New K31 Troop Tag!

[Capybara]

Just picked up my first K31 from Calgunner Swisswaffen. Took it home, moisturized the dry stock with some Howard Feed'N'Wax, held my breath and took off the butt plate. Lo and behold, troop tag intact, how cool. Anyone know the region or any other information presented in the tag? This is the kind of stuff that makes me sort of forget about my ARs and new plastic guns, this is so much more interesting. If the government wasn't trying to take my ARs, I would probably trade them for more C&Rs, like my ARs but love my C&Rs.

If you are ever looking in the Marketplace and see a gun from Swisswaffen, go for it, great guy, and gun was just beautiful, fair price.

[paul0660]

Interesting the purple printing on the tag. I have seen a few but all were handwritten (in pencil btw). Guisan will have some insight I think.

Also, nice gun and nice way to take pics too.

[Capybara]

I only took the tag image, gun image was taken by Swisswaffen. At some point, I am breaking out the strobes and backgrounds, C-stands, etc. to take some real portraits of my guns like this one but that is a half day of work at least.



I liked how he hung it on some ties, really gave me a good idea of what I was buying.

[paul0660]

At some point, I am breaking out the strobes and backgrounds, C-stands, etc. to take some real portraits of my guns like this one but that is a half day of work at least.

HEHE...........don't break your back.

[Capybara]

Yeah, I think it is worth it to take some nice images of my guns. But it is work. Trying to just figure out how to prop the gun up so that everything isn't obscured and photographing long guns like the Mosin 91/30 and my Turkish Mauser is going to be tricky. Normally I like shallow DOF but in a full length shot you want the barrel to the butt stock in focus so I shot this at some stupid aperture like F32 or something, that's why all of the wrinkles in my muslin BG are in sharp focus too. Gotta work on my gun photography skills, long guns are a challenge. Pistols are easy.

I tried researching some of the Swiss words on the tag on Google but so far, not coming up with much. Perhaps Guisan will stop by and enlighten us with what it all means. Obviously a name, address, but anything else? Unit, regiment?

[OldShooter32]

Best site -- links to tracing and writing to troop tag soldiers too!

http://www.swissrifles.com/links.htm#forums

[Guisan]

This one is better...

http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/6944/Tag-abbreviations-amp-military-IDnumbers

Guisan.

[Capybara]

Thanks Guisan!

Mountain Fusilier (Infantryman), Staff's 35
Trsolt Beuthler, Fritz
Bassecourt, B.J.?

Not sure about the cursive but I am glad to have Fritz's rifle ;-)

[Capybara]

Did a little more digging, this rifle was manufactured in 1949. Very interesting and probably part of why it is in such good shape. I can see how people get addicted to these rifles, each one has a very unique story.

[Guisan]

Swiss rifles are made for 30 years service life plus 50 more years with the owner.

Guisan.

[Capybara]

Can't wait to put some rounds through it, it is just a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.