I have been looking for a used AK for some time. The country of origin has made no difference to me in my search but I have looked at almost nothing but Romanians. The highest price I am willing to pay is 350 dollars yet I can find new AKs closer to this price than used ones. Here is a perfect example of a new Romanian for 379. Link My question is why does everyone with a well used and abused Romanian ask 450-500 dollars for their precious AK? I have seen several used AKs sit unsold on Gunbroker for this very reason as well as in our own for sale area. Whats up with these prices is someone paying this for them or do I have room to negotiate? Like I said I have not seen one go for over 450 on Gunbroker so I don't think they are selling anymore.
What is going on with used AK prices?
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mljdeckard
Member
If it was me, I would crawl through the pawn shops to see what has been traded in by guys whose wives didn't think their imported toys were things to keep in a down economy. I'm looking locally here at Impact, and they are selling new for $399.
rangerruck
Member
because they are trying to get their money back. they bought the rifle, and never used it, never intended to use it, or what not, but they bought it during the great Obama rush at the beginning of this year, When crap ak's were going for 500 bucks. now the market is getting filled with ak's, and the price has been going down for the last 6 months, and will keep going down, back to normal levels I would believe. Whether or not ammo gets back to reality, is doubtful, but it should still go down some more as well.
Snakum
Member
New 10/63s with the ATI Dragenuv stock and forearm are at my local dealer for $398, as cheap as online. The plain wood WASR 10/63s were going for $600 six months ago, and I myself bought my first 10/63 folder (I have three) for $625. The guys who bought back in the Summer think they can recoup the money, and they're on crack.
The guys trying to sell used AKs at gun shows and in online auctions for more than $300 better start shooting and enjoying them.
I even know a dealer who isn't moving any of his AKs and ARs because he bought from his distributors when prices were up and now he's "under water on everything".
The guys trying to sell used AKs at gun shows and in online auctions for more than $300 better start shooting and enjoying them.
I even know a dealer who isn't moving any of his AKs and ARs because he bought from his distributors when prices were up and now he's "under water on everything".People have the right to ask for whatever they want, but nobody has to pay it. What I find irritating is when I see an overpriced gun sit for three or four weeks, then I make an offer and the seller acts as if I've lowballed him.
"But I've got $XXX in this gun if you count the accessories" So what? Your accessories have depreciated along with the gun.
"I paid $XXX and that is all I am trying to get out of it" I actually sent a guy a link to a NIB gun priced lower than his used one, and he acted like I was a criminal. You may or may not find a sucker to help you make your money back, but you are not entitled to recieve all of your money back on every gun you buy.
"They don't make this model anymore!" Yeah, I'm sure our grandkids will be fighting over them.
"It has less than XXX rounds down the pipe!" Yeah, so are you going to give me a 2 year warranty on it? With most firearms, the "NIB" price includes a warranty to the original owner, which ya don't get when you buy from Joe Schmoe.
The OP's Romanian AK example is the perfect example. These are now commonly found under $400 new (Classic Arms had them at $360 during their sale a couple of weeks back). Even if a used AK is in unfired condition, it is less valuable than an actual NIB one with a warranty. If you find a sucker, good for you... but don't be offended when someone offers $25 or $50 less than the lowest NIB price. A $300-$325 offer is fair given current market conditions. I'm sure that hurts if you paid $750 for it eight months ago, but them's the breaks.
I suppose used guns are often great deals, and guns hold their value relatively well for a reason. But lately, I've noticed a lot of this stuff (not really on THR but on other sites) and I really had to vent. Hell, I bought an M&P15 for almost $1200 four months ago... and yesterday I saw the same one for $900 plus shipping with five free Pmags! Guess what... my $1200 AR is no longer a $1200 AR... PERIOD!
(Yes, I feel better now)
"But I've got $XXX in this gun if you count the accessories" So what? Your accessories have depreciated along with the gun.
"I paid $XXX and that is all I am trying to get out of it" I actually sent a guy a link to a NIB gun priced lower than his used one, and he acted like I was a criminal. You may or may not find a sucker to help you make your money back, but you are not entitled to recieve all of your money back on every gun you buy.
"They don't make this model anymore!" Yeah, I'm sure our grandkids will be fighting over them.
"It has less than XXX rounds down the pipe!" Yeah, so are you going to give me a 2 year warranty on it? With most firearms, the "NIB" price includes a warranty to the original owner, which ya don't get when you buy from Joe Schmoe.
The OP's Romanian AK example is the perfect example. These are now commonly found under $400 new (Classic Arms had them at $360 during their sale a couple of weeks back). Even if a used AK is in unfired condition, it is less valuable than an actual NIB one with a warranty. If you find a sucker, good for you... but don't be offended when someone offers $25 or $50 less than the lowest NIB price. A $300-$325 offer is fair given current market conditions. I'm sure that hurts if you paid $750 for it eight months ago, but them's the breaks.
I suppose used guns are often great deals, and guns hold their value relatively well for a reason. But lately, I've noticed a lot of this stuff (not really on THR but on other sites) and I really had to vent. Hell, I bought an M&P15 for almost $1200 four months ago... and yesterday I saw the same one for $900 plus shipping with five free Pmags! Guess what... my $1200 AR is no longer a $1200 AR... PERIOD!
(Yes, I feel better now)
nwilliams
Member
Prices on AK's and AR's are pretty much back to what they were pre-Obama. For example J&G is selling WASR's brand new for under $400 again and Yugo's for under $500.
So now that these people who spent $600-$700 or more on WASR's during the big panic are thinking that by selling them for $450-$550 they will make up some of the money they lost. The truth is I wouldn't pay more than $300 for a used WASR no matter what condition it's in, used is used even if the owner didn't put any rounds through it.
So now that these people who spent $600-$700 or more on WASR's during the big panic are thinking that by selling them for $450-$550 they will make up some of the money they lost. The truth is I wouldn't pay more than $300 for a used WASR no matter what condition it's in, used is used even if the owner didn't put any rounds through it.
Shadow Man
Member
Noticed a WASR in good condition at a gunstore I frequent and trust. Selling it for $799...I took it up to the counter, and the young man knew he couldn't jerk me around with that price, and immediately dropped it to $599, still at least $150 more than I am willing to pay. I'll have some cold cash in the middle of December, that AK has been there for 5 weeks and isn't going anywhere, I'll see how low he is willing to go for a loyal customer.
I had an offer in the summer for $700 for my WASR 10 and about 500 rounds of ammo-- I passed-- probably shouldn't have, but my WASR is a known quantity, and well-- I am attached..stupid really, as I paid $400 delivered FTF summer of 08.
Today, I wouldn't pay more than $400 not including Xfer, and shipping for a WASR-- but I won't knock someone who does---
Today, I wouldn't pay more than $400 not including Xfer, and shipping for a WASR-- but I won't knock someone who does---
Shadow Man
Member
Probably, yes. Not a bad idea, actually...
OrangePwrx9
Member
Heh. The guys' wives are after them to get rid of the things, but they really don't want to. The gun gets posted on GB so the guy can say to his wife, "I'm trying to get rid of it, honey, I really am. It's posted on GB. Look for yourself." Of course it won't sell, but that's fine with the guy. More time to play with it.
If he did list it at a reasonable price, he might sell it but then catch H*LL for losing all that money. Sort of a Catch-22 with a convenient out.
If he did list it at a reasonable price, he might sell it but then catch H*LL for losing all that money. Sort of a Catch-22 with a convenient out.
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
In this market, what do you guys thing a Polytech "SP" (Post ban, think MAK) would sell for? 
I like it, an I'm not necessarily going to do that, but with the WASR prices lower, if I could get enough for it, would consider selling it and pitching in some funds to get 2 wasr aks.
Bad idea?
Market Value of the Polytech?
I like it, an I'm not necessarily going to do that, but with the WASR prices lower, if I could get enough for it, would consider selling it and pitching in some funds to get 2 wasr aks.
Bad idea?
Market Value of the Polytech?
Shadow Man
Member
I'll have to let you know the dollar amount when I finally wrestle that WASR away from him. I have good feelings about it though! Those things never turn out well, now that I think about it... 
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Ignition Override
Member
A seller has one at "SKSboards" for about $350.
rangerruck:
True, and many thousands of people appear to have believed last winter that the Single Top Priority of the Demokrats was to ban evil black military-styled guns with high-cap magazines (despite the near-record loss of jobs and homes), while a serious fraction of our citizens suspected that the country was on the edge of descending into some sort of anarchy due to the economic crisis.
Last winter numerous newspaper or television reporters asked people in gun stores why they were buying an AR etc.
A typical response was something like: "Well, I don't need (want) one but better git one now just in case they are not available 'cause of Obama".
rangerruck:
True, and many thousands of people appear to have believed last winter that the Single Top Priority of the Demokrats was to ban evil black military-styled guns with high-cap magazines (despite the near-record loss of jobs and homes), while a serious fraction of our citizens suspected that the country was on the edge of descending into some sort of anarchy due to the economic crisis.
Last winter numerous newspaper or television reporters asked people in gun stores why they were buying an AR etc.
A typical response was something like: "Well, I don't need (want) one but better git one now just in case they are not available 'cause of Obama".
People get emotionally attached to the value of their stuff. Everybody knows home values have dropped, but even in the middle of the places home prices have dropped the most, everybody there thinks their house is special and has held its value.
As soon as gun prices starting falling everyone here should have recognized the deals would be at the dealer level, not with joe on the street. Joe on the street will be the last guy to drop his prices.
A buddie of mine went to go look at an FTF SKS deal. The guy wanted $800 for the SKS and 1K rounds because he saw what a dealer was 'selling' them for and thought his was worth the same. Buddie passed but dufus won't be dropping his price until he walks back into some gun stores and starts seeing the real prices.
In the mean time maybe he found a sucker?
As soon as gun prices starting falling everyone here should have recognized the deals would be at the dealer level, not with joe on the street. Joe on the street will be the last guy to drop his prices.
A buddie of mine went to go look at an FTF SKS deal. The guy wanted $800 for the SKS and 1K rounds because he saw what a dealer was 'selling' them for and thought his was worth the same. Buddie passed but dufus won't be dropping his price until he walks back into some gun stores and starts seeing the real prices.
In the mean time maybe he found a sucker?
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