Bought a k31 then had to get a 96/11. Thought that was a score till I ordered a “k11” and got an 05/11 at k11 price! Best things to happen in 2020 for sure!
They’re smooth and super accurate, but I wonder how they would have performed after one or two years of hard use in the mud, rain, and snow of trenches, or the dust and dirt of the steppes. Outside of using them in a very specifically Swiss geographic context (close to your supply lines and arsenals), my guess is that G11s and K31s would have been a flop, with actions seizing up or becoming unusable in a hurry, while something like a Japanese Type 38/99 would keep on trucking without any problems whatsoever.
Your K31 looks amazing. I have a question about M48 rifles, is a mismatched handguard common? And by mismatched I mean the handguard is not flush with the rifle stock
There's definitely no keeping your sight picture while throwing the bolt. Unless you like smacking your nose with the big ass safety ring. Be careful buying these guys. Mine had a slightly warped forestock that was imperceptible until the barrel heated up.
I just bought a k11 compulsive buy. Look good in the picture but it chopped AF and chambered in 30-30. Rear sight and even base is missing 😢 wooden pull lever is mostly missing. And stock has been seriously cut up. I have quite a project ahead of me
I paid $350 for my 96/11 and $495 for my K31 two months ago. I then kicked myself in the head a week later when I saw another seller posting his K31s for $380, and his K31s had much better stocks and contained troop tags (which mine didn't have unfortunately).
A lot of the action difference is burnishing through use. I have a 1941 K31, well used with an ultra smooth action and a 1951 with an almost unused action that is very mechanical, deliberate and somewhat stilted. The difference being the burnishing or wear.
If you had the K1911 (carbine) - apples to apples - you would find that the front sight has the protective wings and is pushed further toward the crown of the barrel.
Nice comparison of two great rifles. I prefer the G11 due to accuracy from a bench but mostly looks alone. Just so long and add the bayonet and I like it more. The K31 is much easyer to carry around and shoot off hand...a better rifle. I had to carry a G11 for 8 hours once and that was unpleasant...the sling placement, length and weight wore me down.
Long ago I got a G11 at large gun show in the early AM. Carried it for 8 hours...I was really uncomfortable for the last 3 hours. Totally worth it....very accurate. With the bayonet it is ridiculously long.
The nickname for the G96/11 at the time was "Mahagoni Flöte", the mahogany flute. My granddad was issued one in 1915. Pity he did not get to keep it. Courting one belonging to my neighbour's widow, nobody in the family is interested so I have some hope.
Edelweiss arms has them both. Centerfire systems has K31s on sale rn 9/22 for $399 with no magazine. still a great deal. The one i just got is in really nice shape.
@@jj70098 I have most of these, and I was thinking of my favorite just recently, after some thought I decided on the K-11, although the 1893 Carbine with the Mannlicher action is a very light rifle for it's caliber and mine works just fine. It's like cars and motorcycles, whatever floats your boat. Oh, the K-31 barrel is 3 inches longer than the K-11.
1. g11 Has a longer sight and barrel, true on that. 2. K31 has a match-grade barrel, much thinner barrel. 3. K31 is, due to the thinner barrel semi free floating. On the front it is clamped, the G11 is not. That is why people convert to a free floating barrel the accuracy drops. Also for this reason the bands and front handguard screw needs to be as tight as possible, the back screw just a bit more loose. so if you have accuracy issues first off tighten the bands! 4. Generally the K31 is an upgrade from the G11/K11 and the swiss did do their very best to make it better. I would prefer a K31 over a G11 any day.
but what about a k11 covereted to a 308 with a good muzzle break ;) i am putting together with a custom stock s15.postimg.cc/pnpfopggb/DSCN0041.jpg s15.postimg.cc/65us8s6nv/DSCN0040.jpg
On my G11 the whole barrel has st least 0,5mm free space to the wood (also at the wood's nozzle end clamp) so it's a totally free floating barrel as well.
Should i buy one from classic? or is there a better place to get them? I heard ppl are getting good ones from them. theyres not many left idt Update:Got a way better one from edelweiss. it was about the same price but almost mint condition nothing missing.
I love my K31. One difference important to us hand loaders not covered is that the K31 case head is fully supported, but reloading manuals caution that the 1911 isn't, and therefore requires more caution.
I didnt know that thank you! What kind of precaution should i take? Just make sure the rifle is headspaced or make sure the charges are not too hot or mild?
Just paid 1000 for one in canada. Which must be a fortune. Has matching numbers and a bayonet. Looks to be in good shape. I know i paid alot tho. But surplus here is a fortune now. Nice lee enfield is 1000 to 2000 cad. K98 is 1400 to 1600 or more.
Thank you very much from France.You show in a good way, all the differences between this 2 excellent rifles.It will be good to compare a k 11 and a K31
Nice video, as usual. Interesting rifles - both. I would add that many say, and the Swiss thought it seems, that the bolt lugs on the K31, which are further forward and thus closer to the chamber than the 1911, makes the action stiffer, and thereby possessed of a tad greater accuracy potential. Not sure if that improvement was realized in greater accuracy, but it is a valid point. By all accounts, both rifles (and their service round) have all the accuracy a practical rifleman could use.
I was going to mention the lugs too, which I'm surprised he didn't. I actually read that they didn't do it so much for better accuracy (although I'd agree it may add a tiny bit more potential), but simply for ruggedness. And THAT is why, arguably, the K31's are the best of all variants.
in a nut both of these will shoot very good. the Swiss set there rifles for 300meters as they meant to take out those attacking them from there and farther out. they still have shooting matches today were citizens there compete and lots come from around the world to do so as well. so everything about these rifles is great. few years ago when I had mine they were saying if you wanted one built as these are it would cost well over $2000. but much like all Swiss stuff it was built to last and that's why these things are tack drivers. triggers are as smooth as butter, bore on most are in great shape because the Swiss had this black grease made to where if u were storing long term u put a good coat in barrel and forget about it. just remember to clean it out good before u shoot it. I got lucky years ago and got 2 cans from a guy over there the last he had as they don't make it anymore. the g11 long and k11 carbine have same bolt with locking lugs always from the end of bolt where when they made the k31 the locking lugs are closer to forward end of bolt. makes no difference on shooting as the Swiss made sure both rifles could stand the pressure of the 7.5 Swiss round. some of the k11 carbine are converted g11 long guns. the Swiss didn't like throwing things away so if they could cut down a long gun to carbine they did, the same as the did the bolts to with stand 7.5 round. remember so of the early Swiss can't with stand pressure of 7.5 ammo so don't use it in those. another big difference in k11 and k31 is the stock. u can see here that the k31 has lots more meat to the stock then k11. if u c them in person u'll c what I mean. me I got small hands so k11 carbine and g11, their the same just ones shorter. but it just depends on what u want. long gun bit of a problem getting around with. k11 & k31 made to get around with easier and they'll all shoot 300meters to 1500 meters with iron sights anyway. that's the way the the Swiss made them and as anyone knows the Swiss build all there stuff to last and hold up to use. if I think to much I almost cry for having to sell off mine had some really sweet stuff in all they built but the first model can't shoot 7.5 in those. sorry for long wind told I missed mine. wish u all well
Now that was a perfect video. Gave us important engineering to consider. Everyone has things that are important to him personally so we can choose based on your input. Bravo.
The k31 on paper should be more accurate. The action is shorter than the 1911 and k11 and this allows the barrel to be longer. While it looks to be the same size as the k11 the shortened action means the barrel is just slightly shorter than the 1911 rifle. Also the k31 is bedded into the stock in a superior way allowing for more accuracy. This being said people still tend to shoot better with a 1911 rifle do to longer eye relief and an easier to make out sight picture ( in ny opinion) having shot both.
Hi FG. I really enjoy your fresh input on firearms .Having said that, I live in the Netherlands and am therefore prohibited to own working firearms. I am however an avid collector of bayonets and therefore would like your input on this subject, if it has your interest. I own a K98k which has been totally rendered inopperable, and was used by the Yugoslav Partisans during WW2(capture weapon). I have 2 Lebel WW1 bayos, a Garand long, a Hakim, a G31 Swiss ( I think), A long Lee Enfield, a Polish Radom (used and mutilated by the Germans) A K98, A Fal, and a Lee Enfield spike.Oh and a Butcherblade... Keep up the good work! Ian.
Do you where i can find a bayonet that fits a G11? ive tried 2 different ones. apparently i need one that has a 15mm ring and i guess thats more rare. if i cant find one im prolly just going to grind out the ring on this 14mm one, which would be horrible.
@@thecommunistdoggo1008 you go by the serial number on the rifle and you have to log on to the site swisswaffen.com serial number data base.my G11 WAS made in 1916 according to the site. you punch in the serial number on your rifle and it will tell you when it was made.do not be alarm when you see the serial number range.your rifle will fall in the serial number range.the G11S made from 1912 to 1919 the K11S were made from 1914 to 1933. My k31 was made in 1947.i hope this will help you out.
I have been thinking of putting a scope on my K31 since I enjoy shooting mine at far range. DO you trust/know of those ones that are non drilling that are any good?
Just brought my 1911 home today. A gun shop had it for 175.00 and labeled as a K 31. Took a chance on it The serial numbers were too old to be a K31. Got it home the action was so full of old cosmoline it wouldn't fire. You couldn't move the decock ring. What they thought was that was cosmoline. First time I have ever found a bargain like that.
I really liked the video, it is high quality just like the other videos you do (especially like the "Never shot a milsurp" format. Please keep them coming! There are some points I would like to add though. I do not own a K31 but handled a particulary nice example at an auction house last week. I own a couple of the 1911 style rifles (96/11, G11 and K11) though myself. My observation is that the action on the 1911s is definitely more noisy and it pulls a bit coarser. I think that is what you wanted to express in your video. I would not go so far as to say that it is much smoother or much nicer experience though. I also observed when comparing my 1911 rifles that almost all of them(!) have their own characteristic bolt pull. For example my 1899 manufactured 96/11 rifle has an extremely smooth bolt and the rifle shows a lot of use and handling marks. My 1915 manufactured 1911 rifle requires a little more force but the pull is also extremely smooth and the bolt feels really "tight". With my other 96/11 and my K11 it is a very different story. The first is very difficult to open and the second one feels almost like there is a step you have to overcome when you close it to slowly. Another thing is the weight difference you mentioned. I think both the G11 and K31 are really nicely balanced whereas the K11 is extremely(!) rear heavy and only feels good with the bayonet attached! The weight on the G11 is in my opinion the only major issue with the rifle. No other country had a rifle this heavy. If you handle a Gewehr 98 and then a G11 the weight difference seems huge although the G11 "only" weighs about a pound more. Actually, the only swiss rifle not to have a massive weight issue has been the K31 - all other rifles are bricks (Vetterli, 1911, Stgw57, Stgw90) in comparison to what other countries fielded at the time. Because I never used a K31 at the range I cannot comment on its feeding but I can say that I have never had a milsurp with nicer feeding than the 1911s. Whereas you get the "on from the left, on from the right" sensation with 98s, rimlock with the Lee-Enfield and all sorts of trouble with the Mosin, the feeding on 1911s is just spot on IMHO. One major topic you did not talk about were the triggers. What do you think about them comparatively? Greetings from Austria! One more thing: I thought about your statement with the bolt smoothness again and I think the reason why the K31 feels nicer is that the bolt stop does not exert a changing force on the op-rod when you pull it, the way it does with the G11. Here is a quick party trick to check it: Disassble both bolts so far that you can get the op-rods free and then put them alone back into the rifles. Work them and feel the difference. If there is any then I think I found the solution :-)
Got a K31 and just handled a G11 - that one feels like history, locks ins the rear and therefore has less bolt travel=the locking lugs. Question is does it enable the shooter to remain cheekweld while cycling? The K 31 does not, unless you get eg. a Boyds stock (+extension), i can cycle mine fine looking through the scope on my K31; still has good balance - seems to me they cut down the stock to save length. i'm glad the K31 is not all Swiss brick... if you don't plan on invading anyone and defend fortifications with your handguns weight is clearly less of a concern or maybe they are superhumans :D Feeding would be rougther with the K31 - probably because the front lugs need meat to lock against so the magazine has to sit lower and the cardridge has to jump over the distance of the lower locking lug. Works fine but bullets with a large metplat can hang up and end up back in the case. The G11 trigger seems to have less takeup and less leverage - love my K31 trigger huge takeup and clear perfect letoff (and all of them i handled have), works great with gloves on driven hunts - only thing missing is a trigger stop (doable). Talking slings in the German countries nomenclature might be best understood by the method the rifle is carried: flat on the back=cavalry=carbine like the northern German prussian empire most noticed in ww1 we had a carbine of the G88 and a maybe Kurzgewehr (short rifle) - shorter with conventional rifle swivels later we standardized on the side slung - carbine version, K98k (so the G98, K= Karabiner - side slung, k=kurz short); the Austro-Hungarians had carbine - side slung - and Stutzen - short rifle M95s with swivels under barrel and butt later they just put all attachements on all of them so anyone could make use of them; the Swiss also called a G11 a Gewehr with conventional slings and the K11 a carbine with side slings so that division might apply better than discriminating lenght of barrel. Me i installed QD-recipiants on the side of the butt and on the underside of the handguard and never encountered any slinging wish this would not allow. Resistance of the bolt on the K31 is induced by the firing pin spring, then the bolt stop (+ retaining the bolt open, nice for hunting in big groups and carrying muzzle down unloaded - does the G11 have that one?) and the ejector waiting to pop up. The bolt raceways are angled, never understood what that is good for... Horrido from SW BRD!
My 1896/11 definitely has that noticeable "step" you feel when closing the bolt, and really needs just a little more force to close than my K31. Interestingly, when I apply the safety mid way between safe and fire and cycle the bolt, that "step" mid way closing the bolt goes away. What I really like more about the older long models (and K11 I suppose as well) is that they're much slimmer width-wise than a K31, with a K31 feeling very chunky the whole width, making it feel slower and clumsier to me personally. I do think the K31 trigger is a little better feeling, but mechanically is much more complicated than the couple pivot points the old Schmidt-Rubin's trigger has...but both are really great either way. Feel free to reply back, Austrian guy, cos I like talking about the fine details of rifles like these as well.
Hello, the step you mean comes from the force necessary to cock the firing pin back just a bit when the op-rod goes from the holding cut in the locking sleeve back to the cam-surface. I really like the trigger on my 1911s as they are much nicer than the triggers on my 98s. What was the largest distance you ever shot your K31 at?
123nicefellow123 What I noticed though is that the step happens with the last inch and a half (or about 4 cm for you) in my rifle, when there is no sear engagement for the cocking piece to catch on...with none of that happening if the rifle is made safe between the safety and fire positions. Either way, long ranges are very hard to find where I live in particular, so the longest I've shot mine was about 85 yards. I'll admit, I don't get to shoot often, so consequently I'm not a very good shot and most of the accuracy potential is wasted on me.
Then I think I am just really lucky because I have a 300m range just ten minutes away from my house. My experience so far is that at least when firing at half-man sized targets at that range there is absolutely no noticeable difference between the 96/11 and the K11.
Length of throw=bolt travel distance. Length of pull=distance from trigger to buttplate. Also, you really need to study up on the development program and arc from the 1889 through to the K31...lots of good info that will help you better understand this family of rifles.
I've been reading "Swiss Magazine Loading Rifles" from North Cape Publications. I'm definitely still learning but when aren't we still learning? I personally don't like the arbitrary nomenclature of length of pull meaning the stock length instead of how far you have to pull the bolt back. Kinda like how in the gun community a "battle rifle" is a semi-auto 308 but really just about every military rifle is a battle rifle. It's semantics.
Right...that's why every single long range competition rifle and match pistols have the shortest possible barrels allowed by rule. Oh wait it's quite the opposite actually.
And whats the diameter on those barrels? Stiffer barrels have a tendency to shoot smaller groups. Shorter = Stiffer but you already knew that Didnt you? Fuckin idiot.
I disagree with your assessment of a better sigh radius on the K31 over the G11. Especially with older eyes but the closer the two sights are to one another the clearer they are as they are nearer to being on the same the same focal plane and thus easier for your eyes to focus on both sights as well as the target. For that reason I'd prefer the G11.
You are wrong in your assessment. Longer sight radius is "typically" accepted as the preferred option for consistent long range accuracy. There are always exceptions to the rule but exceptions are not the rule.
@@merlemorrison1346 Your facts are not straight because you misinterpreted what was said in this video... your comments are aggressive and uncalled for. Danny said that the longer barrel has a greater "potential" to be more accurate due to the longer sight radius and greater velocity. This does not mean that the "potential" in the G11 is realized on a consistent basis due to the positioning of its sights and the added weight and he certainly did not say that longer barrels are automatically more accurate. I appreciate people like Danny who work hard to produce quality content such as this which I find absolutely entertaining. Don't be a jerk Merle and show your appreciation...