Stock refinish job on my K31- My first try.

[Ole]

This is what the right side of my K31 looked like when I bought it last Monday:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/K31%20Swiss%20rifle/K31five.jpg

This is what it looks like after sanding, stain, and 4 coats of tung oil:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/K31%20Swiss%20rifle/K31eleven.jpg

Left side before:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/K31%20Swiss%20rifle/K31two.jpg

Left side after:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/K31%20Swiss%20rifle/K31ten.jpg

Close up of the most "f'ed up" part of the stock from before:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/K31%20Swiss%20rifle/K31closeup.jpg

After:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/K31%20Swiss%20rifle/K31twelve.jpg

It's not perfect and I'm not done with the tung oil, but I think it looks quite a bit better.

I just wanted to share. .

Matt

[462]

Good deal. You'll enjoy shooting it.

K-31 stocks do make for fun projects, don't they? With my two, I used a stripper to remove the old finishes, raised a few dings, smoothed them with 4-aught steel wool, then applied seven coats of tung oil.

[Herb in Pa]

Those 31's turn blonde in a hurry............

[excess650]

That's a beech stock, but definitely looks better after your work. I've not refinished any of mine (2 beech, 1 walnut), but may do the shortened stock on the cut down "carbine". I really don't like the orangish color that it presently is.

The real beauty in the K31s is shooting them. Most have excellent bores, and pretty decent triggers.

[Char-Gar]

Beech can be a problem child. Did you use any stains or dyes?

[Ole]

Beech can be a problem child. Did you use any stains or dyes?

I used Minwax brand stain that was "red oak" color.

It came out a little darker than I had hoped but I think it looks ok.

Shot it today for the first time and I'm pretty happy with how it shoots. :bigsmyl2:

[skeet1]

I have a Beach stocked K31 and like most of you I could not stand the rough stock on most of them including mine. I refinished mine and I know that a purest probably wouldn't like it But I do. Nice job Ole.

Skeet1

[gnoahhh]

Beech can get blotchy in places when oil is applied. One trick to lessen that is to use Minwax wood conditioner first, let dry, then oil.

[doctorxring]

.

Nice rifle. K31' are one of my favorite rifles. I've restored a few of them
as well. Shellac was the original finish used by the Swiss. It's a different
animal, but once you figure it out it is dead easy.

This beech stocked K31 looked pretty much like yours before being
restored by sanding and then shellac finish applied.


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/spooge2k31.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/spooge1k31.jpg






This is a walnut stocked K31 after restoration, shellac finish


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/doctorxring/Andrew-walnutK31redo-1.jpg

[nicholst55]

Beech can get blotchy in places when oil is applied. One trick to lessen that is to use Minwax wood conditioner first, let dry, then oil.

Several years ago I read a thread somewhere on stock refinishing, and the author recommended this product. I was a bit skeptical, but I tried it on the next stock I refinished. Now, I won't finish a stock without it!

Especially on 'hardwood' stocks like beech or birch, it is really, really worth the added expense and effort. I do all of my wood prep first ~ strip, sand, raise dents and dings, etc. Then apply the Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (http://www.minwax.com/products/preparation/oil_based_pre_stain_wood_conditioner.html), stain (if needed), and then apply the finish. I highly recommend it.

[JeffinNZ]

Oh how I want a K31. [sigh]

[Latigo]

I like that satin finish, Ole.
Nice job, Doc. Very professional. I use Tung Oil lot, but we have a few finished like a new car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/zfk3155/LHO001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/zfk3155/Cheekpad002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/zfk3155/k31dagger2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/zfk3155/Officersk31.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/zfk3155/315502.jpg

But I actually prefer a finish more like Ole's.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/zfk3155/K31Mount004.jpg

Latigo

[JIMinPHX]

That's it...keep tempting me...J&G is only 2 hours up the line from here. I kind of like Prescott anyway. All I need is one more little excuse & then I'll have to figure out what to sell to make room for the new toy in the collection.

Those are some very nice examples gentlemen.

[Boz330]

Oh how I want a K31. [sigh]

If you ever fire one Jeff you will really be hooked. Target grade triggers right out of the box. The first reloads with j-word bullets that I shot through mine was 3/4" with a guessed at load. My buddy's rifle shot the same load under 1/2". This was with the military sights and my 3 MOA eyes. They are pure magic. I haven't gotten those sort of results from cast yet, but got the NOE group buy mold, just need time to play with it. Somany projects so little time.

Bob

[HollowPoint]

You guys have converted these already good looking rifles into some awesome specimens.

When I got mine it had a fair amount of dings in the wood. I did refinish it but, if I got it to looking as good as you guys did I'd be afraid to take it out and possibly ding it up again.

Really nice work you've done.

HollowPoint