Which SKS do i sell??? Chinese or russian both New!!

brapjack

brapjack

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I have a brand spank type 56 from factory 26 that is still in the grease as well as a 1950 Russian tula, which looks as though its never been fired, has a miss matched stock but is sure beautiful. Having a hard time deciding which to let go of. Have decided I do not need four rifles chambered in 7.62. Considered grouping the two and keeping the shooter but since they are both unfired it would decrease the resell value and desirability on the used market.

Not sure what these rifles are worth now but I do know that the Chinese are much harder to find currently.

I'm sure that this topic has been discussed over and over and over and over and over again.

But what criteria would you use to choose the SKS to keep and the SKS to sell.

Once I have the opportunity I will take some pictures of both but I will tell you the Russian is beautiful and the Chinese well it's a Chinese SKS.
 
I'll keep the Chinese SKS because at least these are now some kind of rare and at least you're 100% sure it's new and not issued.
... nobody can say the same about the Russian ones, especially when yours comes with a non original stock (maybe refurb ?)....my 0.2c
 
wolfstrack said:
i'll keep the chinese sks because at least these are now some kind of rare and at least you're 100% sure it's new and not issued.
... Nobody can say the same about the russian ones, especially when yours comes with a non original stock (maybe refurb ?)....my 0.2c
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Agreed.
 
Brapjack. I really don't understand your dilemma. You say you don't need four 7.62 chambered rifles. I presume you mean 7.62x39?

When you bought the rifles I'm sure you felt some sort of need for them. Are you interested in the platform or the history or maybe having a modest collection of very interesting variants on the SKS model??

At the moment the rifles are slowly increasing in value. The Chinese rifle has almost doubled in asking price in the wrap since you bought it.

If I many suggest, keep them all. There really isn't a lot of money tied up in any of them and if you don't NEED the money they are still good investments. I doubt that you've lost interest in the SKS per se' because you would keep the rifle that shoots the best.

Over the last fifty plus years of collecting and shooting all sorts of firearms I have bought and sold a lot. The only time I sell my collectibles is when I am no longer interested in the platform history. I have never lost money on an original condition military surplus firearm. I can't say the same about many sporting firearms.

I have heard many fellows lament that they sold off a collectible milsurp over the years. Usually it was a spur of the moment decision.

I advise you to think this over well before you sell any firearms. They don't owe you anything and if you don't owe money for them, they don't take up very much space.
 
I agree with bear hunter, neither rifles are worth very much right now. Unless you have several of them and need room the $2-600 you may get for them will probably not make or break you. You'll probably regret selling unless your tired of them or are really hard up for xmas to which I say sell whatever you need settle your debts and when your back on track revisit the gun thing.

I have a big high end poker set I've been listing for sale ($4200 for paulson Pharaohs 2040chips) and while it's good money and will get me the cash I need to pay by hunt camp share membership I'm sick at the though of selling my nice things that I won't be able to replace. Debating just revisiting the bank for able line of credit instead.

Again I agree with bear hunter, surplus original arms will hold or increase in value over time. New and sporting arms vary, even now the 10/22 takedown I bought from Sail for $429 is selling for $399 at bass pro. Pick one up if you haven't there awesome. Still if it's possible pock up some overtime at work. That's what I generally do to fund my extracurriculars and wants.
 
Chinese SKS's are far from rare at least the spike bayonet ones........now the blade ones made on early Russian tooling are a lot more desirable....I have one and it's not for sale ..most accurate SKS I've shot to date..Harold
 
I'm also with bear hunter. heck I sold my Garand and my model 39 Nagant and am I happy I sold them . well no. I made money on one and the other I broke even . if your not broke and you can keep both then do it . and if not then I'd be inclined to sell the Chinese one and keep the Russian one as a shooter.

I have always thought the Russian sks rifles were of a better quality. and of all the sks rifles I have handled the earlier ones have always seemed to have had the nicest triggers. good luck in your choice.
 
mbogo3 said:
Chinese SKS's are far from rare at least the spike bayonet ones........now the blade ones made on early Russian tooling are a lot more desirable....I have one and it's not for sale ..most accurate SKS I've shot to date..Harold
Click to expand...

They are rare if you want a new unused.
 
The chinese is probably worth more, although that kinda depends. The 1950 Russian ones had some changes that happened over the course of their production, and if you have one of the earlier ones that has the less-common features it could be worth more.

If the stock doesn't match your Russian, its probably a refurb. Have you checked the serial numbers on the gas tube, piston, and under the rear sight leaf? (Those are the most common items to be switched out during a refurb, along with the stock) Or have you checked if the barrel is counterbored?

Chinese will probably get you an easy $300 on EE, possibly more. Marstar was selling 'em for like $600 and they all sold at that price.

But unless you were strapped for cash or just didn't really care for the SKS, I'd keep both. They wont go down in value...
 
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