A Sneaky Swiss Sniper for Israel: the ZK-31

[@nyf3ninj4]

Ah yes, weapon shipments "mysteriously" disappearing close to the country interested in them... a tale as old as time. Great work on this one Ian!

[@KickyFut]

Textbook example of plausible deniability... Just can't be in the textbooks!😅

[@Madrider1024]

So… sort of Operation Plumbat 😂

[@-R-o-k]

Switzerland should finally send some weapons to Ukraine... I mean "Nicaragua".

[@すどにむ]

For a "surface-to-air sports shooting competition" held in "unnamed European country"

[@Matt-xc6sp]

If I had a nickel for every time Nicaragua was involved in a sketchy deal to get arms where they shouldn’t be I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

[@joshuabogart1]

Nicaragua has been linked dozens of times on guerrilla groups in Central and South America getting prohibited arms.

[@johnmockingyou7547]

Oh we use Shekels 😇 but aren't above using Contra deals 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 to get what we need to survive 😏

[@LOVEMUFFIN_official]

Don’t think you can slip a Dr. Doofenschmirtz reference past me…

[@Matt-xc6sp]

@@LOVEMUFFIN_official Finally, Ollie North has brought me the money to finish my Destroy-Communism-Inator - Reagan

[@afnDavid]

@@Matt-xc6sp Ollie along with 4 of his recruits had been useing Argentina as a trans-shipment point to get the arms into Nicaragua.

[@anthonyburke5656]

I’ve got a boating accident story for you. I was in Special Forces, all of us were trained scuba divers, but some specialised in the discipline. I had a good friend that was one of the specialised divers and also dived recreationally. We were scouting out a large area for a proposed multi-national exercise. Adjacent to the area was a large coral reef, my friend went diving for 3 days in the middle of our scouting (we fudged some down time in the month we were there). He came back from the diving ecstatic about the dive and had great pics. A week later he started complaining about head aches. We finished the job and returned to our base. Over the next 5 to 6 weeks my mate continued to complain about headaches, then started to complain about a stiff neck. Everyone pricked up their ears at the stiff neck complaint, we were all trained Combat Medics, with a lot of training and special emphasis on diseases of the 3rd world, alarm bells went of at the stiff neck and without pause we all insisted he go to the Base Hospital. It wasn’t what we suspected, the doctors examination detected something about his neck, they X-Rayed and found a 9 mm slug sitting on his spine at the neck, they put him under and removed the slug. After he recovered, he recalled, on the diving trip after they finished the last dive, he stripped off his gear in the boat, including his “Bang-Stick” (a tube with a cartridge (in his case a 9mm cartridge) screwed into it and a spring loaded firing pin, to use if attacked by a shark), the Bang-Stick somehow went off while rolling around in the bottom of the boat and un-noticed by him, hit him in the neck. Apparently he “wrote off” the blood and small “sore” on his neck, he thought it was chaffing from sand in the collar of his wet suit. If the slug had hit him 5 mm to the right, at best he would have been a quadriplegic.

[@todorkolev7565]

some men are built different

[@Grubnar]

Israel: "Hello, I see you have some nice rifles there, I would like to buy them, I am desperate!" Swiss: "Sorry, no can do ... for legal reasons!" Israel: "My my, that is a lot of gold you have there in your banks, I wonder where it came from." Swiss: "Let me see if I can find some scopes for your new rifles, my friend!"

[@johnmockingyou7547]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 You made my day 👍🏻

[@davidcox3076]

A guilt trip to make a Jewish mother proud.

[@zackp8201]

lolll

[@williestyle35]

Swiss : "ja, ja, we don't talk about _that_ gold" World Jewish Congress : "My my, that is a lot of gold you have there in your banks, I wonder where it came from?" $wiss Banks : "We will offer a settlement..." (eventually ; after a "whistleblower" gives incriminating information and a lawsuit progresses, two "commissions" disclose "bad banking practices" = $ 1. 28 billion dollars distributed to Holocaust Survivors, then *Humanitarian Fund for the Victims of the Holocaust* is established. [Swiss banks and facilities today still hold "looted" assets, valuables, and art, that they can not find the proper inheritors for due to banking and insurance records being incomplete or "destroyed"].).

[@piushalg8175]

@@williestyle35 We Swiss would say: Clean your own doorsteps first. Or look what is beneath your rug. I think there is plenty of shit.

[@witchywoman165]

I have 4 swiss rifles and never knew that the IDF used them for sniping until now, very cool!

[@TheRogueWolf]

Smoothbrain: "The merchandise fell off the truck." Galaxy brain: "The boat fell in the water."

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

Oooops! 🤪

[@alimanski7941]

So, this is really, really obscure. It doesn't show up anywhere I looked as a weapon used in the Israeli War of Independence. More might turn up, since the Israeli National Archives are slowly (well, actually quickly) scanning their entire collection and uploading it online. Some of the yet to be scanned documents are titled - "Procurement - Switzerland" and are dated 1949. I also found documents about trade between Israel and Switzerland as early as 1949, but they discuss textiles, paper and clockworks. There are other documents though, for example about arms procurement from Czechoslovakia, but that's a bit more public knowledge.

[@alimanski7941]

@@gordonhuskin7337 no, no, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. You on the other hand, not so sure.

[@johnmockingyou7547]

@@gordonhuskin7337 Nakba? 😏 Oh yeah that one fight started & lost by the so-called descendents of the original inhabitants of the Land known as Canaan in our Religious Text before we Orange Juice renamed it Israel, Judah & blah blah blah 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Palis can go back to Camel Land of their forefathers 🤪

[@alimanski7941]

@@tomhenry897 Possibly, yeah. Hebrew Wikipedia, admittedly a low quality source, lists the following rifles as used during the war: Lee-Enfield, M1 Garand, Mauser K98, Lebel Mle. 1886, M1 Carbine, Carcano (long/short), Mannlicher M1888 / M1895, and Ross. I have absolutely no idea how many of each, but I believe the most ubiquitous were the Mausers, nicknamed "The Czech rifle", and probably left over Lee Enfield from the British rule.

[@madkoala2130]

@@alimanski7941 oh, god. That must be logistical nightmare to get right ammo for each gun.

[@Forster1973]

@@alimanski7941 Perfectly accurate! In addition, at that time, the Mauser 98K with the German hallmark (eagle and swastika) were common in Israel. Little irony of History …

[@odedmartial-arts1455]

IDF optics and night-vision instruments have their own serial number (unrelated to the number of firearm). The scope is, therefore numbered on the bottom and then matched to a rifle and numbered again to indicate the rifle it was zeroed to. Today, at least as far as I know, scopes are not marked or numbered to a particular rifle.

[@arikrupnik]

This particular scope marking says "רובה 114", literally "Rifle 114."

[@jacknelson8601]

I've been amazed at just how accurate the Mosin Nagant, Swedish M-96/38 and Swiss M-1911 and K-31s can be.

[@8StringKeith]

The coolest thing Ian covered was that this Swiss rifle was the only Swiss firearm which was used in active combat 😎🤙

[@lancerevell5979]

I love the Swiss K31 rifle. Mine is a common example, but is very accurate. I have put a scope mount on it, but the offset takes some getting used to. I have carried it hunting but never lucked into bagging game with it. The surplus GP11 7.5X55 ammo is virtually match grade compared to our issue 7.62X51. I have handloaded for it by reforming a different caliber brass. I have nearly, but not quite equalled the performance of the GP11. All in all, an excellent rifle. I can well understand why the Israelies would use it as a sniper rifle.

[@bobwampler3387]

100% agree. I have one as well. Mine is just irons, but really an amazing shooter.

[@andrewtetz2198]

I have a standard K31 and two of the older variants an 1896/11 and the slightly more modern G11 all three are very accurate but I prefer the older models the longer length of pull makes them a bit more comfortable to shoulder even though they are undeniably less wieldy, they are all beautifully made rifles simply hard to beat.

[@j.granger1120]

The Swiss just needed an end user certificate. Somebody in a Nicaraguan Conslolate may got his hand greased.

[@sevse23]

The Swiss and the Swedish were notoriously absent from the early arms export limitations agreements (CoCom), which issued the early forms of EUC.

[@ynotdeviltry5968]

A good 3\4 of the enjoyment I get from Ian's videos is the stories behind each gun he shows. The other1\4 is the technical marvel (or lack of!) that goes into the engineering.

[@edhalson3154]

Absolutely fascinating! I don't know which is more interesting...the rifle or the fact that you have the Kahles scope "in white" to compare to the other models that look "used"! Can't be many around like that. Excellent video as always. Thanks Gun Jesus!

[@RedXlV]

I'm pretty sure the legal issue for Switzerland wasn't specifically that it was Israel, but that Israel was fighting a war. Swiss law to this day forbids selling weapons to combatant nations. Nicaragua wasn't fighting any wars in 1949, so it was legal to sell them rifles. And as for scrubbing the markings? I would imagine that's not so much out of any silly attempt to hide that it's a Swiss rifle, but so that it'd be harder to identify who smuggled the rifle.

[@johnmockingyou7547]

Yeah, they take their Neutrality Stance very $€riou$ly 😅

[@KossoffFan]

How the hell have they been selling to us then?

[@ralfdiehl4677]

Amazing simple and accurate scope mount.

[@jeromethiel4323]

LOL! I actually know a few duck hunters who have had legitimate "boating accidents." As in they capsized their canoe, and "lost" their shotguns. Both of them went diving and got their shotguns back. You don't just let expensive Italian shotguns sit at the bottom of a lake. LOL! ^-^

[@MrPh30]

Kahles is Austrian scope . Still made today . They were making ordinary scopes when Zeiss were making prismatic scope sights very early on.

[@JoramTriesGaming]

And here I thought he was a Klingon

[@vikrammedina898]

no idea about how things were done then, but today in the IDF the scope would have it's own serial number, independent of the rifle, the mount may or may not be matched to the scope

[@johnmockingyou7547]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 back then in the do or die days 😏 anything we can throw at our would be murderers were good to go! 🤪

[@israelbrill252]

Interesting. But you can clearly see on the scope - רובה 114 , roveh 114 which I guess means - this scope belongs to rifle 114

[@vikrammedina898]

@@israelbrill252, right, but the mount has a totally unrelated number

[@williamk1060]

I know in the US military the optic (ie a ACOG RCO) would have its own serial number that's unrelated to the rifle. The user would sign for both the rifle serial# and the optic serial#, as well as the PEQ15 serial#. However, on this, the 3 digit number does suggest that the scope is matched to the rifle, and as Israelbrill mentioned, רובה means "rifle" in hebrew (according to google translate). As for the mount, I have no idea what that number could mean, unless the mount is made separately and has its own manufacture serial for QC purposes, I'd assume the mount would never leave the optic in service and is probably not serialized in the armory.

[@samy7013]

@@johnmockingyou7547 : You’re projecting so hard, dude.

[@ChiefMac59]

I bought one of the Brno Czech built Mausers that were imported into Israel in 1948 and later factory rechambered into .308 in the early 60s. They were issued to training units and the Home Guard. I trained on one in the early 1970s

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

Brno mausers are good rifles, I've got one myself but it's in the original 8mm Mauser. It's a Russian capture though, with a hodgepodge of parts from throughout the war.

[@davidcox3076]

@@ragingjaguarknight86 You've got to wonder how many Soviet "Frankenmausers" are still floating around out there.

[@colhunt76]

Fascinating! I was unaware these existed. My father, however, has a K98 that's chambered in .30-06 and covered in Hebrew markings. I've always wondered at the story behind it.

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

I think either Sweden or Norway rechambered their kar98ks in 30.06. But if yours is Israeli marked, it might be a custom gunsmith job, since they were either built in 7.62 NATO or converted to it.

[@Glaaki13]

so a terrorist weapon

[@georgewhitworth9742]

@@Glaaki13Thats a lot of copeium

[@samy7013]

@@Glaaki13 : Yup, that’s exactly right. 👍

[@williestyle35]

Another commenter mentioned something about this. The nascent Israeli state "inherited" a bunch of German Mausers - K98 and K98 k rifles at the beginning of their fight for Independence (as well as a whole smorgasbord of other rifles and weapons, in a wide array of calibers). After the Israeli nation was founded they purchased FN FAL rifles in the then standard NATO 7. 62 × 51 caliber, then rebarrelled the K98's to match that caliber for logistical reasons. Maybe your father's K98 was "given" to the Israelis from some Ally nation, before they converted all the rifles they were able to, or it was pulled from service before that conversion.

[@oldmanSturzl]

The scope needed to be offset not only for charging clips but also ejection. Just as the zfk55 accomplished with canting the magazine, ejector, and cutout in the top of the receiver 11° clockwise in relationship to the rest of the action.

[@Obsolecent_Weapons]

In my experience the offset really isn’t required for ejection for most scopes. I’ve got a K31 with an a direct 180 degree mount using the volley sight mount as a base for a pic rail. The brass makes contact with the scope 60ish% of the time but it never has failed to eject or caused a failure

[@aftershock2222]

I always wondered if Swiss straight pull rifles were ever actually used in combat. Now I know. Thanks!

[@Darryl1963D]

Really great info that I never knew. Respect from Australia

[@devinmolyn2458]

I like the scope mount I bought for my 96/11 because there was no modification to the rifle involved. All I had to do was replace the screws for the magazine plate and it bolted on perfectly.

[@2fwelding842]

The first modern use of "I lost my guns in a boating accident"

[@johnmockingyou7547]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 👍🏻

[@andrewstoll4548]

Sorry but losing my gun in a boating accident will never get old.

[@DaveFL5656]

My K31 is dead accurate. Even with iron sights banging a 8” plate is easy at 200 yards. The level of fit in these rifles is superb in my opinion.

[@justinjones9042]

I really can appreciate that scope mount clever , simple and functional.

[@aninterestingtitle7581]

Too bad that you don’t know the full story of how they got to Israel. It sounds like quite the adventure and the story behind the gun is always my favourite part of the video

[@christophergreen2892]

I doubt the boat sank for just 200 rifles. I wonder what else was "going to Nicaragua."

[@williestyle35]

The story Ian provided is a good primer on how these rifles got to Israel...

[@andrewruch4806]

First, thanks Ian for all the hard work for our entertainment.

[@Oven-Operator]

A gift from the Swiss branch of the Kosher Nostra.

[@Smokey_Cornbread]

Sounds like what would be the case with FALs in Rhodesia

[@AshleyPomeroy]

I remember reading that many years later Israel wanted a special version of the Dassault Mirage, but there was an embargo at the time and the French said "no". At which point Dassault managed to mislay the blueprints and also a bunch of knock-down kits, which coincidentally ended up in Israel shortly afterwards.

[@arifeldman6365]

This led to the IAI Nesher, an Israeli-built Mirage V clone that was ironically later sold to Argentina in the late 1970s and used to good effect against the Royal Navy in the 1982 Falklands war.

[@williamk1060]

I wonder if the contract included the price of the rifles + shipping + the cost of the boat that sank. Or maybe it was an old vessel that someone would have had to pay to decommission and scrap anyways.

[@sergiom9958]

Great video! A truly interesting case!

[@ricardodavidson3813]

This is an interesting scope mount, but it would only be really accurate if (a) the pins (and holes) are slightly conical, otherwise the clearance necessary to fit the scope becomes an uncertainty or (b) the clamping action can brings the two sloped surfaces on the mount tight against the cylindrical receiver. Even then there would be a small uncertainty due to the short track of the mating surfaces. Tricky business mounting scopes so that they can be removed for safe carriage and put back on without losing zero (at least not much...). Presumably this is in 7.5 mm Swiss? Were there any more weapons on the ship "bound" for Nicaragua?

[@dyingearth]

You fight with the army you have, not the one you wish you have.

[@williamhewitt476]

What a beautiful rifle.

[@lorddestructive]

i wonder how many shipments there were that "sadly got stolen"

[@jorgemilian9242]

Dr. Ruth Westheimer was an Israeli sniper .

[@dwayneelizondomountaindewh6073]

that's a nifty mount.

[@8StringKeith]

I have a Model 1936 Mexican Mauser with scrubbed marks with an ATF serial number. I’ve purchased it legally and from what I’ve been told is that this rifle was part of a batch of rifles, in the early 1970’s, which were destined for the USA market. The story I’ve heard was that the Mexicans wanted to cover themselves, by scrubbing the markings, just in case some of these rifles grew a pair of legs and walked into the Guatemalan Civil War. The same idea would probably apply to the Israeli War for Independence. 🇮🇱 ➕ 💵 🟰 🇨🇭 with no markings along with plausible deniability. 🤔

[@jacobishii6121]

Relatively common stuff south of the US border.I had a buddy years back that was an archeologist and was asked to look over the site of an old town that was "abandoned" in south or central America.The unofficial rumor was that the nations govt massacred the village back in the 70s-80s.One thing he found was piles of 5.56 casings traced back to Israeli purchase and turns out Israel needed something or a service that govt could provide and that govt needed ammo

[@8StringKeith]

@@jacobishii6121 , I’m not surprised one bit. I live on the Texas border with Mexico and there are lots of “abandoned” settlements, south of the border” filled with all sorts of sordid stories 🤯

[@notyou6950]

I had a Belgian mouser outfitted with a 308 barrel with Israel markings completely shot out. Had to re barrel it to get anything decent out of the gun. The action must have been in 8x57 originally. My best guess.

[@KossoffFan]

That scope mount is fucking brilliant.

[@duanetrivett750]

Beautifully simple optics hook ups .

[@royliber3824]

As an Israeli myself which studied about wars in my country, never really know about this rifle. I like to study about our historical wars, and theres always mentioning about weapons from Czech,France, US and many more but can't remember i've heard of the ZK-31 being used by Israeli armed forces. Learn something new everyday.

[@Aluttuh]

"Your country"

[@royliber3824]

@@Aluttuh Yes. It is a country after all like it or not. Problem?

[@johnmockingyou7547]

​@@royliber3824good one, brother 🖖🏻

[@Aluttuh]

@@royliber3824 and im glad you have a place to live, but your people declined several other lands which were not occupied by people who have been there for thousands of years for a reason. Very questionable considering the demographics at the time and how jews denouce jesus. Even rabbis denounce isreal after realizing the truth of its creation. (Which is hard to believe when you’re told you’re the chosen people from birth) what do you think about AIPAC and other NGOs opening the border to european countries while isreal is staunchly anti multicultural/anti immigration? Also what do you think the long term effects of this would be? Are you aware this is taught by oral law?

[@royliber3824]

@@Aluttuh I'm not the religious type that claims I have the right to live here because I was "chosen by God". But if you're mentioning it, there's a major Muslim population here that lives inside Israel before it's birth that live under Israeli authority with all the rights they could have, so saying this country is "anti multicultural" is a very invalid statement. So let's at least get that out of the way. Second thing, Palestinians that also claim the land to it for the exact same reason as us. And it there were no Jews living in here why there are a lot of Hebrew writing literally everywhere alongside English and Arabic? I'm talking prior to British Mandate times. Here's another fact. They declined every peace offered to them both by the Jewish state and by the rest of the world pretty much. If you "loose" land over war you started, no way to claim it back. I do believe two states can live here together I fully agree on that. And yeah, I agree there are aggressors on both side but no factually with no religious beliefs there's no reason from denying Jews to have a state in here. Also... I see numerous times where Jews are blamed to visit Al Aqsa for religious regions that no Jews should be allowed there but Christians and Muslims are allowed to go to the Western Wall so I'm not sure whose more "apartheid" here.

[@whyjay9959]

What was a ship bound for Central America doing near Egypt? I guess we'll never know.

[@nonddd9222]

"who us? we are just Nicaraguans, sailing to Nicaraguay! Haul Anchor!" *Hot jazz music starts

[@SNOUPS4]

5:59 rather 60351 than 60361

[@eksbocks9438]

It makes sense as to why the Swiss used a "Beer Keg" charging handle. So beginners will know that it's meant to be pulled. Instead of turned like a regular bolt action.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@bulukacarlos4751]

Great video, great story, and that scope mount is a masterpiece. A question, the caliber is 7.5x55? Greetings from Argentine Patagonia.

[@Madrider1024]

The original caliber for K31 is 7.5x55 and I don’t think they changed anything here

[@saltyroe3179]

Are any of the Thompson sub machine guns that Golda Meyier bought known to exist?

[@sevse23]

in 1948 Thompsons were used by both Arabs and Jews, although I have no idea where they have been procured, probably WW2 surplus.

[@coreydarr8464]

Thank you, very interesting!

[@314299]

Still chambered for 7.5 Swiss? I don't think the caliber was mentioned. Be an odd caliber for Israel.

[@johnmockingyou7547]

Wait till you see the Frankenstein Me-109s from Soviet Czechoslovakia 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 beat the crap outta Brits & Egyptian $pitfire$ 😏 alas at great costs to our flyboys 😢

[@poppasquat8483]

in 1949, there is no such thing as an "odd caliber" for Israel, because everything was odd! They used anything they could get their hands on, 8x57/.303/8x33/.30-06 etc

[@Matt-xc6sp]

@@poppasquat8483Post WWII Israel is like going and doing the side quests after you upgraded all your weapons during the main game.

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

Others from this 'Nicuaraguan' shipment have been listed at auction as 7.5mm.

[@beargillium2369]

​@@Matt-xc6spthere was no Israel before ww2... Israel became a country in 1948

[@haowang3462]

5:52 it's easier to read from the footage that the second "6" is actually a "5", so it's 60351, but it doesn't really change anything, probably too hard to read without magnification.

[@rustyknifelover4463]

Great set-up

[@BenzionMenashe]

Always nice to see historical guns from my countries history 😁

[@aharonsidorov5145]

4:40 Some level of plausible legal deniability.

[@Tekdruid]

"So you guys sold a bunch of K-31 snipers to Israel?" "What? *NO.* We sold them to Nicaragua and they all mysteriously disappeared on the high seas. Very tragic." "So what about this K-31 sniper that clearly came from Israel and has very distinct IDF proof marks on it?" "Could've be made by anybody." "But you're the only factory in the world that even _makes_ K-31:s!" "Are we tho?"

[@menachem2521]

I love how the Wikipedia page for the K31 references this video for Israels usage of the rifle.

[@mamamamamamammamammammamamama]

なにこの格好いい銃。。。ボルト周りがやばいい。

[@sofsme5863]

were this chambered for the Swiss GP11 (7.5x55mm)?

[@justinjones9042]

I didn't know they fielded the k31 . That's interesting

[@jamesfisher9594]

What clambering are these in?

[@joec7275]

I believe that this exact thing happens to this day to get arms where needed on the hush, hush.

[@normanmccollum6082]

8:42 This is the FIRST instance that I have heard a distinction between 'stripper clip' and 'charger clip.' I have known of both for years but basically presumed that 'charger' is more British while 'stripper clip' is more American/Canadian. Don't know where Australia and New Zealand are on the matter. If Ian, or anyone else with a view on the subject, sees this message, then I welcome you to reply :) I have been functioning on the view that stripper/charger clip are both the exact same concept.

[@justshootingYT]

Schmidt-Rubin (1898, 1911) and K31 rifles can be fed from a clip made of cardboard and metal that holds 6 cartridges. They work great but became quite expensive

[@normanmccollum6082]

@@justshootingYT I am aware of what the 7.5x55 Swiss rifles used as clips, very odd. But in the end, they still perform the same basic task. I do not know what, if any, distinction exists between clip and charger. To me, for years, they have been different words for the exact same precise thing.

[@justshootingYT]

@@normanmccollum6082 these used in Swiss rifles hold rounds enclosed in them instead just holding rounds by the rim

[@andrewtetz2198]

From my own experience the terms are used interchangeably with perhaps some influence from what country they are in, I personally use clips for my Swiss rifles that I 3D printed, they take a little tweaking but work well and are reasonably durable.

[@normanmccollum6082]

@@justshootingYT I do not believe that makes any difference.

[@felixtheswiss]

Ooh local gun, Hämmerli was producing nearby.

[@bacarnal]

Were they still in 7.5x55 Swiss? I gather they were, but there is no confirmation.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes

[@bukwok]

im not a gun guy, about the scope ,the cross mark actual paint on the lens ,so when you adjust the scope , is the lens moving or whole thing moving ..?

[@niclbicl]

very nice video, and sneaky isrealis with disappearing swiss guns

[@snobear41]

Ian, you never mentioned the rifles caliber? (or did i just miss it?)

[@williestyle35]

Standard 7.5 × 55 mm Swiss

[@christophercripps7639]

Not exactly the best “plausible deniability” scheme ever. I suppose the “story” could’ve been the shipment was going to the a Pacific West coast port in Nicaragua. A Kar 98K based rifle would’ve been far more “sterile” as 100,000s formerly in German, Czech, and Polish service existed but perhaps under lock & key or rusting away in Allied hands or GI duffle bags.

[@williamk1060]

It was probably good enough. I imagine the international authorities didn't care enough to forensically prosecute the originating arms dealer if their markings weren't plainly on the rifle. It's enough deniability to allow the authorities to shrug their shoulders and focus on things they're more interested in.

[@christophercripps7639]

@@williamk1060 200 rifles aren’t exactly the stuff that will guarantee one side prevails. And when various superpowers are backing sides even nuclear tech flows. France flip-flopped in the Middle East first selling armaments to one side (weapons to convert M4 tanks to “Super Shermans” and howitzers) and then embargoing that side. During the Spanish civil war there was supposed to be an embargo but England & France did little to stop Italy & Germany and Soviet Russia sold arms (much of it obsolescence or former German WW I) to Republican Spain. Embargos only work if enforced & the target isn’t able to build up its own arms industry, e.g., Israeli, Rep. South Africa, etc. Even during the Spanish civil war both sides developed domestic capability; my reading of the Spanish Civil war is Franco & co. focused early on in capturing domestic arms capability. Some of the earlier objectives like Toledo & Oviedo and now Eskadi (Basque territory) were centers of ammunition & firearms production.

[@alexandermole3260]

Have you heard of any k31 that were converted to 308 and sold commercially?

[@RedXlV]

Apparently, a few surplus K31s were converted by SIG to .308 for use in international shooting competitions. I'm sure it's been done from time to time otherwise, both in Switzerland and the United States. For any such American conversions, unless you can be sure it was done by a competent gunsmith I'd say pass.

[@alexandermole3260]

@@RedXlV I have one I bought years ago that shoots good. I just wasn't sure if it was done as a passion project, or professional conversation. I can't remember what the barrel markings are off the top of my head, but I thought at the time it was a notable company

[@bruceinoz8002]

Feasible and, IF done properly; practical. Set the barrel back 7 or 8 millimetres for a start. This will take some of the "fat-end of the chamber away to closer suit the 7.62 NATO / .308 Win chamber. Extractoion / ejection? This is where it gets "interesting. the bolf-cae is bigger than "standard" the extractor is set up to work with the larger head diameter. HOWEVER, is is possible to adjust the depth of engagement, with a the skilled and judicious application of the appropriate tools. When I first got my K-11, there was NO "proper" ammo anywhere to be seen. Cheap (ish) and cheerful solution at the time: reform some of my .284 Win brass;. Though a bit short, the rear body diameter is perfect, the "standard-sized "head is a bit of a reliability issue. I could have used 6.5 Swede brass, if there had been any of that on the shelves, too. Nowadays there are at least two sources of "proper" 7.5 Swiss brass on most markets, and a plethora of slick bullets to use.. Just be aware that the throating for GP-11 in a K-31 is "special". because the GP-11 bullet is "special". Look for bullets that have a Secant ogive. Look up the drawings; VERY Swiss.

[@alexandermole3260]

@@bruceinoz8002 thanks for the reply and the extra info. I got mine over 10 years ago. It was so cheap I could say no, especially with the condition. I'll have to go and look everything over and maybe take it out for a bit of shooting also.

[@tiortedrootsky]

It looks like the scope points up, when its supposed to point down... Is it an optical illusion or something?

[@pillscottvt6628]

$10k for the Swiss domestic sniper last time I saw one

[@johnmockingyou7547]

😱 & I thought Rolex is already bloody expensive! 😅

[@woutergijs5246]

A real sniper version I suppose , with the angled action.

[@hjagger]

There are couple of the original snipers for sale in Australia start around $12k.

[@lorenzosavioli9023]

Thanks for a very interesting video. Are these in GP11 ( 7.5x55)?

[@williestyle35]

Yes

[@cmdrx5099]

Wonderful

[@randynovick7972]

Nevermind the chargers, the K31 ejects up and over your head... and down the back of your pants... to offer "inspiration".

[@phileas007]

mine usually spits em forwards

[@woutergijs5246]

@@phileas007same same with mine

[@Madrider1024]

If you shoot prone and use the right amount of force to pull the charging handle the ejected brass lands just above your ass with Swiss accuracy 😂

[@Haaraff]

It always ejects to the front if the rifle remains shouldered during reloading.

[@moshehershcu2342]

The word above the number 114 on the scope says "rifle" in hebrew.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Those Swiss lads can be a bit sneaky.....

[@jimservu]

Were these in 7.5 Swiss? Or 7.92 Mauser?

[@discerningscoundrel3055]

They won't have been in 7.62 NATO as it hadn't been adopted yet. One would assume 7.5 Swiss.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

7.5 Swiss

[@mikemcghin5394]

A Swiss gun that has seen battle OMFNG

[@lucariolps277]

Quite a few Swiss guns end up seeing war. Just. Not with Switzerland. The vetterli saw Service with italy, and original vetterli rifles got shipped to Finnland and the vetterli were also used in the US mining strikes. Some of our anti tank guns saw Service with italy during ww2, the stgw 57 got sold to plenty of south American countries where it saw war as well i belive. The stgw 90 got addopted by police in a few places.. Not quite combat but.. Still, seeing Service.

[@mikemcghin5394]

@@lucariolps277 I was referring to your straight pull rifles as far as I can find on user for those are Switzerland and the pope Swiss guards and now Israel

[@Sinnistering]

A hint of plausible deniability goes a long way in dragging out court cases.

[@Rigolivier]

Did these K31 use the GP11? Because that would have been a difficulty too for Israël to find them, wouldn’it?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes, and yes.

[@erich623]

What happened to the contract with Nicaragua?

[@davewolfy2906]

Stupid question time - have you done a video on the USN 1.1 inch AA weapon from WW2?

[@cosmicmousse]

It'd be neat if there was a service where people with mismatched firearms could get together and see if the parts that match their firearms still exist. I know they don't need to be matching to work, but as a collector it'd be good to have.

[@jaycarter4904]

There is a dude in Canada that does that for No4T sniper rifles.

[@notindian07]

Been waiting on a k-31 video 😂

[@Mike-tg7gu]

Hi Ian, I have a scope made by Wild Heerbrugg of Switzerland that looks very similar to the one on your rifle. It’s 4x and the reticule is exactly the same, I can’t find any information about the scope and was wondering if you could help me. Kindest regards Mike

[@BeastHunterSam]

I have a rough K31.... Itd be interesting to clone this

[@aaron6178]

The H likely stands for Helvetii.

[@johnmockingyou7547]

Nah, probably Hitler 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Helvetii too archaic 😏 might as well $ for $wi$$ 🤪

[@yochaiwyss3843]

@@johnmockingyou7547 Someone didn't hear about Confoederatio Helvetica...

[@johnmockingyou7547]

@@yochaiwyss3843 yeah those poor barbarian tribes snashed by Rome in the days of yore 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@yochaiwyss3843]

@@johnmockingyou7547 ... It's on the coins, man en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_Swiss_franc

[@LittleRabbit1138]

Switzerland made the sexiest wood and steel rifles

[@SavageShooter93]

The fact that the guns are totally "sanitized" is even more suspicious and proves shady dealings. If a company was totally "innocent" of selling arms to a country that they shouldn't be or just don't want to be connected with publicly having fully marked and legitimate looking guns is more deniable than a "sanitized" gun.

[@andreasebner2209]

Cool but not the best solution, with the scope on the left side. Have a similar system

[@Yeeoldman63]

If it’s possible you guys got to do a video on the Russian PP-91 Kedir PDW

[@williestyle35]

Ooo, that would be a good video! Do you know where Ian could find one to examine?

[@Yeeoldman63]

@@williestyle35 either in a gun museum in Russia or a private collection. Those would be my best guess.

[@williestyle35]

@@Yeeoldman63 as an American citizen, Ian can only find the PP - 91 in a reference collection or a "private collection", because he won't be allowed to travel to Russia. Have a Merry Christmas 🎄

[@Yeeoldman63]

@@williestyle35 yeah I wish that It could be possible to make civilian version of some of the post Soviet weapons like the PP-91 or 9A-91 rifle in semi automatic. For the us civilian market. I like a lot of European weapons especially Cold War and early modern weapons and the Russians made alot of cool weapons in the 90s-00s and there rare outside of Russia. Like if some company here can make reproductions on them for the civilian market and people can convert them legally to a mg.

[@williestyle35]

@@Yeeoldman63 there is no legitimate legal way to convert anything to a *machine gun* for the "civilian market" - unfortunately that ship sailed away when the registry was closed. Even more unfortunate that Russia is closed to exporting any weapons here, or even trading technical data and schematics to build any of their innovative and "weird whacky stuff" designed from the Cold War ™ (good yt channel, btw). Soviet and Russian small arms can be fascinating - but they chose to be pariahs by invading another sovereign nation, so not much we will be seeing of their more exotic weapons here. Though you never know what some free spirited engineer will be able to copy. (;

[@titanplatine]

just a slight typo in the description "its war of independence " not "was" but great content as always !

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Fixed it, thanks.

[@johnmockingyou7547]

Oooooo that's one helluva fine specimen 😍

[@itsapittie]

Were these chambered in the standard 7.5x55 caliber? Since you didn't mention the caliber, I assumed they were in the standard caliber but since they were a special order, the Israelis could have had them chambered in something else to simplify logistics.

[@justshootingYT]

7,5x55

[@starkparker16]

Stanley Kubrick's scope

[@arielfeldberg4770]

Hello Ian, 5:10 says rifle 114 no scope (I'm an Israeli) 😁