premium if the receiver serial matches the one stamped on the stock (in the barrel channel, visible only after disassembly). A prestigious auction of any of the 417 "Nussbaumers" discovered during the preceding year is held annually on April 1.

 

[themosinator]

On April 1, 1940, stockmaker's apprentice Hans Nussbaum uncovered a stack of 431 K31 stocks that had been stored since early 1937 under a brown tarpaulin in a corner of the wood shop at Waffenfabrik Bern. As a result, Nussbaum was awarded an extra ration of beer with lunch that day and, after thorough inspection, 417 new rifles were fitted with "new old stock" stocks. Advanced collectors know these as Nussbaum Specials and will often pay a 500%+ premium if the receiver serial matches the one stamped on the stock (in the barrel channel, visible only after disassembly). A prestigious auction of any of the 417 "Nussbaumers" discovered during the preceding year is held annually on April 1.

Forgive my "newbness"...but, I haven't disassembled my k31 or my 96/11...are they easy to deal with...I am kinda spoiled with my Mosins (which disassemble in minutes)...I want to look in the barrel channel, but don't want to damage anything...

 

[Ronbo6]

Forgive my "newbness"...but, I haven't disassembled my k31 or my 96/11...are they easy to deal with...I am kinda spoiled with my Mosins (which disassemble in minutes)...I want to look in the barrel channel, but don't want to damage anything...

They are just as easy (or easier) to take apart than Mosins.

Swiss bolts don't need anything like the fussy firing pin adjustments of the Mosin.

You REALLY don't need to pull the trigger out of the K31, which is maybe the most complex thing they have going.