Swiss K11 vs K31 Review - Part I: Straight-Pull Charm, Old-World Precision

If you’ve ever run a Swiss straight-pull, you know the feeling: a bolt that glides like it’s on glass, a trigger that breaks like snapped icicles, and groups that make you question modern marketing. The Swiss K11 delivers all of that in a handy carbine package. After a few range sessions and some time on 300-meter steel, this little carbine reminded me why the Schmidt-Rubin lineage keeps turning new shooters into surplus nerds.

What the K11 is, and why it shoots so well

The K11 is the Model 1911 carbine: a shortened service rifle built around the classic Schmidt straight-pull action and chambered in 7.5×55 Swiss (GP11). Typical specs: 23.3-inch barrel, 6-round detachable magazine, about 8.8 lb unloaded, and tangent sights graduated well beyond what most of us can hold. The combination of a slick straight-pull and GP11’s inherently accurate ballistics is why these carbines still punch above their age.

On the firing line, recoil is civilized, the impulse is linear, and follow-ups are quick once you get the straight-pull rhythm. Good lots of GP11 or modern PPU 174-grain 7.5×55 make it easy to ring at distance, as long as you do your part. GP11 was engineered as a non-corrosive, high-performance service load; modern commercial options from Prvi Partizan keep the K11 practical for regular range time.

Living with it: range notes

• Bolt feel: the long, true Schmidt-Rubin bolt runs smoother than it looks in photos. It’s fast when you’re aggressive and forgiving when you’re not.

• Sights and zero: the sight ladder is optimistic, but a sane 100- to 300-meter zero pairs well with GP11 or PPU.

• Ammo reality: surplus GP11 is excellent when you can find it; PPU 174-grain FMJ/SP loads are a reliable, reloadable stand-in.

• Collector quirks: many Swiss rifles hide a troop tag under the buttplate listing the conscript’s name and unit. It’s a piece of living history, if you're lucky enough to find it, collectors geek out for.  You won’t get this opportunity with most milsurps.

A brief history of the K11

By the 1910s, the Swiss needed a shorter rifle for cavalry and support troops. Enter the Model 1911 carbine (K11): a handier variant that kept the proven straight-pull action and upgraded chambering to the new GP11 cartridge. Production runs span the mid-1910s through early 1930s, with total output well over 100,000 and final production in 1933. The K11 bridged the gap between earlier long rifles and the later K31, which shortened the action while keeping the overall length compact.

The cartridge itself, 7.5×55 GP11, was a leap forward: a spitzer, high-velocity, non-corrosive service round with a reputation for precision that still holds up. Switzerland kept it in service for decades, and the ballistics remain shockingly modern for a 1911 design.

Why the Swiss shoot the way they do

Switzerland’s militia system built a national obsession with practical accuracy. 300-meter rifle is the norm, not the exception; village ranges often anchor local shooting clubs. That culture feeds events like Feldschiessen, billed as the largest shooting festival in the world, with well over 100,000 participants in a typical year. The Swiss Shooting Sport Federation marked its 200th anniversary in 2024, a reminder that precision marksmanship there isn’t a fad, it’s identity.

K11 vs. rifles in the same price lane

Prices move, but recent listings put clean K11s commonly in the mid-$300s to $700s, depending on condition and matching parts. That drops them into the sweet spot with other classic full-power milsurps. Here’s how it stacks up.

Swiss K31 (7.5×55, straight-pull)
Later evolution with a shortened action and longer barrel, generally a hair more accurate with a crisper trigger. Average used prices lately hover around $600 with a wide variance by condition. If you want the most “refined” Swiss straight-pull for not much more, the K31 is tempting. The K11 wins on compact feel and historical charm.

Swedish Mauser M96/M38 (6.5×55, turn-bolt)
Superb bores, famously mild recoil, and match-friendly precision. Street pricing ranges widely from ~$500 to $900+, depending on variant and condition. The Swede edges the K11 on recoil comfort and optics-friendly rails after the fact; the K11 counters with a faster action and that silky straight-pull cadence.

Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I (.303, turn-bolt)
Fastest traditional bolt around, great sights, and plentiful parts. Used prices often settle around the low- to mid-$500s in typical, serviceable condition. Enfield ergonomics and rapid cycling are unbeatable for snap shooting; the K11 tends to outshine it on raw mechanical precision and ammo consistency.

Finnish Mosin-Nagant M39 (7.62×54R, turn-bolt)
The most accurate of the Mosin clan. Recent averages land around $600 used. It’s robust and surprisingly precise, but the K11 usually offers better triggers and smoother cycling.

Price reality checks for the K11: you can still find K11s advertised everywhere from mid-$300s surplus grades to $700+ for nicer examples, with specialty importers and big-box used racks filling the gaps. Condition and accessories (matching bayonet, sling, troop tag) swing value.

Buying tips

• Check the bore and crown first; the Swiss shot non-corrosive ammo and used proper grease, so bores often outclass stocks.

• Run the bolt hard-fast a few times; you’ll feel if the camming surfaces are smooth or gritty.

• Inspect the charging-handle knob for cracks or repairs. It’s a common wear point on hard-used surplus K11s.

• Peek under the buttplate for a troop tag. It’s not guaranteed, but finding one adds story and provenance.

Verdict

If you want an honest, soft-shooting classic with real precision and a bolt that’s fun to run, the K11 is easy to recommend. It gives you Swiss quality, GP11 accuracy, and collector charm at a price that still makes sense. Add a case of PPU or carefully stored GP11, a proper sling, and a 300-meter range day, and you’ll understand exactly why the Swiss built a culture around rifles like this.

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Sources

• Specs and production context: SwissRifles technical pages; CO Gun Sales K11 specs; Wikipedia overviews of Schmidt-Rubin and K31. Wikipedia+3Swiss Rifles+3CO Guns Sales+3

• K11 history and dates: Cruffler production notes; SwissWaffen production end; general model history. cruffler.com+1

• GP11 cartridge and performance: 7.5×55 GP11 technical page; SSUSA overview; commercial PPU ammo data. Wikipedia+2An NRA Shooting Sports Journal+2

• Swiss marksmanship culture: swissinfo on Feldschiessen; shooting-range norms and 300-meter tradition; SSV bicentennial. SWI swissinfo.ch+2Wikipedia+2

• Price snapshots and listings: J&G Sales K11; Classic Firearms K11; Centerfire Systems K11; Proteus Armaments K11; GunsInternational/Bass Pro used Swiss listings; TrueGunValue averages for K31, Enfield, Finnish Mosins; GunBroker/market aggregators for Swedish Mausers. Guns International+9J&G Sales+9Classic Firearms+9