ZFK-55 - Swiss Straight-Pull Bolt Action Sniper Rifle - 25.7" Barrel, 7.5x55mm, 6 Round Magazine, Integrated Bi-Pod, Scope Included - RI-CHZFK55SRK31

The ZFK-55 is Swiss perfection. The Swiss improved upon their ZFK-31/42 used in WWII by using a more powerful 3.5x22 quick detach scope instead of the original receiver mounted para-scoping 1.8x scope. The scope on the newer ZFK-55 is in line with the barrel rather than offset. This posed a problem since these rifles were designed to reload from paper and resin stripper clips. Normally for the time, other countries either did away with stripper clips entirely or used an offset scope mount. Since they had already tried the offset scope, this setup didn't work for the Swiss as they wanted to have the ease of zeroing a rifle with a scope in line with the bore. So like always, they had to out engineer everybody and redesign their tried and true K-31 straight-pull bolt action rifles.

The solution they came up with was ingenious but costly. They simply rotated the entire action about 15 degrees off-center. Doing so allowed for a center-mounted scope and the continued use of stripper clips. To make the rifle more effective for long-range precision shooting, they produced a longer, heavier barrel outfitted with a distinctive ported muzzle device reminiscent of the Germans FG-42. This muzzle device helps reduce felt recoil and features a bayonet lug that will allow for standard K-31 bayonets to be mounted—effectively turning this sniper rifle into a long and heavy spear. We doubt this would have seen actual use when these were fielded but still a cool feature. The stocks for these sniper rifles were also redesigned to be thicker and profiled to have a slight pistol grip, European-style checkering, and a metal butt plate. This adds weight but is very comfortable when you get behind it. Another great feature of this stock was the integrated folding spring-loaded bipod. Triggers on Swiss rifles are often considered one of the best military triggers ever made and the trigger on the ZFK-55s only help prove that statement. The bipod was used for stabilizing and did great in uneven terrain but lacked support to put any weight on it. The bipod moves too much to use in the modern way we use bipods today. Think of it more like a shooting rest. The stock on this rifle also had sling loops, and most ZFK-55s still have the leather sling they were issued with initially.

These rifles were issued as a sniper system, much like today's sniper systems. You had your rifle, magazine, sling, scope, scope box, stripper clips w/ web gear, and of course, ammo. Most of the items were serialized and often found matching still today. The scope itself was, for the time, overbuilt much like the rifle was. The scope tube and mount were all manufactured out of one piece of metal and used a push-button lock to mount onto the rifle. Truly advanced and one of a kind for the times. They also used the same iron sights as the infantryman's K-31s, so the soldier wouldn't be without an effective rifle if the scope were ever damaged or lost. To keep the Swiss from having a logistical nightmare, the rifle used the same 6 round detachable box magazine as other K-31s, but like the rest of the action, the magazine was also rotated 15 degrees. Since they were so expensive and complicated to produce, they were only made for four years, from 1955-1959. In that time, producing roughly 4,150, most of which are still in Switzerland. Following the examples of other Swiss surplus rifles, they are usually found in pristine condition and truly museum quality.