Miami_JBT
Member
Doing a little shooting at the local range and I've decided I'm going to take my Tula Arsenal SKS, H&R M1 Garand, and Marlin Glenfield Model 60.
At one point, the SKS Carbines were dirt cheap and couldn't be given away. I remember in the early 90s, walking the aisles of gun shows and seeing SKS Carbines stacked up like cord wood with signs saying "SKS for $99. For an extra $30, you get a case of ammo too." I've had this SKS for a long time and still got Norinco steel case to feed it.
As for the H&R Garand, no one wanted Cold War era Garands. Everyone was after the WWII period production guns with all matching parts. re-arsenaled mix-master M1s were a dime a dozen and collectors would hold up their nose to 'em. No one wanted 'em except for folks just wanting a quality shooter grade rifle. I got this one through the CMP back when Service Grade guns were maybe $400.
The little Marlin, I recall seeing these in Walmart, K-Mart, Sports Authority, and Oshman's. They were hovering between $80 to $100. I had one as a kid and at some point, my father traded it for a Ruger 10/22 and a couple of Butler Creek 25rd mags and a $20.
Now, all these guns are going for top dollar. Soviet SKS Carbines are going between $600-$1,000. M1 Garands are easily between the $1,000-$3,000 depending on condition and originality. Heck, Marlins are going between $300-$500 depending on the model variation.
What's the lesson? With some guns, what you think is today's high price will be tomorrow's steal. It is amazing how values have risen on a number of guns.
At one point, the SKS Carbines were dirt cheap and couldn't be given away. I remember in the early 90s, walking the aisles of gun shows and seeing SKS Carbines stacked up like cord wood with signs saying "SKS for $99. For an extra $30, you get a case of ammo too." I've had this SKS for a long time and still got Norinco steel case to feed it.
As for the H&R Garand, no one wanted Cold War era Garands. Everyone was after the WWII period production guns with all matching parts. re-arsenaled mix-master M1s were a dime a dozen and collectors would hold up their nose to 'em. No one wanted 'em except for folks just wanting a quality shooter grade rifle. I got this one through the CMP back when Service Grade guns were maybe $400.
The little Marlin, I recall seeing these in Walmart, K-Mart, Sports Authority, and Oshman's. They were hovering between $80 to $100. I had one as a kid and at some point, my father traded it for a Ruger 10/22 and a couple of Butler Creek 25rd mags and a $20.
Now, all these guns are going for top dollar. Soviet SKS Carbines are going between $600-$1,000. M1 Garands are easily between the $1,000-$3,000 depending on condition and originality. Heck, Marlins are going between $300-$500 depending on the model variation.
What's the lesson? With some guns, what you think is today's high price will be tomorrow's steal. It is amazing how values have risen on a number of guns.