Let's Track SKS Market Value
- Thread starter The Kurgan
- Start date
Like a used Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39 was listed and sold on gp for I think $1,500. What a joke. Paaaanic. Clear brain shut off syndrome.
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The buyer.
- Location
- Steel Town
No offense to Tikka lovers, and I've had a few, but there's nothing remotely special or valuable about a Tikka. If an SKS was built today to the same standards as a Russian or Chinese variant, it would be triple or more the cost of any Tikka.
He explains it pretty good what the difference is between low cost and high cost rifles:
mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
I agree with most of his assessments except that the American receiver is "tough to build on". You can do anything to an American that you can do to any other rifle. I have an American Ranch 5.56 that prints 0.32 MOA groupings out to 300 yards (have not found time to shoot further). They are absolutely the best budget rifle on the market IMO
mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
LMAO I bought 2 of them on sale for $699 each just as the hunting rifle ban was announced.
Pretty sure a ton will come in soon, maybe not at $699 but below $800. I have sold a lot of stuff on gb recently for almost double the price I bought it 2 /3 years ago. GP is silly these days.
I think, just like anything else, the value will vary depending on the seller and the buyer. As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And much of it depends on the quality of the ad.
For instance, a seller with a high customer rating, selling an SKS with high resolution photos, and many of them, and who knows what angles/nuances on which to focus, will undoubtedly get a far superior price than someone who looks like they took their photos with a 1MP camera circa 1998 and includes two photos.
Also, the ability of the seller to communicate authoritatively their knowledge base makes a HUGE difference.
Also, some sellers have absolutely no idea what specifically is of value to a buyer. And an informed buyer can sniff an uninformed seller. I don't know how many times I have seen the "not refurb" and "all matching" description on an SKS, and you see clear refurb marks on the dustcover or stock, ###ed out serial numbers on stock, and not even original stock. Those collectors know what year has what type of wood and what marks to look out for. If they run into an ad by a seller who is equally as informed, it will more than likely produce a higher sale value.
Some sellers will advertise a Tula 1954, but if you look at the stock, it's not even the right kind of wood and it's a single stamp of the serial number without the arsenal symbol and the year. But the seller can (knowingly or unknowingly) claim "all matching", though that doesn't mean "all original".
Some people will pay more money for an SKS that is all matching, irrespective of how it is matched, or irrespective of condition. Some folks are looking for specific features, specific years, etc. Some simply look for something decent that is local. The price tends to reflect all those factors or more.
I do think that the notoriety of the SKS has been amplified in some of the infamous tragedies have occurred when they have been used. And yes, the threat of gun bans certainly elevates the price. Look at how those Dr. Seuss books skyrocketed once bookstores indicated they will start banning them. It is human nature, to want the forbidden fruit, to an extent. I am sure many of the proposed C21, G46 listed firearms have been in high demand since it made it to the list, SKS included.
I do think that the prices have leveled out somewhat, with the big shipment of mint conditioned Chinese rifles that hit retailers last Fall. Those who simply want something in "new" condition certainly found that sale compelling. I am not into Chinese SKSes, but I did think more than once of dropping some funds on one just out of FOMO.
With the G46 amendment pulled, perhaps the rush to buy SKSes and as such, the premiums placed on some of them, may start to decline. But I also think there's a bit of a renaissance afoot insofar as historical military rifles go...and the fact that many of them are still in more than satisfactory operational fitness, would lend me to believe that there will still be strong demand for them going forward. From the collector's vantage point, time is not stopping and with the passage of time, surely the value of these old collectibles will continue to increase.
For instance, a seller with a high customer rating, selling an SKS with high resolution photos, and many of them, and who knows what angles/nuances on which to focus, will undoubtedly get a far superior price than someone who looks like they took their photos with a 1MP camera circa 1998 and includes two photos.
Also, the ability of the seller to communicate authoritatively their knowledge base makes a HUGE difference.
Also, some sellers have absolutely no idea what specifically is of value to a buyer. And an informed buyer can sniff an uninformed seller. I don't know how many times I have seen the "not refurb" and "all matching" description on an SKS, and you see clear refurb marks on the dustcover or stock, ###ed out serial numbers on stock, and not even original stock. Those collectors know what year has what type of wood and what marks to look out for. If they run into an ad by a seller who is equally as informed, it will more than likely produce a higher sale value.
Some sellers will advertise a Tula 1954, but if you look at the stock, it's not even the right kind of wood and it's a single stamp of the serial number without the arsenal symbol and the year. But the seller can (knowingly or unknowingly) claim "all matching", though that doesn't mean "all original".
Some people will pay more money for an SKS that is all matching, irrespective of how it is matched, or irrespective of condition. Some folks are looking for specific features, specific years, etc. Some simply look for something decent that is local. The price tends to reflect all those factors or more.
I do think that the notoriety of the SKS has been amplified in some of the infamous tragedies have occurred when they have been used. And yes, the threat of gun bans certainly elevates the price. Look at how those Dr. Seuss books skyrocketed once bookstores indicated they will start banning them. It is human nature, to want the forbidden fruit, to an extent. I am sure many of the proposed C21, G46 listed firearms have been in high demand since it made it to the list, SKS included.
I do think that the prices have leveled out somewhat, with the big shipment of mint conditioned Chinese rifles that hit retailers last Fall. Those who simply want something in "new" condition certainly found that sale compelling. I am not into Chinese SKSes, but I did think more than once of dropping some funds on one just out of FOMO.
With the G46 amendment pulled, perhaps the rush to buy SKSes and as such, the premiums placed on some of them, may start to decline. But I also think there's a bit of a renaissance afoot insofar as historical military rifles go...and the fact that many of them are still in more than satisfactory operational fitness, would lend me to believe that there will still be strong demand for them going forward. From the collector's vantage point, time is not stopping and with the passage of time, surely the value of these old collectibles will continue to increase.
mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
Yeah.... I got off GP due to the ridiculousness of people on there. Guy left me a bad rating because I refused to ship him ammo that I clearly stated "NO SHIPPING" in my add and in my messages to him... LOL
I don't reply to half of the messages I get on my listings on gp. You need a thick skin.
LordEvilPepper
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Under a rusty barge in BC
i have better luck on GP then here these days.
its definitely better then it was
its definitely better then it was
mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
Nor do I however, I sure had a WTF moment when I seen a negative rating for that crap lol
To continue this sidetracked discussion; you can get that rectified, just contact GP admin and explain.
I've found some really good deals on GP, but also some real @ssholes. I had some ammo listed at 'market price' and @-hat offers 1/2 the value. OBO doesn't mean 'freebies'.
And I always list "FTF ONLY" and meet at BP or CT parking lots. Now I have to 'clear' the PAL as well b4 doing anything, in case of a sting. As is said on another forum - "Whatta Hobby"
And I always list "FTF ONLY" and meet at BP or CT parking lots. Now I have to 'clear' the PAL as well b4 doing anything, in case of a sting. As is said on another forum - "Whatta Hobby"
I agree...I have had nothing but positive experiences on CGN.
On GP it has been mostly positive...and just like you, I always presume the other person has their PAL as I always ask for it. Two months ago I met up with a couple at the BP parking lot and the mistake I made was talking with them for 1.5 hours before I asked to see their PAL. Then the wife and husband (presumably) supposed farmers, looked at each other and he was asking if she brought his wallet, etc. I have since found out from other sellers that they have had experiences on GP where people don't have PALs. Now I check right when I get out of my car, so as to not waste my time. I find it hard to believe anyone would be so ballsy to meet up to buy something that requires a PAL when they don't have one. This guy apparently didn't even know his CZ Scorpion was banned and wanted to bring it to show me in the parking lot (I said absolutely not). Your comment about sting operation gives me room for pause, for sure!
Again, I have never once had this problem on CGN, which I think generally has far more informed and engaged members who are familiar with not only existing legal and legislative requirements, but are aware of the current social and political landscape as well.
