Yet another SKS question

[gburner]

I hope you will take pity on this foolish and impulsive soul.

In the years that I have owned firearms I have had two SKS'. The first was a Norinco 'Paratroop' carbine and the more recent was a Yugo. By and by I sold them both, either for cash in hard times or to finance some other gun purchase.
Long story short, I have severe sellers remorse.

I know that I can get a Yugo in great shape for less than $150.00. What I really want, however, is the shorter
Chinese carbine. It seems that they are harder to find than hen's teeth and I have no idea what is fair price for one in good shape. Can anyone give me some info on where to find this elusive prize? Thanks.

 

[eatatjoes]

check out www.sksboards.com some of the posters over there are always looking to unload some of their firearms.

 

[DMK]

I like the Paras also. Compact like an AK, but with the solid feeling of that machined SKS reciever.

I see them at gunshows all the time. Also try those dust corners of your local gunshops and pawnshops.

 

[rde]

Can also find them on the auction as well (such as gunbroker.com). I won an auction recently for a paratrooper model and was surprised when it arrived that it was an all matching number factory 26 (military SKS cut down to "paratrooper" length for civilian market...versus many that were cut down and slapped together with non-matching parts..but still quite functional). Only problem was the stock was in very bad shape and will have to be replaced (in terms of looks or appearance).

I like them quite well and have seen prices range from $200 to $500..so I would take my time and not jump on the first one I came across if it is on the high end of the price spectrum. They are out there waiting for their rightfull owner .. and the low end AK prices (SAR-1 for example) can be used to help negotiate price down to reasonable levels.

I myself am now on the lookout for the paratrooper "sporter" version that was modified at the factory to use standard AK mags AND has the unusual thumbhole stock. Why...well, just because I suppose.

 

[cabinetman]

"Para" SKS is a commercial rifle...

Just so you know, the SKS "paratrooper" model shorty is a commercial rifle. It was never issued to troops and is why it is not a C&R along with many other Chinese SKSs. They were made for the commercial market alone. They are no longer imported, either, iirc, since they are Norinco products. They're difficult to find but check on the auction sites and maybe you'll dig one up.

Just thought I'd bring that to your attention. They are a cool looking firearm but I'd prefer the "real thing" like your Yugo which was probably in the field up until a couple of years ago.

Rome

 

[rde]

Correct, the "paratrooper" was not issued to military soldiers. They were standard SKS rifles that had the barrel cut down to 16.5 inches to be sold on the civilian/commercial market. Marketed to be a shorter, faster handling, and slightly more lightweight version of the SKS.

They were not produced for the military. And they were not produced from the factory with a 16.5 inch barrel. But some of the underlying SKS rifles that were pulled out of the warehouse for this process were originally produced for military service (then, years later, had the barrel cut down and shipped out to the commerical/civilian market). Mine falls into this category being that it was produced in the 26 factory and the serial number dates it to 1964. And luckily all parts remained intact through the process and therefore match. I have actually seen 1 Sino-Soviet model that was all matching and cut down to "paratrooper" length. A lot of them were later production guns, and as time went some of the later imports came in with mis-matched numbers (either the parts got switched around in the process .. or by the importer..have heard both stories).

And, correct, even though mine may have originally been destined for military service...they used new unissued rifles for this process...so it has no field history as some of the "issued" Yugos may have.

But, I like the shorter barrel. If I want history then I pull the 54 all matching Russian Tula out of the Safe.