Acquired a K31
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:53 am
First, a "thank you," to Titanium Hammer who pointed me at the Simpson Ltd. website. 
Excellent service from those good folks and fast shipping!
There is still a decent selection there, albeit mostly in beech stocks, which brings me to a swift kick in the ass for myself for not buying sooner. At the time I first looked (in May if I recall correctly) there were twice as many rifles listed, and of course the walnut stocked ones have sold first. Having made this shocking discovery, I picked out this 1934 while they still have walnut stocked rifles available.
The bluing was described as "70%" but I'd rate it slightly less. If full or nearly complete bluing is important to you, do not be put off by these pics, though you may be looking at a beech stock. One of the advantages of the Simpson site is that you get three expandable views of the rifles: both sides and top. I wanted a rifle more nearly of the era of the SCW, Winter War and World War II. The wear on the bluing of this rifle correlates directly with how this rifle was slung and carried by Oblt. Bona and predecessors.
This rifle came with both sling and muzzlecap, which is not always the case.
Final note: the buttstock is in unusually good condition. I suspect that this is because as an officer Bona did not have to stand in the ranks where most of the lower stock dents and dings occurred when the troops fell in. Reportedly they did this with rifles held at the hip at attention, but when put "at ease" the soldiers would hit the butt of the next man's rifle with their boots.
Excellent service from those good folks and fast shipping!There is still a decent selection there, albeit mostly in beech stocks, which brings me to a swift kick in the ass for myself for not buying sooner. At the time I first looked (in May if I recall correctly) there were twice as many rifles listed, and of course the walnut stocked ones have sold first. Having made this shocking discovery, I picked out this 1934 while they still have walnut stocked rifles available.
The bluing was described as "70%" but I'd rate it slightly less. If full or nearly complete bluing is important to you, do not be put off by these pics, though you may be looking at a beech stock. One of the advantages of the Simpson site is that you get three expandable views of the rifles: both sides and top. I wanted a rifle more nearly of the era of the SCW, Winter War and World War II. The wear on the bluing of this rifle correlates directly with how this rifle was slung and carried by Oblt. Bona and predecessors.
This rifle came with both sling and muzzlecap, which is not always the case.
Final note: the buttstock is in unusually good condition. I suspect that this is because as an officer Bona did not have to stand in the ranks where most of the lower stock dents and dings occurred when the troops fell in. Reportedly they did this with rifles held at the hip at attention, but when put "at ease" the soldiers would hit the butt of the next man's rifle with their boots.
I got one of the k11's from Simpsons a year ago when they had a 20% off sale. Good company they even sent a inkpen/borelight in the box. 
