Sks price check

Here's an additional thought on the serial number matching thing. May not apply to everyone but applies to one of my SKSes.

I bought one where everything matched (or so it seemed), though it was clear that the stock was a refurb and the matching serial number was stamped on it (it was a 1953, the stock should have had the Tula star plus the year plus the serial number etched in...it just had the serial number).

But where it would have been nice to have a matching serial number was on the gas tube (even though I know it's typically electropenciled, if at all, for the matching). This gas tube was definitely not the original that came with the gun. How do I know? Because the tolerances for fit was not there - not to mention there is a very, very, very mild colouration difference. Several people mentioned to me that my complaint about the release lever been extremely stiff and that I needed a plier or tool to move it was because it is fairly new and unused. That wasn't it at all, because upon closer inspection, the tube side with the fatter cylinder when mated onto the gun was not fully 100% even. It was very hard to tell with the naked eye but with a closer inspection one side of the cylinder was pressed in much more than the other - and it can't be fixed unless I sand either the connector on the rifle or the end of the gas tube cylinder. As a result, for me to have a better chance of working that gas tube release lever, I had to press down on the gas tube and push it forward with significant force.

All my other SKSes that had matching serial number gas tubes did not have this problem and the release lever moved nicely. Maybe I got a faulty refurbished gas tube, but having no similar problem with the matching ones, it's another reason why I like matching.
 
Geez, I just looked thru the EE for SKS - prices vary wildly, with little validity. On the bright side, there's lots of 'em there.
 
Buck1950 said:
Geez, I just looked thru the EE for SKS - prices vary wildly, with little validity. On the bright side, there's lots of 'em there.
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They vary for all sorts of reasons. Mostly condition or the owners don't know what they are going for

I saw several at the last gun show, Russian mostly, Chinese, a few Yugos. The Yugos were outrageous but beautiful. The Russians and Chinese were all well used and one had a seriously pitted bore, but still carried a $500 price tag.

When buying an SKS or any other surplus rifle off an internet seller, you're taking your chances. Be careful and ask for pics of the bore if possible or if close by, take a drive so you can personally view the rifle.
 
The funny thing is, SKS prices move in cycles, sometimes up and beyond, then you can find them dirt cheap all of a sudden. So many in Canada.
 
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In the news..."The type of semi-automatic weapon used in the recent fatal shooting of two Ontario police officers was also used in a series of other deadly, high-profile gun attacks in Canada, including the 2018 Fredericton mass shootings and the murders committed by the B.C. manhunt suspects.

But the Russian-designed SKS rifle was not added to the federal government's 2020 list of prohibited weapons, raising questions as to why it wasn't included."


I think the value of the SKS is about to drop significantly :)
 
Goex said:
I think the value of the SKS is about to drop significantly :)
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Perhaps. Or, as an NR, the prices may go the other way as people want to have a piece of history. These aren't like a $3000 SA black rifle (even NR), where the financial risk is far greater.
 
I recently bought a chinese model (date code places 78?) . It had already been cleaned mostly, but was sold as unfired.

Took it home, stripped it down, cleaned it a bit better. Bud and I took it to the range, first shot at 107yrds was dead on center of a 10" plate.
Spent a good hour feeding it norinco ammo from cabellas ($10 a box!) and grouped quite well, no misfires, no stovepipes. Once she warmed up, it just got better.

I bought it as a beat around bush plinker, to maybe bubba up later. Going to leave it as is. Enjoy shooting it more than my Ruger pc9. Great buy for $500 i.m.o.
 
thegazelle said:
I recently paid $700 for an all matching (no forced match), Tula star on the stock with year and s/n with no refurb marks on stock, dust cover, receiver, etc. Cartouches all around crossbolt. Golden bayonet. Amazing overall condition. Free floating bolt shook and rattled freely - the gas piston rod was slightly seized in the gas tube with a very small hint of rust but I got all that cleaned off. Removed stock from rest of gun and no rust on anywhere else. Barrel is excellent. Came with around 400 rounds of ammo and some cases. Came with sling. I am happy with the $700 I paid, given I paid more earlier for something similar from another seller but no ammo, and no sling.

Regardless of the matching/force matching, the condition of the wood looks pretty decent on the photos you put out. I've seen much, much worse go for $600 in retail stores. I don't think it's unreasonable you ask $600-$700 for each of those, except for the black paint one.

There are some buyers who totally don't care about the serial numbers matching and want something in good cosmetic or functional condition.
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I'm glad you like it.
 
If they stop becoming available for import but are not banned the price will climb. Remember 99 dollar Mosins… eventually supply will decrease.
 
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