Why are Poly Tech AK's so expensive on the used market?

[ijosef]

If you ever shot a really slick milled AK you would know why they go for that price.

I guess I'll get the chance to see for myself soon enough. It's still hard for me to believe that a rifle that was $300 twenty years ago is now over $1500 primarily for performance based reasons. I'd like to compare it with my WASR... to be fair, that's a gun that took under $200 ten years ago and now commands at least twice that.

 

[CA2005]

Times change. We didn't know what we had back then. Inflation and such makes these good AKs worth that, especially when cheaper weapons broke into the market. The difference is obvious upon first sight, let alone working the action or firing them. The Chinese could back in the 1980's (and probably still can) crank out these high quality AKs much cheaper than modern Western companies.

Chinese make a lot of junk, but when it comes to small arms, this is not the case. Their AK and SKS series weapons are top notch, and the best of the best.

 

[nalioth]

Inflation and such makes these good AKs worth that

How quickly we forget that at the time, the Chinese AKs held the same spot at the WASR does today - low end crapola.

 

[wayne in boca]

A Norinco MAK 90 is every bit the equal of a Polytech in every way except cost.It was made under one roof in a Chinese military factory with a 1.6 MM receiver and military grade fire control parts.Still the best bang for the buck in AK's.

 

[nathan]

A lot of villification of the AK 47 was back then bec of its commie connection. Red China just fired on its own people at TIananmen Square and Americans for the most part were outrage in 1989. And of course a lot of elitist feelings that anything from the commie world is crap and of no good.

Now after twenty plus odd years thing s have changed. Opinions changed as well. But for most American arms makers they would thank good ole CLinton for banning these cheap imports and thus curtailing their endless supply and subsequent competition in the market.

Even the recent ban of AK barrel imports is another way to stop a good AK design from making it to the streets.

 

[BamAlmighty]

Vepr AKs are well worth the $900-$1000 they go for now, 1 moa out of the box... can't argue with that.

My only regret is not buying more than the one.

 

[ijosef]

Vepr AKs are well worth the $900-$1000 they go for now, 1 moa out of the box... can't argue with that.

My only regret is not buying more than the one.

I know I'm going to regret this, but how much did they cost when new (back in the day)?

 

[nathan]

2004 i got a new in box MAK 90 from Gunbroker. It cost me $400 to my door after shipping and FFl fee. And its one of the best shooting AKs i have . Glad i did. But if i had bought it in 1998 it would had been only $250 plus tax in gunshows.

 

[BamAlmighty]

I know I'm going to regret this, but how much did they cost when new (back in the day)?

I paid just under $500 for mine.

 

[HorseSoldier]

If you ever shot a really slick milled AK you would know why they go for that price.

I've trained on .mil Bulgarian 5.56 rifles with milled receivers and Galils, and didn't find anything about either that would justify a higher price tag for milled versus stampled.

 

[CA2005]

How quickly we forget that at the time, the Chinese AKs held the same spot at the WASR does today - low end crapola.

Can you state what it is about the Chinese AK that makes them WASR like in quality? What do they not do right in their build and manufacture of the components?

If you can explain the above quote, you'll have me sold. Otherwise, I have a hard time understanding how a milled Polytech Legend with nicely finished wood and metal, never any issues with canted FSB, forged fire control parts, thick chrome lined hammer forged AK47 barrel, etc is same as a WASR.

State here the facts that make the Chinese AK crap. I remember everyone assumed and called them "Chinese junk" during the 80's...due to ignorance and bias towards Chinese made goods. I suspect the same here.

This is the same low end Chinese AK that from Vietnam that kept firing while our troops were knocking stuck casings from the M16 with a cleaning rod.

 

[nalioth]

How quickly we forget that at the time, the Chinese AKs held the same spot at the WASR does today - low end crapola.

Can you state what it is about the Chinese AK that makes them WASR like in quality? What do they not do right in their build and manufacture of the components?

You're reading more into it than I meant.

 

[Jim88]

A Norinco MAK 90 is every bit the equal of a Polytech in every way except cost.It was made under one roof in a Chinese military factory with a 1.6 MM receiver and military grade fire control parts.Still the best bang for the buck in AK's.

No way, No how, and No comparison! The Mak90 does not even come close to a POLYTECH LEGEND AK47, not even the stamped version....

The MAK90 is like a Nissan (Japanese rice burner) and the POLY is like a 455 Buick Skylark (USA iron tough) assembled like a Rolls Royce. LOL

FYI - The MAK90 is a frankenstein AK (Maadi receiver with the remainder Chinese) all put together (pinned) by drones with mallets....

 

[daskro]

Pre-89 AK and AK variants such a Polytechs, Norinco, Valmets, Galil, and Maadis are all 100% factory rifles in their original military configurations and can no longer be imported into the US. As such they command a certain collectors' value due to these factors.

Mechanically and practically speaking there's no difference between them and the variety of AKs on the market today. People are not buying these type of guns for a practical purposes, they're buying them for collectors' value.

 

[vanfunk]

FYI - The MAK90 is a frankenstein AK (Maadi receiver with the remainder Chinese) all put together (pinned) by drones with mallets

There is little that is correct in this sentence. You are confusing the MAK-90 with the MISR, which was a MAK-90 parts kit built on a MAADI receiver. As to the barrel being pressed and pinned, yes, stamped receiver MAK-90s have their barrels pressed in and pinned, and so do about 50 million well-functioning AK-pattern rifles. It is hardly a problem.

vanfunk