Really? The end of cheap SKS's?

[cornelunc]

Guys; I know it's exciting to think that our beloved SKS's are going to suddenly become "special", but they are not. They are truly a dime a dozen. Even in the EXTREMELY unlikely scenario that the supply dries up, there are probably between 100,000 and 150,000 SKS's that have flooded our market. EE will have dozens for sale at any given time for years to come. Westrifle even said themselves that "the next shipment" (meaning there is a shipment) will go up in price. This is all standard marketing practice, and the retailers play this game very well. Retailers want to rid themselves of the dogs before the next shipment of nicer SKS's come. Kind of like ridding the market of 2013 cars to make way for the newer 2014's. If I were you, I would wait and see how this game plays out. If you want an SKS now, by all means buy one, there are hundreds, if not thousands, sitting on shelves or in crates across the country.

I sold my m44 laminate 3 years ago for 190$, reasoning like you, now I want one,yes I can find at dealers but for......500$

 

[EL34/6L6]

I sold my m44 laminate 3 years ago for 190$, reasoning like you, now I want one,yes I can find at dealers but for......500$

Which is silly for another reason altogether, because there are many, many, M38s for sale private and at dealers for $300. So people are actually paying $200 for a bayo when opting for a M44.

 

[CaribooBC]

Just in case the sky keeps falling, I went out and bought my third SKS today. I now have a 53',54' and a 55'/56'. Our LGS still has a few VERY nice refurbed 54' Tula laminates. They don't believe that the supply is drying up either. There are still more available from their suppliers. My plan is to keep buying them til I have one from each year and from each armory. Then I might start buying some Chinese ones.

 

[weimajack]

Guys; I know it's exciting to think that our beloved SKS's are going to suddenly become "special", but they are not. They are truly a dime a dozen. Even in the EXTREMELY unlikely scenario that the supply dries up, there are probably between 100,000 and 150,000 SKS's that have flooded our market. EE will have dozens for sale at any given time for years to come. Westrifle even said themselves that "the next shipment" (meaning there is a shipment) will go up in price. This is all standard marketing practice, and the retailers play this game very well. Retailers want to rid themselves of the dogs before the next shipment of nicer SKS's come. Kind of like ridding the market of 2013 cars to make way for the newer 2014's. If I were you, I would wait and see how this game plays out. If you want an SKS now, by all means buy one, there are hundreds, if not thousands, sitting on shelves or in crates across the country.

Well, my friend, believe me, you made a big mistake.

 

[crash277]

Lots of sks available in the Ottawa valley

 

[westrifle_sks]

Guys; I know it's exciting to think that our beloved SKS's are going to suddenly become "special", but they are not. They are truly a dime a dozen. Even in the EXTREMELY unlikely scenario that the supply dries up, there are probably between 100,000 and 150,000 SKS's that have flooded our market. EE will have dozens for sale at any given time for years to come. Westrifle even said themselves that "the next shipment" (meaning there is a shipment) will go up in price. This is all standard marketing practice, and the retailers play this game very well. Retailers want to rid themselves of the dogs before the next shipment of nicer SKS's come. Kind of like ridding the market of 2013 cars to make way for the newer 2014's. If I were you, I would wait and see how this game plays out. If you want an SKS now, by all means buy one, there are hundreds, if not thousands, sitting on shelves or in crates across the country.

I said it so many times but I will repeat it again. Because of the dollar going up by almost 10 % since last shipment. All Sks will go up. I import 80 % of Sks to the country so I can tell you mine will go up. All other people buying from the same source.
Also new government in Ukraine raised prices so they will be available but at higher cost to the dealers and higher cost to buyers. If you see ones in the store at low price I am saying buy it now. That is if you want to save with old stock.

 

[Gatehouse]

So you paid $75 for an sks , no strings attached like high shipping and high priced ammo had to be bought along with it? Where did you get that deal I always wanted a cheap Chinese sks to go with my Russians/yugo's! But I don't want to pay for ammo at inflated prices plus high shipping!

Lever Arms in 1995. Walked out with 5 SKS rifles, $75 each. I've only got one left from that batch. The rest went as prizes and gifts. Thought I might want another one but I'm not in the. "SKS Collector/Expert" category so I would just want a functional shooter, don't care about pedigree.

 

[grelmar]

I said it so many times but I will repeat it again. Because of the dollar going up by almost 10 % since last shipment. All Sks will go up. I import 80 % of Sks to the country so I can tell you mine will go up. All other people buying from the same source.
Also new government in Ukraine raised prices so they will be available but at higher cost to the dealers and higher cost to buyers. If you see ones in the store at low price I am saying buy it now. That is if you want to save with old stock.

I was originally skeptical when you first mentioned the situation... But I'm much less skeptical now, based on seeing the supply dry up in all the online retailers.

Still, if we can keep getting them in even the $250 range, that would be great. Compared to modern manufacture repeaters, they're a deal even at $400 - which is what's driving the price south of the border. A solid, reliable, moderately accurate repeater in 7.62x39 is worth that. Look at what it costs to get a modern production rifle that fits that description - $700 and up, if you're lucky.

Do I think it's going to be a huge price jump, or that supply will completely evaporate? Not really to either.

Keep haggling at the table Westrifle - fight for the Canuck right to cheap Red surplus

 

[bobdbldr]

Lever Arms in 1995. Walked out with 5 SKS rifles, $75 each. I've only got one left from that batch. The rest went as prizes and gifts. Thought I might want another one but I'm not in the. "SKS Collector/Expert" category so I would just want a functional shooter, don't care about pedigree.

Now those were real $75 sks, nice, great gift idea too!
I have and will be giving some of mine to my boys,, as time goes by!

 

[One-Shot]

SKS prices are going up but they're still a bargain compare to what they're selling in the US ($400+ USD which works out to be about $450+ Cdn.).
It's one of very few advantages we have over our American cousins when it comes to firearm.

I love the SKS (own 3 Russians - so I don't know about the Chinese, Yugo, or any other) for the good quality at an affordable price, both for the rifle and ammo.
... Just my 2 cents.


Happy Shooting!

 

[Nitroxrunsthrume]

the only local SKS rifles are in bad shape, Cut down mag instead of the pin and beat to s#it lam stocks and black bayo junk......blah
miss matched numbers and there asking the same price as what i paid for a mint 52 tula all matched and non franken pinned silver bayo hardwood stock

 

[Gunexpert007]

I said it so many times but I will repeat it again. Because of the dollar going up by almost 10 % since last shipment. All Sks will go up. I import 80 % of Sks to the country so I can tell you mine will go up. All other people buying from the same source.
Also new government in Ukraine raised prices so they will be available but at higher cost to the dealers and higher cost to buyers. If you see ones in the store at low price I am saying buy it now. That is if you want to save with old stock.

Thanks for the update Westrifle.....please keep us informed on the price and availability of future SKS shipments into Canada . Take care....

 

[CANSKS]

Thanks WestRifle, " I import 80 % of Sks " That is impressive in numbers. Do you have the total number of SKS that came to Canada ? What I do not
understand is most of the other Dealers still have some stock, and selling at at considerably less than the $240 CDN you were selling for. Could that be because your rifles were in more original condition ?

 

[westrifle_sks]

Thanks WestRifle, " I import 80 % of Sks " That is impressive in numbers. Do you have the total number of SKS that came to Canada ? What I do not
understand is most of the other Dealers still have some stock, and selling at at considerably less than the $240 CDN you were selling for. Could that be because your rifles were in more original condition ?

For 2013 I imported 25 000 rifles. The rest came from other people importing it from Russia and other countries. For many other dealers it is a commodity that gets you in their store to buy ammo and other items. My main business is Sks. The ones on my website is hand picked pictured uploaded to website and sold to you. Also my price includes shipping which is 35-40 dollars. Hope I explained everything!

 

[The Kurgan]

Well, my friend, believe me, you made a big mistake.

Trust me, I hope the supply dries up, as that means my SKS's go up in value. And I am happy that the better retailers, like you, are selling the better SKS's. But I am skeptical. I guess we'll see what happens.

What seems more obvious is that the next shipment will reflect higher prices due to the lower Canadian dollar and higher initial purchase price from the Ukraine. Whether they're $200 or $400... does not matter to me... as they're still the best bargain out there.

BTW, do you have any more non-refurbished models?

 

[The Kurgan]

For 2013 I imported 25 000 rifles. The rest came from other people importing it from Russia and other countries. For many other dealers it is a commodity that gets you in their store to buy ammo and other items. My main business is Sks. The ones on my website is hand picked pictured uploaded to website and sold to you. Also my price includes shipping which is 35-40 dollars. Hope I explained everything!

So I guess it's fair to say that there's well over 100,000 SKS's in this country?

Looking forward to the next shipment.

 

[CANSKS]

Thanks again for your reply

For 2013 I imported 25 000 rifles. The rest came from other people importing it from Russia and other countries. For many other dealers it is a commodity that gets you in their store to buy ammo and other items. My main business is Sks. The ones on my website is hand picked pictured uploaded to website and sold to you. Also my price includes shipping which is 35-40 dollars. Hope I explained everything!

 

[41 Colt]

So I guess it's fair to say that there's well over 100,000 SKS's in this country?

Looking forward to the next shipment.

Last year he imported 25,000, at 80% of imports over 31,000 would have come in, and that sounds like it's just the Russians IFAIK. It would only take a few years to be over 100,000 and they have been coming in since at least '95. There must a couple hundred thousand. When they were registered did anyone ever ask the CFC?

 

[The Kurgan]

Last year he imported 25,000, at 80% of imports over 31,000 would have come in, and that sounds like it's just the Russians IFAIK. It would only take a few years to be over 100,000 and they have been coming in since at least '95. There must a couple hundred thousand. When they were registered did anyone ever ask the CFC?

I wouldn't be surprized. Damn, that's alot of SKS's in public hands.

 

[Curtton]

that would be my guess too .

canam said several years ago there was 50,000 sks in Canada since then add what westrifle brought in , then marstar and then smaller amount by others .

So I guess it's fair to say that there's well over 100,000 SKS's in this country?

Looking forward to the next shipment.