[Roland of Gilead]

A buddy of mine is going back to school, and can't take his SKS. He wants me to buy it. It is Russian wood, 10rd stripper clip magazine, blade bayonet, still got the box. Any idea what its worth? He acted insulted when I offered $150. We usually figure "friend" prices at half way between trade-in and fair market. Was I far off? Is there a premium on Russian guns I was unaware of? Thanks in advance.

[Murphster]

Yes, Russian SKS rifles tend to bring more than their Soviet Bloc counterparts. Unfired ones in my neck of the woods run around $330-ish to $350-ish.

[rbernie]

NIB would be $300 easy, and over $350 in some circles. Used with a box would probably be in the neighborhood of $250 to $300.

[jrobb45]

A local dealer, who usually is high priced, has an unfired since refurbed laminated stock one and he is asking $295. I've seen a couple with regular wood and they were around $250.

jrobb

[Murphster]

There are also a lot of "unfired" arsenal refurbished Russian rifles around. Nothing wrong with them. But they are not the same things as a "new" unfired one. Refurbished ones are marked with a small box with a diagonal line through it on top of the receiver cover. (I'm not an SKS expert so there may be some other refurbished ones with different markings.) I'll go out on the limb here that say that I think I read someplace that Russian SKS rifles that come with either a black bolt or a laminate stock are usually refurbished models. These should (but often don't) go for less than an unfired model.

[Lonestar.45]

I saw a '51 Tula at the gunshow this weekend. All original. Stock a little rough, bluing probably 75%, bore looked good. The price on it was $325. I don't think I've seen one anywhere recently for less than $300, no matter what the condition.

[Rexrider]

You might owe your friend an apology. :D

As other people have already stated, a Russian SKSs usually start at $250 and goes up from there depending on condition of course. A nice Russian SKS is considered a collector's item these days. They are also considered the highest quality SKSs.

The only reason they are that low is because of the flood of Yugo SKSs. For those that could care less about a Russian can buy a Yugo from $90 to $150 (depending on condition).

Try starting at $250 as a "friend price" if it is in really nice condition.

[Roland of Gilead]

Seems I do. I told him that I wasn't interested in it, as I'd just pick up a Yugo or Chinese SK for my $150. I'd just put it in a folding stock and put it in the field anyway. I told him I'd try to help him find a buyer, though. When I look at it again and have a better idea of what it is I'll help him post an ad on here if anyone is interested. Thanks for your help guys.

[Werewolf]

Dumb question but I know JACK about SKS'...

How does one ID an SKS as a Russian one and not a Yugo or Chinese one?

[rbernie]

http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/sks.htm

[benEzra]

If you ever do get an SKS, don't plan to put it in a folding stock. That would be a felony violation of 18 USC 922(r), since the SKS is classified as an imported rifle. You can put a folder on a SAR-1 or other AK lookalike that has no more than 10 imported parts, but I've never heard of an SKS that met the parts count rule, so they are subject to the full force of the 922(r) regulations.

[rbernie]

The good news is that TAPCO will sell you enough parts to meet the 10 part rule - it's really not that hard to do. The bad news is that the stock will have to be one of the US-made parts, so if it's an offshore stock you're outta luck.

[444]

My dealer has one (not new in box, but real nice) for $350. He told me I could have it for $300.
However, it has been sitting there for awhile.

[Mannlicher]

Thanks Rbernie,

Now I know that one of my SKS carbines is a 1952 Tula, sniper grade, and not a refurbished rifle. Great link. Darn little carbine sure shoots good too.