Prices on SKS rifles

I have no idea why they sell so well but in the last few months I sold a Yugo with a grenade launcher for $665, a Norinco for $700 and a Tula Russian with all matching numbers for $1050. I like it. Some of the hard-to-get H&K SP5's have brought $3500-$3750. I have sold 3 and all of them sold "BUY NOW" in less than a week. I haven't had an AK for several months except for a Saiga 12 ga. It went fast too.

Orion8472 said:

but you can't tell me that these things are actually worth that much, right? I understand "supply and demand",....but there's also being reasonable, isn't there?

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Things are "worth" whatever people are willing to pay for it. At the end of the day the SKS is a semi-automatic military issue firearm. That genre as a whole is very heavily collected. When they were coming in by the boatloads they were cheap but now that the imports have effectively dried up anybody who wants one is going to be buying them out of private collections, and private collection prices are going to be higher than bulk surplus prices. Granted, prices in any market will fluctuate and you'll see SKS's go up and down in the future, but the eventual price trend for anything that there's interest in but is no longer manufactured is always going to trend upwards.

mgmorden said:

...., but the eventual price trend for anything that there's interest in but is no longer manufactured is always going to trend upwards.

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Yes, that's in the nature of the fixed supply. But I think that the market's peaking in the short term, or will in the near future, and then next short-term price trend will be down. There's just too many potential buyers bitching about what these things are costing them these days and they're simply deciding to not buy or to wait for a better deal. Signs that demand may be slacking. Also, when us old coots that have been collecting these things die off our estates will be dumping them on the market because our heirs want the cash, not the hard assets. So ... two reasons these crazy prices may moderate in the future, at least in comparison to the overall market, and until the next collecting craze starts when the millenials get their shares of arthritis and grey hair and have retirement income to spend on the toys that were too expensive when they were young.

I wouldn't pay what all
these folks are paying,
but they're not me and
I'm not them

Around here the SKS is going for about $400 some are going for as high as $700+ but the Yugo is only getting about $300.

I bought two SKS's when they were $99.50 each. Prices now are too high for a somewhat inaccurate rifle. My VZ 52/57 shoots much better.
I'm glad to see higher prices since I have a Russian laminate stock, matching number SKS.

A year ago I was selling them for 800-900 dollars ,

wiscoaster said:

Yes, that's in the nature of the fixed supply. But I think that the market's peaking in the short term, or will in the near future, and then next short-term price trend will be down. There's just too many potential buyers bitching about what these things are costing them these days and they're simply deciding to not buy or to wait for a better deal. Signs that demand may be slacking. Also, when us old coots that have been collecting these things die off our estates will be dumping them on the market because our heirs want the cash, not the hard assets. So ... two reasons these crazy prices may moderate in the future, at least in comparison to the overall market, and until the next collecting craze starts when the millenials get their shares of arthritis and grey hair and have retirement income to spend on the toys that were too expensive when they were young.

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“when us old coots that have been collecting these things die off our estates will be dumping them on the market because our heirs want the cash, not the hard assets.”
I like this theory.

Some of us are hoping that a year from now, there will be a flood of lightly used guns, when the gun panickers sell off their impulse-purchase CCWs. But I don’t think those people WILL sell their guns. When you have one unused pistol in the closet, you don’t think, “I’m going to liquidate my collection and raise my net worth by $200.” Rather, you simply forget about the gun and it sits in the corner, forever, with the rest of your old junk.

BUT, what about all these kids today who don’t have driver licenses and who never go anywhere or do anything? When grandpa dies, they aren’t going to want his guns — they’re going to want the money!

So I’m hoping that we move into a Golden Age of Used Guns, the way we are already living in the Golden Age of New Guns

Orion8472 said:

.but you can't tell me that these things are actually worth that much, right?

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And I remember when a Coke or candy bar was a nickel.

A sheet of 3/4” plywood now costs $90

If someone will pay $800, then they’re worth $800. I think it’s called a free economy

Orion8472 said:

So,....why is it that even junky looking SKS rifles are going for around $600?

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Because people are selling junky looking ones for $600. Lots of new gun owners making bad decisions.

Nothing new, just like the last couple panics. I wonder how many folks are still paying interest on $600 AR’s and $12 P mags where they paid $2000 for the AR’s and $80 for the P mags at panic pricing, after Obama’s re-election and Sandyhook...

Just about everything is selling for much more than it "should". The shield 9 that I bought for $250 2 years ago id $400 now (considered a "deal" lol.) I did get lucky a couple weeks ago and picked up a nicely patina'd Rem model 11 for $240 OTD.

We just sold a norinco paratrooper model and 800 rounds of chicom ammo for $1400. I really liked the gun, and it seemes like one of the least likely semi autos to be banned. Fixed 10 rd mag, non-threaded barrel, no pistol grip...I think that's what's driving the market right now.

pairof44sp said:

BUT, what about all these kids today who don’t have driver licenses and who never go anywhere or do anything?...

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I'm hoping they discover the thrill of living real life by actually DOING something where they interact with the real physical universe and real people ... not by interacting glued to a smartphone or computer screen screen with images of a virtual universe and virtual people. Getting a reward in the real world by risking real harm and loss to conquer a bad situation is so much more inspiring and nourishing to the human soul and mind than just hitting the pause button to bail out and go to the refrigerator. These are the grown-up kids of today that will want guns ...

You'll like the 1873. I really like shooting mine. Its soo smooth. So much it needed an extra "oh". I have an SKS. Chinese commercial model. Not sure why they went up so much, everything right now has.

Define "worth".

Youre talking about an extremely reliable weapon with no magazines to lose, which is more accurate than an AK, less intimidating, uses the same ammo, and with stripper clips has firepower not too far behind the AK. On top of all that it makes a great customizable deer rifle and in spite of the $600 you might spend on a decent one, parts are fairly cheap and common.

Incidentally, I bought a Norinco in 1994 for $75 at a local discount department store. A little ugly but it was a great rifle.

Are there any new productions SKS's being made anywhere in the world today? If there are, they aren't importing any into the US. There is a finite supply of them. They often get a bad rep for whatever reason, but the fact is they are a reliable, rugged, semi-auto rifle that you cant go into any gun shop and have them order one for you. The used market is your only option.

Its the same as the single shot shotguns. They used to be piled in every corner for $75. Since H&R closed shop, I haven't seen one in the past couple years, and I would gladly pay $200 for a used one.

Cliff notes of logic:

When something long ago of historical significance that was plentiful and becomes rare three things come into mind that have an effect on its current worth: history, availability and inflation.

From a utility perspective a $600 AR has a lot more utility than a $600 SKS but that won’t keep gun nuts from wanting an SKS in their collection.

Intrinsic value isn’t solely related to usefulness.

Well military surplus is going up, only so much of it was made. Yes, I paid over $900 for a super mint, all numbers matching with a service record book for a Yugo 59/66. The chances of me coming across one locally again are very very low. New guns ill wait for a good deal to show up, old guns it's either buy or lose it and hope another shows up. I can risk gunbroker and have to pay a 3% card fee, shipping fee, taxes, then a $40 transfer fee

I just paid $1,200 for a M1 Carbine and was glad I found it as it’s in great shape. One can nearly buy two M1 Garands from the CMP for that price, but try and find good condition Carbines, and DO NOT say Royal Tiger Imports.

The thing is they ARE selling for $600.00 to an incredible $900.00 for a decent "commercial" (non-military) Chinese SKS. Yugoslavian aren't a heck of a lot cheaper either. The supply is finite so it's a seller's market. I'm glad I bought when I did. For once I was in time for the "Golden Age" of C&R.

I was at a gun show last week. I only saw a couple at $850. Right now you can put together a decent AR for around $550. But like someone said. It's a free market.

It's a sellers market. SKS is a hot item with the current numbskulls running the show, and the prices reflect. I remember when a case of 10 in ex cond was less than 500 bux. What good times those were.......and boy I'm glad I have a few layin around.
People are giving crazy money for stuff, seriously.
I have a few pre ban Polytech spiker AKs....I nearly had to change me drawers after I seen what a few of those went for

Orion8472 said:

So,....why is it that even junky looking SKS rifles are going for around $600? I understand that we're in a weird time with people buying stuff up,....but you can't tell me that these things are actually worth that much, right? I understand "supply and demand",....but there's also being reasonable, isn't there?

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As mentioned previously, if more restrictive laws are passed, it may be "you ain't seen nothing yet". If it scrapes by because it fits certain parameters like fixed mag, etc, they may skyrocket if AR's are banned.