Today, $400 is considered cheap for 'em.

[Miami_JBT]

Picked up the ChiCom SKS recently to go with my Soviet. I had a ChiCom a while back and sold it. But I've wanted another one but didn't want to pay today's higher prices for one. LGS had it as a consignment sale marked at $450. Talked 'em down to $400 for it.

I've checked GunBroker's completed sales and they're averaging $600-$700. Now, mint in the box Navy Arms Cowboy Companions with the matching optics of course go for more as an example. But a run if the mill ChiCom is averaging between $600-$700. So, $400 is a good price.



It is an 9186 Arsenal made rifle, possibly made in 1980. Short collar barrel lug, cast rear sight block, post 1968 production pattern bolt (no lightening cut), stamped trigger guard, all matching numbers with Type 56 marking.The bore is chrome lined and mint. Even has the original sling and cleaning kit in the buttstock. Basically, this is later production military contract Type 56 that was later sold to a US importer for the US commercial market.

I'd like to find a 16" "paratrooper" for cheap. Yeah, they were never military pattern. But a 16" SKS with bayonet just seems like a fun little handy rifle.

 

[HB]

I sold the 16” one that takes AK mags for $850 during the covid panic. It was handy but my AR pistol outshot it handily. Interesting guns and very ‘50s.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I sold the 16” one that takes AK mags for $850 during the covid panic. It was handy but my AR pistol outshot it handily. Interesting guns and very ‘50s.

The SKS-D or SKS-M were legit commercial products made for the US market and for a while they were a steal. I had a chance (over a decade now) to buy a SKS-D, but passed on it due to price. It was around $500 and I thought that was too much.

 

[Mars5l]

That stock on the Russian is so nice, I need one. I keep seeing on occasion Chinese SKSs on the local trader for relatively cheap. $350-$400. I've considered scooping them up but not super close already have a surplus Chinese and a commercial Chinese.

 

[DeerPark]

My father purchased a WASR-10 and an SKS back in 2007 for $700 (as in, for both weapons). The clerk even through in a box of Wolf ammunition.

During Covid panic they were going for like $800. They haven't really come down.

unpopular opinion - Something is "worth" what a person is willing to pay for it. Gun prices are probably going to be inflated in the US forever now. The years of SKSes for a few hundred bucks a crate are long gone.

 

[silicosys4]

The sporter AK's that take AK mags are the pinnacle of fun for an SKS pattern rifle.

 

[HB]

The SKS-D or SKS-M were legit commercial products made for the US market and for a while they were a steal. I had a chance (over a decade now) to buy a SKS-D, but passed on it due to price. It was around $500 and I thought that was too much.

It was substantially lighter and handier than the Yugo I had. Even with Tech Sights it was basically a 4” rifle off the bench. The Yugo was much more accurate but I had little use for a 9# 7.62x39. I sold the Yugo this year with a couple hundred rounds of ammo for $700.

They are certainly an interesting piece of gun history. They were obsolete from their inception, but their popularity in the 90s and 2000s is even more interesting to me. The 16” is basically a semi auto 30-30 and certainly were a popular deer rifle. They were a lot of fun when ammo was $2.99 a box!

 

[Miami_JBT]

My father purchased a WASR-10 and an SKS back in 2007 for $700 (as in, for both weapons). The clerk even through in a box of Wolf ammunition.

During Covid panic they were going for like $800. They haven't really come down.

unpopular opinion - Something is "worth" what a person is willing to pay for it. Gun prices are probably going to be inflated in the US forever now. The years of SKSes for a few hundred bucks a crate are long gone.

Very much so, the days of cheap surplus guns and ammo is most certainly done. I remember when Mauser, Mosins, Enfield, Carcanos, SKS Carbines, FALs kits, CETMEs, and AKs were all dirt cheap. Ammo was flowing like rain in South Florida during a thunderstorm. Police surplus guns were literally being used as door-stops.

So many arms and munitions were made during WWII and the Cold War and put away from the the balloon went up. Then suddenly, the ballon instead of going up, popped. And all those guns and munitions hit the open market. The market was artificially lowered and what a tine it was to purchase guns and ammo.

I'm still shooting Norinco 7.62x39mm after all these years. I still have Czech 7.62x54r and Chilean 7.62mm NATO in ammo cans.

I remember doing AK build parties with TAPCO receiver flats, Romanian kits with barrels, and a Harbor Freight press. And the the AKs basically cost me $250 a build.

And now, it is ARs that are $350 rifles.

 

[jmr40]

I had a couple back in the day. I can't say that I really liked them, but with today's prices wish I'd bought a truck load of them and kept them. I can remember them selling for $69 each; or the rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo for $200. That was cheaper than most 22's.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I had a couple back in the day. I can't say that I really liked them, but with today's prices wish I'd bought a truck load of them and kept them. I can remember them selling for $69 each; or the rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo for $200. That was cheaper than most 22's.

A SKS and a case of Norinco ammo was cheaper than a Ruger 10/22 and ammo.

 

[tubeshooter]

$400 is a good deal in my view for today and for what it is.
Especially for one so (relatively) minty.

Congratulations and hope you enjoy it.


I would take that deal; much easier decision for me since the ammo is already around...

 

[Miami_JBT]

$400 is a good deal in my view for today and for what it is.
Especially for one so (relatively) minty.

Congratulations and hope you enjoy it.


I would take that deal; much easier decision for me since the ammo is already around...

I have a ton of Russian and Chinese made 7.62x39mm in boxes and stripper clips for the SKS. I like the SKS more than the AK.

 

[22250Rem]

Here's a page out of SHOTGUN NEWS from the early to mid 1990's, I believe. Don't forget that those are FFL dealer prices. In early 1995 I purchased an unfired, arsenal rebuilt Russian SKS in a laminated stock for $225. from an FFL that I knew, right out of the full crate he had purchased, they were 10 to a crate IIRC. It's still residing in the safe unfired. Brand new, unfired SKS's for two & a quarter, my cost. I wish that I had stocked up on them. . But at least I have 2 Chinese SKS's from the late 80's, early 90's for shooters and range toys along with more than enough 7.62x39 non-corrosive steel case ammo to last the rest of my life at the rate I'm using it now.

 

[Speedo66]

You did well!

The arctic birch stock on your Russian is off the charts beautiful.

 

[Ignition Override]

1) The fact that the SKS rifles are milled vs. a small minority of AKMs, plus

2) the longer “sight distance” , better accuracy of a standard SKS can influence preferences in ways that some owners aren’t consciously thinking about.

3) And the bayonets folded under SKS barrels:
This is rare on an AKM; most lugs were cut off.

 

[rust collector]

My Chinese factory 26 provided great fun, but I haven't fired it in a long time. The roaring 90s were good to us, but had to be tough on domestic gun manufacturers.

It's probably time for me to sell my old war horses so some youngster can enjoy them.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Circa 1992 got my 59/66 for $79 bucks there were 40 or so on the rack to choose from.$300 bucks or so and left with gun and 3k rounds of ammo.Should of bought a dozen.

 

[FL-NC]

I believe the SKS is a fun range rifle that can definitely be used effectively to hunt deer at closer ranges, and if necessary can be pressed into a defensive mode- 10 rounds of x 39 from a semiauto is nothing to balk about. But I guess I'm living in the past, because to me they are all worth about $200 in today's $ and should still be cheap to shoot. The idea that I can buy a decent 223 AR15 for the same price as what these things are going for, and even feed it for cheaper than feeding a SKS is crazy.

 

[tubeshooter]

Sure - if you view it through yesterday's lens then I suppose.

But what would it cost you today to buy a budget bolt gun in 7.62 x 39?
Around $400-ish?
Something likely much less durable, by the way...

What did a 10/22 cost back in 1995?
Or even earlier?
And why is it so much today?
Hint: It's not because they stopped importing cheap ammo for it.


This is more what I'm basing today's price on.
I like them okay, but I don't want to pay $800 for one.
I don't expect them to still cost $200, either.

 

[American_Fusilier]

I like the SKS more than the AK.

Me too. Though if I were going into battle, I'd take the AK, if not only for the standard cap 30rd mags..

But I find the SKS a cooler looking gun and more fun to operate.

I got a Chinese type 56 a few years ago for $350. It's in serviceable condition, but was absolutely caked in cosmoline. Took a while to get it operating again...

 

[Miami_JBT]

https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/sks-price-value-trends

 

[WestKentucky]

2008 I lived in Knoxville TN. I lived near a good pawn shop that moved a lot of inventory from the gun racks. I had just moved and hadn’t got my drivers license updated yet so I couldn’t do a 4473 yet. Shop took a few crates of SKS in on trade. I got a TN license and went back, they were down to 1 case. I bought the case of 6. Chicom, cosmoline, full kit in the stock. I think the crate cost me a grand plus the $10 background check, plus tax, so basically 1100 bucks. I sold them all off shortly thereafter because 99.75 hours a week turned into 10 hours a week and I still had to pay rent. I think I got 300 each when I sold them. Still miss the one I messed with most. It actually had decent wood and I’m gonna call it almost unissued condition. The rougher guns went first and even those were nicer than most I see today.

 

[GRIZ22]

Not amazing.

First, take a look at inflation.

Second, take a look at population

Lots of more people wanting these guns.

Supply and demand.

Finite numbers of these firearms out there.

 

[jmorris]

$400 may be cheap for them now but it doesn't make them any better than they were when they were cheap.

We could print more paper with and raise minimum wage to $100/hr and create $400 Big Mac's but they will still be a crummy burger.

If you want to look at guns that really took off in price, look at ones that got in the registry before May 19 1986.

 

[Lennyjoe]

My last SKS purchase was in 2000 when I ordered 3 Yugo SKS‘s for $98 each shipped to my home under a C&R. Man I miss those days.