Polish Tantal...Collectability..if any?

[justin 561]

I am trying to free up enough funds to buy a press kit, or piece buy the press and accessories. I am planning to sell a CAI Polish Tantal and a extra Sako M39 that I own, but I don't know the prices either are going for, or the collectability of the Tantal. Will it ever be a collectable? Is it worth keeping? I find myself using the scoped M39, Scoped AR, and scoped Savage MK II. It has been out of the safe once to shoot a variety of brands to check for keyholing and such, which there was none. I have tried to gather prices from gunbroker and other selling websites, but gunbroker is the only one selling them for between $750-$980.

My Questions:

Will this Polish Tantal ever have any collectable value?
What is a reasonable price I could ask for it, and maximize my end "profit"?
Should I hold onto it? I never end up shooting the iron sight rifles I have.
What are Sako M39s going for these days? It is a 1944 Sako M39 (1901 receiver) in really good condition with only a few small spots of blue missing.


Thanks for any input, it is always appreciated, and is why I come here.

 

[fallout mike]

Jg sales has them for $679 with folding stock, bipod, and 1 magazine. Im not really an ak guy so I don't know about collectibility.

 

[justin 561]

Thanks for the pricing.

 

[rule303]

Impossible to say if there will be collector interest in the future. 20 years ago, Norinco SKS's and AK's were looked down on as junk, but now command premium prices. Tantal prices are already 50% higher than they were a few years ago.
Finn M39's seem to be going anywhere from $375-550.

 

[justin 561]

Thanks for the replies. I have noticed the price for tantal shot up from when I bought it $350 now for $649. I love all the rifles I end up buying and hate to part with them, but I think hand loading for the AR and future .308 would be a better investment than a gun that sits in the corner. I want to get more into precision shooting with sub MOA instead of minute of man.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Century does not bode well for becoming a collectible, but stranger things have certainly happened.

 

[boricua9mm]

A couple of years ago, those rifles had a bad reputation for barrels that would keyhole rounds. It killed a lot of the market's interest. Whether or not you can even get your money back may be dependent on the buyer's knowledge of what he's looking at.

 

[justin 561]

As stated in the first post, keyholing is not a issue with this tantal nor is canted or crooked sights. I have shot about 100 rounds of 7n6, 60gr wolf fmj, wolf 55gr hp, 69gr wolf, and all wolf SP of various gr, and Tula. The only problem with any of the ammo was Tula wouldn't eject, but after research this seems to be a common problem due to the case, coating, or combination of both, even on other 5.45 rifles. I know I could get my money back, doubled even as I bought for $300 and now are selling for $650+shipping+transfer, so even at a price like $500 in a cash FTF both buyer and seller would be getting a fair deal.

 

[boricua9mm]

You say it doesn't keyhole, and that's fine. On the other hand, if I were buying the rifle, I'd want to measure the bore myself to verify that it is a 5.45 and not a tumbling 5.56 barrel.

Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Up for sale is a model is known to have problems, but the seller says it doesn't have problems. Trust him? Ask him to prove it? Avoid it altogether?

If I were selling it, I'd include pics/video of test firing as well as a micrometer in the bore. That might go a long way to put the buyers' minds at ease and to get more money out of the transaction.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

Justin,
On post #5 you paid $350, by post #8 it was $300.
Just so you know, we all have cut our losses and sold a gun for less than what we paid, no shame in that. As you stated the sale would net you some gain. So if you can get the $150 to $200 more, (depending on what you actually paid) you are ahead of the game, and can buy more of what you want, with the proceeds. I'd call that a win-win.
STW

 

[akv3g4n]

I think that any collectibility of the Tantal in the future will be for the Interarms version with the chrome lined barrel. Don't get me wrong, I have a CAI Tantal and have never had any issues with it, but I think a collector would opt for one with a perceived higher build quality that is more historically accurate.

Also, with the new ban on cheap 7N6 ammo and Waffen Werks pumping out high quality Bulgarian AK74's for a very affordable price, I think it'd be prudent to try to get around $500 if you can for a used Tantal and probably end up settling on $450.

 

[highpower]

While there may be some collectability in the distant future, I don't see any in the near run. Remember, these are parts guns with a US receiver and barrel. I see the prices on all firearms rising some, but then they have always risen as the dollar is further degraded in value.

My theory on selling guns is this; If you have already spent the money and you are not paying it off on a credit card, keep it.

If you want to buy a reloading set up save your $ and buy it with the cash you save up. I have been into guns for many years and while I have regretted selling many of my guns, I have never regretted keeping any.

 

[justin 561]

Sun Tzu, I didn't notice the mistake. I don't know why I said $350 on post five, it was actually $300, sorry for the mix up. I would be more than happy to take $500 as that would be fair price around my area. I have seen a few pop up on Florida gun trader website in my area, and 1 in a gun store all used, for $700. I would like the buyer and me to get a fair deal, as I wouldn't want someone trying to overprice me if I were the buyer. I have no shame in taking a loss, and have a couple times during the price hikes of the great gun grabs of years past when I frantically bought a few rifles that were being price gouged. Thanks for all the replies and information.