Where did all the Milsurps go ???
- Thread starter 1rstEncountr
- Start date
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
its supply and demand military surplus is surplus to the needs of said country meaning there is a limited number available once the supply dries up prices go up surplus.
Mausers and Lee Enfield's were sold here for almost 60 years now there non existent in the country's they were used in so no new surplus to be had.
my local Canadian tire had either Russian capture or Israeli Mausers in 8mm not long ago but they were bottom of the barrel and around $800.
you got to remember that these guns were made 60 to 70 years ago if not longer and they were bound to dry up eventually. Israeli Mausers as an example were made from German surplus and Czech/Belgian production for the most part and were sourced from just about everywhere they could be most were converted to .308/7.62x51 in the 50's and used until the late 70's.
Mausers and Lee Enfield's were sold here for almost 60 years now there non existent in the country's they were used in so no new surplus to be had.
my local Canadian tire had either Russian capture or Israeli Mausers in 8mm not long ago but they were bottom of the barrel and around $800.
you got to remember that these guns were made 60 to 70 years ago if not longer and they were bound to dry up eventually. Israeli Mausers as an example were made from German surplus and Czech/Belgian production for the most part and were sourced from just about everywhere they could be most were converted to .308/7.62x51 in the 50's and used until the late 70's.
johnny the boy
CGN Regular
- Location
- Parts Unknown
A couple of mausers and a nice carcano at the gun dealer in n.b.
GoodDoomguy
CGN Regular
Totally what I was thinking. He'll never get a good milsurp because he wants one cheap (which is impossible these days), and by the time he changes his attitude and willing to pay market price the prices would've gone way up so he'll still end up with nothing but denial and anger.
TheCoachZed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Maybe, maybe not.
I am helping my brother-in-law liquidate an old guy's collection of guns. This fella thought it was worth $9,000. Sure, if you bought it all new. But the guns were bodged together, in many cases, or had other things wrong with them. The reloading equipment was a mess, etc. I think he'll be lucky to get $2000 out of it all. Who's going to pay top dollar for a box of .250-3000 shells that could be too-hot reloads in 8-times-reloaded brass? Nobody. Who is gonna pay top dollar for a Stevens Tip Up with no firing pin, in an unknown caliber, and with 100 years of rust? Nobody.
Lots of milsurps are treasured collection items now, but 15 years from now, maybe not so much.
For an example of where milsurps, and wood-and-blued-steel guns in general are headed, look at the value of cruiser motorcycles. 10 years ago, every boomer wanted a V-twin and they bought them. Now, I see barely-used, mint condition Honda Shadows and so on going for "$3500 obo" read "please take this off my hands because I can't handle it after hip replacement."
The catch is, in 15 years, it may be illegal to stockpile milsurps anyway, or shoot them ...
No one NEEDS any milsurps, but if they want them and can afford them then I say have at it!
The shortage may partly be due to the liberals in office, I would think that the threats which are hanging over our heads makes the importers in no hurry to stock a bunch of product that may be harder to sell, even with C-71 if they enact it, let alone the bans and confiscation threats, might be a different story if the Conservatives get into power with a majority.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Shortage is due to two factors.
1) there isn't really any new major supply of legal to own milsurps being found. Yes caches are found occasionally but full on government stores are basically gone now. Importers can't really bring much in if there is no stock to be found.
2) people are less willing to sell them at the moment. I suspect it has to do with the fact they know it will be hard to find another if they do sell. 6 years ago, I would be buying and selling at least one firearm a month, and you weren't so concerned as it was generally 300-500$ a milsurp (for most the stuff I was buying), and I knew if I sold one I could replace it easily. Last year I bought only 2 firearms. Why? Well there is less that I want to buy available now (both model type and quality of the model), and the prices are high.
Hey wait a minute...you misinterpreted what I wrote. I never said we don't need milsurps....heck everyone with a PAL should have at least 10++ milsurps
in there gun cabinet.
My sarcastic remark was for all the older gentlemen on here that do have 20-30 of the same rifle in their collection...like Matt was saying in Post #15.
I've seen a few collections with 20-25 of the same rifle....and of coarse a ton of others too.
Sure it does.
Especially for someone that just wants a representative piece from different nations, which may have been used during a certain conflict or even as examples representing the nations over a certain era.
I fully understand those that want to specialize on one nation, one type, even one manufacturer, etc. Most collectors either aren't so specific, can't afford to be that fussy or just can't be bothered with the intricacies of specific collecting.
The milsurp market is like the housing market in Vancouver; it doesn’t matter what something is really “worth” because what something is “worth” is based on what most people are willing to pay. If enough people decide a crack shack house is worth 1.5 million dollars and will pay that kind of money, then that is how much that house is now worth period. If enough people decide a k31 is worth $600 or a Mosin Nagant is worth $300, then that’s what they are worth .... even if they were half that a few years ago.
You could try auctions ... maybe no one will like whatever rifle that interests you on that particular day ... I’ve seen some people over
pay for items and I’ve seen some get a steal of a deal.
You could try auctions ... maybe no one will like whatever rifle that interests you on that particular day ... I’ve seen some people over
pay for items and I’ve seen some get a steal of a deal.
You’ve pretty much summed it up, especially about auctions.
I'm out of the milsurp game. Prices are crazy now.
Off the top of my head the prices I paid for stuff just a few years ago: AG42 - $225, SVT40 - $295, Mosin $100, Exc Longbranch No4 - $450, K31 - $300, RC K98 nonpeened - $500, 1941 TT33 $180, Nagant Revolver - $200.
What are those going for now?
Off the top of my head the prices I paid for stuff just a few years ago: AG42 - $225, SVT40 - $295, Mosin $100, Exc Longbranch No4 - $450, K31 - $300, RC K98 nonpeened - $500, 1941 TT33 $180, Nagant Revolver - $200.
What are those going for now?
I find it kinda funny people complain about milsurp prices. You would be hard pressed to find a rifle manufactured as well as a K98 for under $2000 now a days. So you get an excellent rifle with amazing history for cheaper than what a modern equivalent would be
Makes ya kinda sad reading a post with actual numbers paid, just a few years ago.
Or the list of places that sold them...Like buying a SVT40 @ CTC for $250 just a few years back.
Thinking maybe we're seeing less imports of milsurp because of stricter laws and tighter gun controls and dealers can't be bothered.
Or it's just, things have dried up and it's getting harder and harder to find them to import.
Once a dealer is done importing a box of rifles and paid everyone off...now has to put the price up just to make a few bucks per rifle???
I'd like to hear from an dealer/importer on what the final cost is to import a box of say Mosins' 10 years ago and what they have to pay now.
If they're willing to share.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Firstly we aren't buying new firearms so whatever cost it would be to make today is irrelevant.
Secondly these are used rifles. Other than a very few in like new shape, they are all used and they all vary in terms of condition. Which also means they do not garner anywhere near the same price as a new firearm.
