Well, I went for a long drive the other day to clear my thoughts and low and behold - I ended up at a nice gun shop. I like functional Milsurps, and had been toying the idea of picking up a Swiss K31. Well, they had some at this shop (they are getting harder to find) and so I walked out of there with a decent walnut stock K31 rifle and 400 rounds of 7.5x55. I love the straight-pull Mauser bolt and apparently these are tack-drivers even with dioptic sights. As mentioned, I got this at Wholesale in Langley and they have about 60 more in stock.
I haven't been able to get to the range because it is temporarily closed here in town due to a 3 day rock festival (Eminem is playing tonight) - but I have had time to go over the rifle and been considering how I am going to refurbish it to my liking. It is 70 years old, used by the military (whatever that consists of in Switzerland - at least you know it hasn't killed anyone) and it is showing. I'm definitely going to be removing the stock, stripping it, bleaching it, steaming out the dents that I can, and then either staining it or perhaps I will try some Cerakote. The metal will more than likely get Cerakoted - not sure if I will stay with black or go with a stainless look.
I have a bayonet and a clip-on Optics mount coming in the mail for the rifle. Mounting regular optics isn't that easy as it is a top-eject, so the scope will be slightly mounted to the side. I may add a muzzle break, depending on the kick.
I have also volunteered my time to help a good friend of mine restore a couple of his guns. He had a flood in his basement and then simply brought his guns upstairs. Well, they all have some slight surface rust now and seeing as how he is the Godfather to my children, and he lets me use his shop to work on my car for free, it was the least I could do to offer to restore a few items for him.
So I have a Winchester Defender with pistol grip that has some rusting on the barrel and a little on the mag tube that I am going to strip, clean and Cerakote. I'm not sure if I want to stay with black grips and an aluminum receiver/barrels or black receiver and dark red red grips - I will think about that a bit more. I am going to add an ATI folding pistol grip, possibly a Magpul front grip (I like their looks, though the ribbed stock is nice too), possibly a heat shield if I can find one, and I have been half considering a front pistol grip pump pull - though I cannot find many options up here and have not found anyone that has any feedback on them. Anyone tried one?
Also, he gave me an older Savage 24 O/U with .22LR on top and a .410 below. Even though there is rust and the barrels were dirty, I took it to the range to see how she shot and it was a fun little gun - something I have been considering buying for my wife. You can't feel anything when you shoot the .22, and there is very minimal kick on the .410 - this is an excellent gun for youths/beginners.
Anyways, this gun is certainly in need of some TLC. All the original bluing is showing rust through it on the original metal, there is rust inside the receiver and the cheap wood stock is banged up pretty good. I know I am going to sand, steam, and then Cerakote the stock Smith and Wesson Red and then I may go with either a traditional bluing colour or stainless look for the barrels and receiver. I'm going to think about that for a bit.
Looking forward to how these two turn out and I hope that my friend likes it when I'm done - he's given me free reign on what I can do. Be careful when you offer that!