Rising costs?

Most people do not realize how many different models of "Mosins" are out there.

A few do, but there are a lot of mosin owners between most knowledgeable collectors.

Depending of the rarity of the model, historical significance, origin of manufacture, which nation fielded them, significance of the date of manufacture and original all matching or force matched, etc, and the list goes on and on, will dictate the price of the Mosin offered for sale.

For folks looking for a shooter/collector, none of this makes much of a difference.

That being said, there are enough bona fide collectors out there looking for specific models, who really know what they're looking at.

It's sort of like coin collectors, they see a price on a certain date and nations coin, which they have in their "curiosity box" and believe they have a very valuable piece, but in reality the only time a coin meeting the description of what they have is usually a mistrike which shouldn't have been circulated or have left the mint, and their coin was perfect, so only worth face value.

Certain Mosins will be worth more, for the above reasons. Most out of the crate WWII date, common manufacture will be worth between $450-$600, depending on condition and who is selling it.
IMG_4376.jpgIMG_4378.jpgIMG_4379.jpgIMG_4381.jpgIMG_4396.jpgIMG_4383.jpgIMG_4385.jpgIMG_4389.jpg

This is the mosin I mentioned, I think from my research its a authentic PU but I could be wrong. Either way I'm happy to have gotten it as I've wanted one since seeing enemy at the gates as a kid. Do you know of anymore sources I can use to find out more about it or where I can get a cleaning rod for it since that's all it's missing?
 
From your pics, it appears to be an original sniper rifle, which has gone through an FTR.

If you bought that rifle for $450, you got a smoking deal. Don't judge the rest of your purchases by that stroke of luck.
 
From your pics, it appears to be an original sniper rifle, which has gone through an FTR.

If you bought that rifle for $450, you got a smoking deal. Don't judge the rest of your purchases by that stroke of luck.
Exactly, a decade ago they were selling for over 750$ from the store.

I will say it seems the prices are starting to cool a little, I can see them going down in the foreseeable future if we have a recession like I think is coming.
 
Exactly, a decade ago they were selling for over 750$ from the store.

I will say it seems the prices are starting to cool a little, I can see them going down in the foreseeable future if we have a recession like I think is coming.
We’ve been in a recession for 3 years.

Canada’s gdp has marginally grown through massive immigration, and hence why the government has picked that measure to report on its management of the economy.

The real measure of economic performance is gdp per capita, which has been steadily falling. It’s how most other countries measure if they are in recession. By that definition we are in real trouble.
 
Last edited:
I would say if anything, prices have contracted a little over the last year, as the realization of how ####ty the Liberal economy is hits home. People are struggling to pay rent and groceries, making extravagant milsurp sales figures less common.

People are still asking for premium prices, remembering what they themselves paid last year, but I'm seeing things listed at prices that would not have lasted 5 minutes last year get BTT'd in the EE for weeks before they sell, likely under asking via PM negotiation. The more expensive the milsurp, the more acute the effect.

Look at SMLEs, for example. A few dealers can't seem to move rough 1960's era ishapore refurbs for the $850-900 asking price anymore, while last year they were selling fairly well at those prices. If you watch what's selling at auction, really nice matching MkIII* examples are moving in the $850-900 range, and the dogs are selling sub-600.

The dealers with last year's pricing will have their left overs on sale by black Friday, I'm pretty sure.

Last year, a K31 was a 1200-1400 rifle all day long, then a new round of imports arrived, and some dealers have them under $600. Guys on the EE are still asking over 1000, when a 2 minute google search can find them at nearly half that price.

The market is all about supply and demand. In tough times, demand goes down compared to the same supply figures and prices trend lower.

Milsurps have been a good investment that last 10 years, but right now, I'd say it's a bear market and I'm buying/selling accordingly.


You didn't mention condition, which is about everything for a lot/most collectors, buyers.

On that note, the K31 from the latest imports are not even close in condition, compared to the K31 imports from 10-15 years ago.

10 years ago you could find them in new condition, with plenty of ammo.
 
How much is this Moison Rod worth?
Obviously a trick question! But I would like to know the answer. My feeling is that a factory original, matching 91/30 should be worth 2-3 times the average value of a post-war refurb. And, the mere addition of an "SA" property mark doesn't reduce the value of an otherwise all-original rifle. I have a few very original 91/30s and typically paid less than the going price (at the time) of a "minty" refurb. Has the knowledge level now increased to the point that people are no longer giving them away?

milsurpo
 
Last year, a K31 was a 1200-1400 rifle all day long, then a new round of imports arrived, and some dealers have them under $600. Guys on the EE are still asking over 1000, when a 2 minute google search can find them at nearly half that price.
I spent 'nearly' 2 minutes with Goole-fu. I could only find older Swiss rifles / K11 for that price range. Can you share who has K31 for $600?
Cheerz ~
 
You didn't mention condition, which is about everything for a lot/most collectors, buyers.

On that note, the K31 from the latest imports are not even close in condition, compared to the K31 imports from 10-15 years ago.

10 years ago you could find them in new condition, with plenty of ammo.
You could find a "few" in new condition, and you paid 3X as much for them, unless you got lucky or had the opportunity to be at the distributor's warehouse, before the select few were allowed to cherry pick them out.

Are you talking new, unissued, or Exc condition. There is a difference, albeit small. The Shooting Center in Calgary brought in a few batches of "Police" issue K31 rifles, which were in Exc condition and the price was twice as much as what was generally available.

The K31 rifles were and still are very good value and the early K96, K96/11, K11 variants are just as good.

There are a lot of milsurps out there which are still relatively cheap in my mind. Kropatschek 1884/1886/1886-89 variants for instance. Incredibly well made rifles, and usually they are mechanically sound, with 90%+ bores when you find them, and they vary in exterior condition from Good to Exc. They never became popular because only Austria and Portugal issued them and had the ammunition. Most of them went to Africa. They were built by Steyr. The rarest versions (hen's teeth) were the Austro/Hungarian Empire issue, as they were only issued to the Navy.

The fit and finish on the Kropatschek rifles was incredible, even considering the time they were made. Right beside the French Mlle rifles, they were one of the first to use "smokeless" powder. Collector cartridges can be found with black powder and paper patched bullets as well as smokeless, with gilded metal bullets.

There are always a few available if you look on the internet for them, but prices are not what they should be in this market.

That's very likely because most people have no idea of their incredibly active role in historical conflicts. They were right there on the front lines with the M95 straight pull rifles, in the trenches, on the seas, and in the jungles/deserts of Africa during the Colonial rush and WWI.
 
The thing about military surplus, they don’t make them anymore but they come into the civilian market in large shipments. They are cheap until the supply dries up then they shoot up in price. People used to buy Mosin nagants by the case when they were 99 bucks and same with sks’s (marstar had unfired chinese on sale for $75 at one point). Every valuable milsurp rifle was once stacked in a crate and available for under a hundred bucks

Carcano m91’s are cheap right now, might be a good place to start into milsurps. They will for sure go up once the supply dries up. Then after that, it will be something else
 
You didn't mention condition, which is about everything for a lot/most collectors, buyers.

On that note, the K31 from the latest imports are not even close in condition, compared to the K31 imports from 10-15 years ago.

10 years ago you could find them in new condition, with plenty of ammo.
I bought a bunch back then, and most were not in “worth twice the price” condition, let’s be honest. Maybe if you got an exceptional hand select gun or something.
 
Last edited:
The thing about military surplus, they don’t make them anymore but they come into the civilian market in large shipments. They are cheap until the supply dries up then they shoot up in price. People used to buy Mosin nagants by the case when they were 99 bucks and same with sks’s (marstar had unfired chinese on sale for $75 at one point). Every valuable milsurp rifle was once stacked in a crate and available for under a hundred bucks

Carcano m91’s are cheap right now, might be a good place to start into milsurps. They will for sure go up once the supply dries up. Then after that, it will be something else
Seems only the cavalry carbines are cheap and plentiful. I bought a few. No regrets.
 
Obviously a trick question! But I would like to know the answer. My feeling is that a factory original, matching 91/30 should be worth 2-3 times the average value of a post-war refurb. And, the mere addition of an "SA" property mark doesn't reduce the value of an otherwise all-original rifle. I have a few very original 91/30s and typically paid less than the going price (at the time) of a "minty" refurb. Has the knowledge level now increased to the point that people are no longer giving them away?

milsurpo
milsurpo Yeah, that was a trick question. Not every collector would tell original finish from some Finnish rework. And I think the absence of SA is a great thing and would change the price in healthy market (Canada is not). You have some original MNs? Can you share pictures here or via PM?
 
You could find a "few" in new condition, and you paid 3X as much for them, unless you got lucky or had the opportunity to be at the distributor's warehouse, before the select few were allowed to cherry pick them out.

Are you talking new, unissued, or Exc condition. There is a difference, albeit small. The Shooting Center in Calgary brought in a few batches of "Police" issue K31 rifles, which were in Exc condition and the price was twice as much as what was generally available.

The K31 rifles were and still are very good value and the early K96, K96/11, K11 variants are just as good.

There are a lot of milsurps out there which are still relatively cheap in my mind. Kropatschek 1884/1886/1886-89 variants for instance. Incredibly well made rifles, and usually they are mechanically sound, with 90%+ bores when you find them, and they vary in exterior condition from Good to Exc. They never became popular because only Austria and Portugal issued them and had the ammunition. Most of them went to Africa. They were built by Steyr. The rarest versions (hen's teeth) were the Austro/Hungarian Empire issue, as they were only issued to the Navy.

The fit and finish on the Kropatschek rifles was incredible, even considering the time they were made. Right beside the French Mlle rifles, they were one of the first to use "smokeless" powder. Collector cartridges can be found with black powder and paper patched bullets as well as smokeless, with gilded metal bullets.

There are always a few available if you look on the internet for them, but prices are not what they should be in this market.

That's very likely because most people have no idea of their incredibly active role in historical conflicts. They were right there on the front lines with the M95 straight pull rifles, in the trenches, on the seas, and in the jungles/deserts of Africa during the Colonial rush and WWI.

With "new" condition I probably mean Excellent +++

I purchased two K31 from the shooting center during this time,
both came with serial number matching bayonets,
both have Walnut stocks
everything is excellent and matching,
the bore measurements are as new,
and both came from the Kantonspolizei Luzern (Police)

One was $450 (they had a sale for the Swiss national Holiday)
the other was $550.
 
Back
Top Bottom