Schmidt-Rubin vs K31 are they the same gun?

R

Rustle in the Bushes

New member
Im bracing for a flaming but i looked this up on wikipedia and am still confused. I see a couple schmidt-rubins for sale at a local gun store. I hear k31s are amazing. Are schmidt-rubins k31s? are k31s schmidt rubins? If so then why werent they called k31s?

:confused:
 
schmidt-rubins is the maker (ie, Ford)
K31 is the model (F150 truck)

schmidt-rubin made other rifles besides the K31, just as Ford made other trucks/cars.
 
The Schmidt Rubin straight pull came out in 1889 with updates and redesigns along the way. The K31 is pretty much the final development of Swiss straight pulls. Wiki says it is so far departed from the 1889, 1898, and 1911 guns as to no longer be considered a Schmidt Rubin, but that won't change popular nomenclature.

So you will see older Schmidt Rubins that are not K31s.
 
Nope. Neither is correct. The k31 means Karabiner 31 (Year of issue)

The Karabiner Modell 1931 was a fully new design by Waffenfabrik Bern under Colonel Furrer and the first 200 troop trial rifles were made May 1931

Rudolf Schmidt (1832-1898 ) had long since died by the time the K31 was introduced and Eduard Rubin (1846 - 1920) was the one that was responsible for ammunition designs like the GP11.
Typical rifle designs by Schmidt were the 1889 rifle and the 1889/96 with the newer 1896 action that we also find in the later 1911 series .

Latigo
 
Properly, only the earlier guns are technically Schmidt-Rubins. The K31 is closely enough related to them (simply the final refinement of the design) that they are commonly called Schmidt-Rubins as well. Kind of the same as the whole magazine vs. clip thing. FWIW, most people seem to think that the K31 is the best of the series though I've met an odd person here or there that likes the G11 or K11 better.
 
Yeah everyone seems to love their k31. Testimonies like these are slowly winning me over, I was originally going to buy an enfield.

Doesnt help that I have two k31s staring me down at the shop 10 minutes away from my house.

So these guns are schmidt rubin 1931s. Thats a k31, right? I think I get it.
What do you guys think, 500$ for one of these that seems to be in ok condition? Its sitting next to a mauser for $850
 
I hear k31s are amazing
Click to expand...

In comparison to other available mil-surplus out there, the K31 is in a different tier for accuracy and refinement. Once you break one down, the engineering aspects and fit/finish of the rifle really shows.
 
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What do you guys think, 500$ for one of these that seems to be in ok condition? Its sitting next to a mauser for $850
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Hopefully that's not in US$.

An ok/good condition K31 should be around $200 US.

Try Allan's Armory, there's several around $200.
 
I wouldn't pay $500 for one. It's an outstanding milsurp rifle and I'd highly recommend it, but there's no need to be dropping that kind of change for one. If you can't locate one in the $200-300 range, hold out until you can. Check J&G and Aim Surplus regularly.
 
Sorry, RIB. You didn't get it. A schmidt Rubin is not a k31. Read below or my post above.

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Nope. Neither is correct. The k31 means Karabiner 31 (Year of issue)

The Karabiner Modell 1931 was a fully new design by Waffenfabrik Bern under Colonel Furrer and the first 200 troop trial rifles were made May 1931

Rudolf Schmidt (1832-1898 ) had long since died by the time the K31 was introduced and Eduard Rubin (1846 - 1920) was the one that was responsible for ammunition designs like the GP11.
Typical rifle designs by Schmidt were the 1889 rifle and the 1889/96 with the newer 1896 action that we also find in the later 1911 series .

Latigo
 
zfk55 said:
Sorry, RIB. You didn't get it. A schmidt Rubin is not a k31. Read below or my post above.

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Nope. Neither is correct. The k31 means Karabiner 31 (Year of issue)

The Karabiner Modell 1931 was a fully new design by Waffenfabrik Bern under Colonel Furrer and the first 200 troop trial rifles were made May 1931

Rudolf Schmidt (1832-1898 ) had long since died by the time the K31 was introduced and Eduard Rubin (1846 - 1920) was the one that was responsible for ammunition designs like the GP11.
Typical rifle designs by Schmidt were the 1889 rifle and the 1889/96 with the newer 1896 action that we also find in the later 1911 series .
Click to expand...

+1

You well see many people refer to the K31 as a Schmidt-Rubin but it is not. Read the link zfk55 posted, it well break down the time line and different designs and names.

$500 is to much for the average K31, $250 is the average price I see today. Nicer furniture well bring a higher price.
 
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