Izhevsk SKS

Bowyer said:
They're about as collectable as banana stickers. Refinish the stock as you please. It will not decrease the value of your sks. It may even increase the value ;)
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That's what they said about the tonne of Enfields that flooded the market several decades ago.

I would keep an unissued/non-refurbished Russian SKS in its original form and put it away for safe keeping, and go buy a nice Russian or Chinese refurb.

I've got two very nice non-refurbs (one an early IZH import) that I wouldn't let go for $400 each. If they were Izzy's, I wouldn't let them go, period.
 
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There is no doubt these rifles will be selling for a lot more in the near future than they are right now...for whatever reason.

Would they hold the same value in the US if the mags were pinned like they are here in Canada?. As far as some purists are concerned, they're all pretty much 'refurbs' once they've had that done to them. Some are just less refurbed than others in that regard.

I have several that I won't sell for less than $500. None of mine have any legitimate collector value afaic. It's just nice to have em in their original stocks and all numbers matching. I collect them for their unique features and character - not because someone told me they were 'collectable'. I like the painted ones the best. I actually do collect banana stickers and fossils for the same reasons.

Once again, to each their own
 
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Bowyer said:
There is no doubt these rifles will be selling for a lot more in the near future than they are right now...for whatever reason.
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Wait a little bit and those military bases would be empty like Yugoslavia, German, Albanian and Egyptian SKS. It is the same story as Enfield in the old time. I say with a rate that those imported into Canada, Germany and Australia. For Australia and Germany many deactivated. I have seen 3 containers that were going to Germany. All deactivated.

Anyway it is surplus and it is going to be finished one day. Enjoy it now while last.

Cheers

Al
 
Boyer makes a valid point that the pinned mag does negatively impact value from a collectors perspective. But in the big picture pretty well all of the mags in Canada are pinned and our SKS market is completely separate from the US market. You want to own an SKS in Canada - it's going to have a pinned mag period. The demand up here is such that pinned mags is effectively a non issue. As an example, the ATF requires importers in the US to deface their rifles with import stamps (usually on the barrel). Would a typical collector in the US pass over a nice numbers matched milsurp because of an import stamp? Of course not. The wise amongst us will put a couple all matching, non issued SKS's in the corner of the gun safe pinned mag and all.
 
tplumtree said:
Boyer makes a valid point that the pinned mag does negatively impact value from a collectors perspective. But in the big picture pretty well all of the mags in Canada are pinned and our SKS market is completely separate from the US market. You want to own an SKS in Canada - it's going to have a pinned mag period. The demand up here is such that pinned mags is effectively a non issue. As an example, the ATF requires importers in the US to deface their rifles with import stamps (usually on the barrel). Would a typical collector in the US pass over a nice numbers matched milsurp because of an import stamp? Of course not. The wise amongst us will put a couple all matching, non issued SKS's in the corner of the gun safe pinned mag and all.
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Well said, and all true.

(personally, I find a neatly pinned mag, either a clean rivet or pin welded follower a non-issue from a collectibility standpoint, but would hate to have importer stamps on my receiver and/or barrel.)
 
Thanks for all of the info guys, I am as new as new can be to the SKS. I feel quite lucky that I decided to buy the 53 izzy. Beleive me it was pure luck, as the only reason I bought it was becasue of the huge diference in numbers, between the tulas and the izzy.
It may not ever have any real colector value, but I am going to put this one away un touched for a while, and play with the tula I have coming in.
 
alta780 said:
Thanks for all of the info guys, I am as new as new can be to the SKS. I feel quite lucky that I decided to buy the 53 izzy. Beleive me it was pure luck, as the only reason I bought it was becasue of the huge diference in numbers, between the tulas and the izzy.
It may not ever have any real colector value, but I am going to put this one away un touched for a while, and play with the tula I have coming in.
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And the SKS collection/obsession begins.
 
alta780, congrats on the Izzy, btw. Nice score. Getting one from each factory right off the hop is a pretty sweet way to start your collection. Even sweeter if you take em both to the range at the same time. Fire away.

pics?
 
Well I just recieved the Tula lam stock that I ordered from tradex, to go with the 53 izzy. I was wishing that I would have bought the wood stock version before they sold out, but I am very happy with the one they sent. It is a 54 tula, with a matching non forced number stock, there is no other forced numbers anywhere on it and it looks to be in unused condition. There is no wear in any areas. I looked real close at the groove area of the stock, near the trigger safety, and it appears to be new and un touched, as does the safety and the trigger. The barrel is black though and it is chromed. This one is in beautiful condition, with a very nice near perfect stock.
 
I went to see my buddy who is well versed in the SKS, he showed me the refurb square stamp with the line thru it, which made me a bit sad at first cause I thought I had an all original. It didn't take me long though, to get over it and now I can go shoot a bunch without concern. He did say that it appeared to be a very lite refurb and it was as nice as he has seen. Good to go and can't wait to shoot it.

Thanks also to him for the manual he has made for the SKS, which he copied for me.
 
So?! ...a refurb Izzy is still 1 to 15 to a Tula,refurb or not. I got a '54 ...all bluing,no paint,no shot marks...but a laminate stock.Weird enough,with the notched buttplate.Early refurb? Who knows-it's a keeper anyway. So I went to make the ugliest refurb of my Tulas my "let's try this" gun. Still ugly,no plastic parts and by far my most accurate SKS... 3 MOA @ 100.(trigger mod,franken"choate" with a 4X shorty scope,self made muzzle brake against jump and weight selected Surplus Ammo) All my unmodified SKS,Izzy included rather do 4-5.
Never tried a Chinese,though...
 
Money order is in the mail to Weimajack,(he doesn't take emt) sold sign on the Izzy,There is one IZZY left on his add in the EE,plus he's got a couple tula unissued unrefurbed never fired there for under $300!!Man if I never ordered the shotguns I would have one of those! Can't wait to see the IZZY though!
 
bobdbldr said:
Money order is in the mail to Weimajack,(he doesn't take emt) sold sign on the Izzy,There is one IZZY left on his add in the EE,plus he's got a couple tula unissued unrefurbed never fired there for under $300!!Man if I never ordered the shotguns I would have one of those! Can't wait to see the IZZY though!
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Yes, I bought 2 from Weimajack in 2 weeks, one 1952 unrefurb and one 55/56 "D" series unrefurb and they are awesome!!! like Weimajack's service!!!

And now I am at 14 SKS f:P:2:
J-P
 
Yes he gets to pick through tradeex stuff to get the really good ones I asked for and got a 55sks (my birthyear) $200. it was heavy refurb but ok for sure,but the next week he put 2 1955's on for $189.each.Well ,I put the request in so guess that cost an extra $10 ,Tradeex wouldn't even look,Now I need a 55/56. then again the unrefurb /unfired are calling me as well!
The thing about sks is that you can have an amazing collection for less than $5000. Yes we know they probably won't go up in price but still a cool rifle!
Boivin show us you collection.!
Update ,got my 53 izzy,,not quite as advertised but not bad, finish is black not blue and the gas tube is a flat black. Heavy refurb stock with a large gouge by the hand grip and a few moderate gouges, other than that it seems ok.$199. for an izzy refurb is pretty good .Anew sports store opening up in Halifax and I was already talking to the owner,he will have sks to start ,svt40 and mosins on order,so I can hand pick the ones I want for a change!
 
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