After wanting one for quite a while, I bought a walnut stock K31; picked it up at my FFL yesterday.
Naturally, first thing I did when I got home was to look up the serial number to get its year of manufacture.
Trouble is, it's a 1955 (all matching numbers - 2502XX) - but the Swiss stopped using walnut in 1943 (I think). To make matters more confusing, there was a manufacture date of '51 inside the buttstock. (ETA - this is the manufacture date of the stock)
My first instinct is to return it to the dealer for a refund, but my relationship with them has already soured some (don't ask), and I don't feel like paying return postage and probably a 15% restocking fee. Plus, the rifle is in really good shape compared to most pictures of K31s I've seen. It's a dark wood - looks more like walnut than beech, but it has the "fish scale" marks along the top & bottom of the stock that I've read is a sure sign it's beech. Plus - I've seen a few dark wood K31s for sale that say they're beech - evidently there's light beech and dark beech . . . .
Anyway, I figure I need to do something quickly if I expect to return it or get any kind of refund. At the very least, they sell their beech rifles for $30 less than their walnut; I suppose I could just ask for a $30 credit on my credit card, and accept the fact that I have a very nice beech rifle.
What would you do? Is there any chance this is actually a walnut stock? I've looked all over swissrifles.com and can't find any information. A reputable dealer should know better, though, don'tcha think? I kind of feel like I've been had.
Anyone very knowledgeable about Swiss K31s?
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Last edited by Aztex999 on Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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