SKS, a beautiful rifle in its original proven form
- Thread starter The Kurgan
- Start date
- Location
- West Central Alberta
Right on, thanks
The Sino should be more but I doubt by much. Condition and colour of the stock seems more important these days.
An Izzy is worth more to some depending on the year but not to everybody.
Yes, as posted above 10 % to 20 % for both, agreed.
Having said that, condition and stock colour seems to be more important these days in general, price is always an issue.
I have a very rare factory Chinese SKS and nobody seems to give a damn, lol.
Personally I like the colour of the military Chinese stock and the better machining than Norinco (including SKS-D, cough cough, don't punish the bearer of bad news). Russian ones seem to be of overall better refurb quality but the BBQ painted ones are not exactly nice, many have stock repairs as it appears more common with Russian SKS (haven't seen a Chinese stock repair, maybe not as sturdy, lol), even the non BBQ ones, that's why you see a fair amount of laminated ones which are usually a replacement stock (quality is all over the place with those too).
I had the opportunity to inspect 2 Yugo SKS last weekend and I like the look but can't see the price justified. Always look at the bore of those because they are ALL non chrome lined.
But I think the SKS prices will be 50 % more next year.
In the US they doubled over the last year.
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An Izzy is worth more to some depending on the year but not to everybody.
Yes, as posted above 10 % to 20 % for both, agreed.
Having said that, condition and stock colour seems to be more important these days in general, price is always an issue.
I have a very rare factory Chinese SKS and nobody seems to give a damn, lol.
Personally I like the colour of the military Chinese stock and the better machining than Norinco (including SKS-D, cough cough, don't punish the bearer of bad news). Russian ones seem to be of overall better refurb quality but the BBQ painted ones are not exactly nice, many have stock repairs as it appears more common with Russian SKS (haven't seen a Chinese stock repair, maybe not as sturdy, lol), even the non BBQ ones, that's why you see a fair amount of laminated ones which are usually a replacement stock (quality is all over the place with those too).
I had the opportunity to inspect 2 Yugo SKS last weekend and I like the look but can't see the price justified. Always look at the bore of those because they are ALL non chrome lined.
But I think the SKS prices will be 50 % more next year.
In the US they doubled over the last year.
.
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- Location
- Steel Town
Russians, in order of rarety...
1948 Tula (a few receiver covers have popped up, but not complete rifles)
1949 Tula non-refurbished (I have not personally seen one, but there are more than a few dicked-up specimens passing as non-refurbished)
1953 Izhevsk non-refurbished
Early 1950 Tula non-refurbished with 1949 features
1949 Tula refurb
1954 Izhevsk non-refurbished
Any other non-refurbished Tula (note: 1952 appears to be more rare than letter series parts rifles or other years)
All the rest are more or less of equal value.
Non-refurbished will always command a premium.
All-matching including mag (!) will always command a premium.
Internal pinned mags will always command a premium.
Condition is key
If you can find a non-refurbished SKS from the early 2008 IZH import in good or better condition (many were pretty rough), they are particularly valuable. They are as-issued and have the preferred internal pinning method: slim piece of barstock tack welded to the follower arm. They are also all-matching, even the refurbs.
Value today is $400 for run of the mill refurbs ("shooters") with mismatched mags to $800-$1000 for non-refurbished all-matching specimens from 1949 or 1953 (Izhevsk). Tack on more $$$ for IZH imports from any production year. So, yes, even today some SKS's will sell for over $1000.
Welcome to the new reality.
1948 Tula (a few receiver covers have popped up, but not complete rifles)
1949 Tula non-refurbished (I have not personally seen one, but there are more than a few dicked-up specimens passing as non-refurbished)
1953 Izhevsk non-refurbished
Early 1950 Tula non-refurbished with 1949 features
1949 Tula refurb
1954 Izhevsk non-refurbished
Any other non-refurbished Tula (note: 1952 appears to be more rare than letter series parts rifles or other years)
All the rest are more or less of equal value.
Non-refurbished will always command a premium.
All-matching including mag (!) will always command a premium.
Internal pinned mags will always command a premium.
Condition is key
If you can find a non-refurbished SKS from the early 2008 IZH import in good or better condition (many were pretty rough), they are particularly valuable. They are as-issued and have the preferred internal pinning method: slim piece of barstock tack welded to the follower arm. They are also all-matching, even the refurbs.
Value today is $400 for run of the mill refurbs ("shooters") with mismatched mags to $800-$1000 for non-refurbished all-matching specimens from 1949 or 1953 (Izhevsk). Tack on more $$$ for IZH imports from any production year. So, yes, even today some SKS's will sell for over $1000.
Welcome to the new reality.
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Even before, i joined CGN, i was ordering Russian SKS from Lever. One day i ordered 3 SKS and insisted on the handpick and fees. I was sended 2 X1953 Izzy and one 1954 Izzy. I may have paid 500.00 for the beautifull trio. I need to fill up the Delorean. Lol. JP.
Haha, not true. Your prices are way too high. You can still find and buy matching nice SKS for below $400.
Prices are dominated by supply and demand. I have seen them fluctuating depending on how many are available at a given time. There are just so many. Yes, there are a few collectors out there, but not many.
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- Location
- Steel Town
I don't think there are any non-refurbished, all-matching SKS's for under $400 anywhere. The going rate for a non-refurbished, all-matching common year Tula is $500-650. If it is a '53 Izhevsk, good luck. There are more collectors than you think, I know several. They just buy when they know there are actually getting a decent SKS. Money is no object to them.
I just bought 3 beautiful ones last and this month for $400 and below.
What is non refurbished? They all went through arsenal. You mean original parts and stock I guess.
I see "non refurbished" with a beat up scratched stock, some kind of shellac or whatever on them, it still went through arsenal, they just decided not to change the stock.
Then we have the magazine mystery, many Russians are franken pinned.
Also, Tenda still has many in stock but it's a hit and miss, 2 out of 4 are nice and matching.
Hand select hardwood stock at Tenda still $459, a friend of mine ordered 4, 2 are literally mint and all matching, the other 2 are so so.
Of course all Tula but Izzies were 700 to 800 years ago and the price really didn't change.
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- Location
- Steel Town
"hand select", "supergrade", all-matching, etc. does not necessarily mean non-refurbished. Yes, all SKS's were "inspected" before storage at some sort of processing depot or refurbishment factory. Some simply were left alone, in "as-is" "as-issued" condition. These are uncommon. Again, if you find one of these for $400 (any year), I suggest you jump on it.
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Thanks! I used paint stripper to remove the original finish, then washed it with hot water and some Crud Cutter. I let it soak in the hot water for a bit to raise any dimples. I used a dish cleaning pad to help clean it up.
Then I used Circa 1850 Antique Danish Oil. I wet a cloth, then wiped in on and let it dry. After it dried, I used fine steel wool to smooth any rough spots. It took a few days, but I did a bunch of layers. I got the idea from some other forums.
I also did a few other rifles but stained the wood first. they all turned out pretty good! I didn't stain the sks first though.
Then I used Circa 1850 Antique Danish Oil. I wet a cloth, then wiped in on and let it dry. After it dried, I used fine steel wool to smooth any rough spots. It took a few days, but I did a bunch of layers. I got the idea from some other forums.
I also did a few other rifles but stained the wood first. they all turned out pretty good! I didn't stain the sks first though.
- Location
- Steel Town
Nice collection
seems you attract nice looking sks d ... now a question about how they work? any play or wiggle with the mag?
i ve got a lot them but they re now all long gone. and they were nice and clean and as dumb was thinking the production will last forever ...
