Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Kleinguenther value and questions

I shoot with a retired Dr that has a unfired, 100% perfect Kleinguenther in 375 that he wants to sell. I told him I would help him sell the rifle but have very little knowledge on these guns.

Can anyone help me fill in the blanks with some info and value?

thanks

Need to know what model. I seen a K15 in 411 kdf with Swarovski scope sell for $1500 at RIA this weekend.

Its a K15, unfired, Zeiss glass with factory brake.

I would call Phil Kuehne at KDF in Seguin TX. Phil was the importer when they brought them to the US, and probably knows more about them than anyone. Voere was a similar German brand back then. The brake is probably one Phil added. They're nice rifles, with typical German quality, finish, and accuracy.

It's high quality rifle with obscure name. The bolt had plunger ejectors and three lungs that locked into the barrel. Very accurate rifle. I would not touch one with a ten foot rod. Americans are into tiny bullet hole clusters at 100m or more so and think Made in W Germany was great so one of them might give good money for it. I would say $1500 is pretty good guess. No premium for .375H&H because guys wanting those aren't into plunger ejectors or multiple lug bolts and muzzle breaks. Sell the scope and rifle separately it will be better deal for him.

Purchased my K-15 in 7RM from Robert Kleinguenther himself in the late 70's. Like your friend's, mine was probably a solid 99%. Sold it here a couple years back for $1,500. Those TX boys are familiar with them and love them. Some history:

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 that feeds like it has eyes. 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.

Page 1094 of the 2011 Blue Book of Gun Values lists this rifle at $1,375 (100%) and $1,100 (98%).

Good luck with your sale....

Just listed the Kleingunther, have a look in the classifieds, no reasonable offer refused.

I used to collect Kleinguenthers K 14, K15s and .22s and some of the original Voere actions- the Titan II and later (renamed) Mauser 99 when Voere was bought out by Mauser. I even had a pair of customs "pseudo K15s" built on Mauser 99 with Krieger barrels.

They were very accurate rifles. I beg to differ on the magazine feeding as it only took just one instance where the bolt just slid over the top and did not pick up the cartridge for me to sell my collection and begin a Pre War Mod 70 obsession.

I had one of his poster/brochure guns and one with a plaque in the butt with the Eagle and snake of Seguin, which I was told was designed by Kleinguenther's daughter (now a neurosurgeon).

As it should happen, that gun was bought by her husband as a gift for her- I couldn't be happier knowing that.

Oh, and $1500 sounds right. If it's an original K15 Instafire, it'll feed and shoot. Phil bought the company from Kleinguenther (Kleingunther Distinguished Firearms) he'd probably be interested in the rifle- I sold him some of my extra magazines.