Is this rifle considered to be collectable ?

Here in the U.S., for whatever reason, perhaps...

But relative to the 75 million AK-47s, and its 100 million Kalashnikov-family brethren...

Prolly not

I guess an individual's particular appreciation of the word *collectible* factors heavily into this one.

By my appreciation of the word.... no, it is not.

It will go up in value, it HAS skyrocketed in value since imported but as far as starting or building a collection around? Not so much unless one had an extensive collection of semi-auto AKs or perhaps a generally legal-version collection of Egyptian or Arab-Israeli war firearms.

Todd.

Jasper Mcgee said:

Thanks. I got it from a family member for $500.00

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Buy them a nice dinner, that's pretty significantly under market value currently.

Jasper Mcgee said:

How much under ? I want to be fair with them.

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Before you get too *fair* - find out what magazines cost as a part of your end of the equation.


Todd.

At least $500 under, probably more, even with the EG furniture instead of laminate. You did well grasshopper..Find a cleaning rod, they look stupid w/o one.

Bill

It's not hugely collectable; but it's not un-collectable either.
Folding stock Maadi are not exactly common; and there's some scarcity in AK variants out there.

But Maadi have been in the US for close to three decades now. So, off a gunshow table, I'd really eyeball that folding stock as it could have been added by a previous owner. What with many Maadi arriving to these shores with "thumbhole" stocks. I'm forgetting right now, but the side folder might be Bulgarian, rather than Egyptian. I could be wrong in this, though.

Jasper Mcgee said:

How much under ?

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About $200.
Low end AK are around $700, upper end are $800 and up. It certainly looks good, without seeing the bore. This that's a tick up; a tick down for the (probably added on) stock and grip. Which will just about balance out.

Keep in mind that all "collectible" AKs are far down in the realm of collectible arms. They are a novelty to many, fun to shoot, but will never be a high end collectible.

Jasper Mcgee said:

He gave me three 30 round magazines with it.

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Great. That's a good break-even starter for magazines.

Regional pricing being what it can be and getting it from a family member I wouldn't be ashamed to take it for the $500, especially if you weren't already in the market for one.

You're still ahead but if this or the magazines were suddenly deemed illegal with the current administration - how would you feel?

I wouldn't over think it but there is certainly a couple-few hundred to your credit in the situation as the market now stands.

Todd.

Rubone said:

Keep in mind that all "collectible" AKs are far down in the realm of collectible arms. They are a novelty to many, fun to shoot, but will never be a high end collectible.

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While i agree, compared to really highend stuff they wont, or likely wont, be super collectibles....but still.....
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/901668243

CapnMac said:

It's not hugely collectable; but it's not un-collectable either.
Folding stock Maadi are not exactly common; and there's some scarcity in AK variants out there.

But Maadi have been in the US for close to three decades now. So, off a gunshow table, I'd really eyeball that folding stock as it could have been added by a previous owner. What with many Maadi arriving to these shores with "thumbhole" stocks. I'm forgetting right now, but the side folder might be Bulgarian, rather than Egyptian. I could be wrong in this, though.


About $200.
Low end AK are around $700, upper end are $800 and up. It certainly looks good, without seeing the bore. This that's a tick up; a tick down for the (probably added on) stock and grip. Which will just about balance out.

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I haven't seen any AK's much under 1k for a little while. Even WASR10's are hovering around that number. Arsenal's and the like, are ~1500 or so.

Just take care of it and spend the difference on ammo to keep it ready to defend the family.

gotboostvr said:

I haven't seen any AK's much under 1k for a little while. Even WASR10's are hovering around that number. Arsenal's and the like, are ~1500 or so.

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That is my reasoning for the 1K figure, nothing local is under that for six months or longer, even the built kits. CapnMac may be thinking of the EG folders, the match for the front end and PG on that rifle now.Bill

I had a MAADI years ago. It was one of the first ones imported after the AWB and still had the threaded barrel with a cover welded in place. Later ones had the threaded portion removed. They came with thumbhole stocks during that period. IIRC, the Egyptians made them on machines that they got from the Soviet Union. All of the MADDI imports I have seen all had a cheap painted finish on them. They are as reliable as any other AK.

I think its unlikely that any foreign made semi auto rifles will be allowed in the country for much longer, so I would place my bet on the value of that rifle increasing by several times when that day happens. The guys that do not think a utilitarian firearm like an AK holds any collector value are forgetting that there is a whole new generation of guys now that learned about guns from playing video games and they would push aside a pile of pre 64 winchesters and Fox doubles to get to a unique AK. I am not personally one of them, but just look at what has happened to SKS's. They went from $89 to $500 in a decade and there are a bajillion of them in the country.

That folding stock sure looks like it's an Easy German unit. Very uncomfortable to shoot. Early Maadis were better finished that later production versions and therefore more desirable. You got a good deal at $500. Value is around $700-1100 depending on location.

Just keep it until you die. It's going to be a very worthwhile part of your estate.

AKs are collectable just not in the way everyone thinks. I collect them (that's how I got my name) but they are collectable because of the value in price increase they get over a few years. Most of mine I bought for a few hundred & some are worth thousands now.
I started collecting them when ARs cost 1K & up now ARs are $300 to $400 starter guns & AKs are $700 to $3K+ for rare ones. For some reason I think that's funny. LOL

I had at one time more than a dozen AK variants. Most were pre any ban and acouple Maadi were among them . They had slant breaks and ugly greyish wood and painted finish but we're known to be closest to Soviet AKM available at the time. One was an under older and the other a fixed AK stock. Because of their authenticity they sold in 1998 right before the California ban for about the same as the beautiful in the box Chinese stamped version. I kept a Chinese Milled AK 47 Legend. Two Hungarian AMD 63 types , and three Yugos , one under folder, one heavy barrelled with bipod and one .308 version. I also had since earlier 80 s a Norwegian variant Valmet in .223 , which I sold for big bucks in 90 s , and milled Bulgarian, which was more modern and probably the best of the bunch , my son got that one in Oregon instead of me registering it as an assault weapon in 2000 for his undergraduate graduation present.

Ok, y'all are making my memory work. I want to remember the East German folders were under-folders (pre AWB), the Bulgarian (or Hungarian--fickle memory) were wire side folders, and at least some of the Maadi were "crutch top" stocks.
The variations were so many, and the mix-n-match once they got here was blinding.
I know my preference was just plain wood. But, that's me.

CapnMac said:

Ok, y'all are making my memory work. I want to remember the East German folders were under-folders (pre AWB), the Bulgarian (or Hungarian--fickle memory) were wire side folders, and at least some of the Maadi were "crutch top" stocks.
The variations were so many, and the mix-n-match once they got here was blinding.
I know my preference was just plain wood. But, that's me.

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East German folder prior to going to the 72 Crutch top. They were notorious for being uncomfortable like the AMD 65 Hungarian only worse. Personally I think the under folder is worst !


Here is all three East german variants