Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles kleinguenther

There is a few on gunbroker from time to time.

I'll try to post some pics if the one I have left.

Sold my K-15 7RM here a couple years ago....


Stuart Otteson's 2-volume book entitled, "The Bolt Action" has information on these fine rifles favored by both collectors and hunters. Vol 2 is where both the K-14 and K-15 rifles are dissected and a full report given, including a detailed history. KDF was incorporated in 1970 in Seguin, TX after Bob Kleinguenther convinced Voere in Vohrenenbach, Germany that their rifle model, the Shikar, was not going to be successful and that both he and they should set about designing a new rifle to be marketed by KDF in the U.S. In 1972, the design was approve and sent to production with a model number of K-14 for Kleinguenther project number 14. In Europe, it was referred to as M2145. About 7,000 rifles were produced between 1973 and 1977 with final sales taking place as late as 1978. Robert Kleinguenther's years as a chief designer and engineer for Weatherby are apparent in his designs. The K-15 followed.
The K-15’s stellite bolt is a unique balanced three lug design later copied by many, including Mauser 225 and 03, Sako 75- 85 and the Thompson/Center ICON. The action is as smooth as a silk scarf sliding off polished marble. This rifle utilizes a version of the drop box magazine and comes with the original magazine box. It has an excellent adjustable trigger which also functions as a bolt stop/release. With the rifle completely unloaded, open the bolt and pull back on the trigger which lowers a plunger type stop that rides in a slot in the bolt. The bolt can then be fully removed. The stock has a Monte-Carlo cheek piece and rosewood with white spacers at the forend tip and pistol grip cap.

The company, KDF is still very much in business. It's just that George Kleingunther has been dead for several years. They sell Blaser's now.

Sometime in the '70s, I got the idea that I needed a
Kleingunther. I worked out of Austin at the time, so I paid the place in Seguin a visit. After seeing the process and the rifles up close and personal, I decided that I really did not need one.

Some good news here. Have a Voere Shikar that needs some safety work.

There is some nice ones on GunBroker now.

My KDF was purchased in 1986. Built from a Voere Titan , classic Euro. styling , light colored walnut, & semi gloss-oil finish , Schnabel fore-end. Chambered in .270 Win.
Been offered 1000 dollars for it , in it's 99% condition.★ Last time I displayed it's accuracy , with my prescribed handloads, 3 rds. Printed a cloverleaf. Not bad for a 30yr. old rifle; being shot by a 60 yr. old , senior citizen .

I think MR Kleinguenther's name is Robert not George. Mikehasbeen knows more about Kleinguenther's than anyone I've ran across. He bought one of mine.

Mauser 99 is the same as a K-15 improved

Found a nice K-15 improved at a pawn shop for 800.00 it's a 300 Weatherby. They didn't know what they had.

What caliber? K14 or K15?

I bought one in 1977 and still have it. The guarantee was "three shots in 1/2" with proper loads." Mine did it with Sierra 175's and a dose of H4831.

I assume they didn't have it when you left.


Thanks for this thread. I haven't heard much of anything about Klein. in a long time. Nice to see guys who know WHAT Kleingunther's are/were.
I remember seeing the first one I'd ever heard about.

Seems to me that Kleingunthers and the Colt Sauers of the 70-80s were on the same plane. ?? (Quality level)

Jerry

Yes! It's in the safe with a 257 Weatherby and a 7 rem mag. All K-15 improved models. The 300 has a muzzle break. I don't really like breaks, but I couldn't pass this rifle up.

NO KIDDING ! It would NOT have been there when I left either. Congrats-- Great Score.

Jerry

There are a few for sale here: http://www.standardfirearms.com/kleinguenther

Quite a while back, I used to go by their shop in Seguin when I had time. They actually had a range outside the back door that you could shoot their stuff on. Very nice guns and high quality. They were pretty proud of them too. When I was doing guns shows I owned one due to a trade which was NIB. The first person that looked at it bought it so guess I didn't know what I had.

The rifle's barreled actions were made in Germany by a company called Voere and stocked in Texas by Mr. Kleinguenther's firm, who used to work for Roy Weatherby. That, and the period, are why they have such a Weatherby appearance. I had a K14 in 7 Rem Mag that was later rebedded to K15 specs. It was my first high power rifle at age 20 that I bought for myself. I had a 7.5 Leupold on it and shot it to death. At least the barrels death.

Voere was a very innovative company. My K14 was said to have the fastest lock time at that point. They used brass followers on their magazines which were also covered by a hinged floorplate. The neatest feature to me, was a stellite chamber insert to prevent any bearing wear to the chamber from bolt lockup. Mine was a very good shooter and was a very good rifle to learn on, since it's accuracy far exceeded mine in the early days. But a few years and lots of trips to the range, turned those tables in my favor.

TTT