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SKS Question
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<blockquote data-quote="cjjtulsa" data-source="post: 2524611" data-attributes="member: 6146"><p>Yes - matching numbers increase the value of the SKS, particularly those that are considered collectable. Non-matching Russians can drop in value much more than a non-matching Chinese, though. Same with the Yugos.</p><p></p><p>As far as justifying higher prices, the SKS has really taken off over the last few years for collectors, with Russians leading the pack. First year rifles (1949), ex-DDR rifles, "Izzy" rifles, among others. Then you have refurbs, non-refurbs, and "as-issued" rifles, with big jumps in price and collectability between the three. For the refurbs, there are "light refurbs", which didn't get too much work when being re-arsenaled, and still have all matching numbers and blued steel. Then there are rifles with more involved refurbishment, which can include force-matched numbers and "BBQ" paint over the bluing. Naturally, the closer to "as-issued" or "non-refurb" you get, the higher the price. And add in the more rare/unusual examples I listed above, the more valuable. The average refurbed Russian in good shape will likely run anywhere from $400-$500 these days, with some higher and some lower, especially if they've been "bubba'd" or are missing original parts.</p><p></p><p>Chinese rifles that can bring money are any of the 16" "paratrooper" models, with the highest priced rifles being the "SKS-D" and "M" or "Sporter" models that were modified to take AK mags. The "D" is worth the most, as it was an early import, and is typically a full-length rifle that retained the bayonet. One I'm looking out for is the "Chinese Security Forces" rifle, which is very rare, and the majority of people know nothing of it. That's good for me, if I run onto one! The Chinese also seem to rapidly loose value when someone swaps stocks, changes/loses the factory mag, removes the bayonet, swaps the top cover for a "tacticool" one with a scope mount, or worse - drills the receiver for a scope mount. The upside is you can find lots of Chinese rifles, usually at pretty good prices once you weed out the Tapco bubbas who think their gussied-up Chicom is worth a fortune. Edit to mention: there are threaded barrels and pinned, and some prefer one or the other, and some don't care. And then there are the different arsenals some prefer, but most don't care. Depending on condition, I see "standard" Chinese anywhere from $250 to $400 on the used market, paras run usually from $350-$500. </p><p></p><p>As for Yugos, I don't have much experience with them, other than to know that they are a nice, desirable variant. The most valuable of any SKS you will likely never see, and that's the North Vietnamese, the East German Karabiner-S. Only a handful of those ever made it state-side, and they are stupid expensive in the rare event that they do come up.</p><p></p><p>Sorry for the novel, but as you can see - I like the SKS! It gets an undeserved bad rap for legions of cheap rifles years ago. The Russian guns are well built, quality rifles.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="cjjtulsa, post: 2524611, member: 6146"] Yes - matching numbers increase the value of the SKS, particularly those that are considered collectable. Non-matching Russians can drop in value much more than a non-matching Chinese, though. Same with the Yugos. As far as justifying higher prices, the SKS has really taken off over the last few years for collectors, with Russians leading the pack. First year rifles (1949), ex-DDR rifles, "Izzy" rifles, among others. Then you have refurbs, non-refurbs, and "as-issued" rifles, with big jumps in price and collectability between the three. For the refurbs, there are "light refurbs", which didn't get too much work when being re-arsenaled, and still have all matching numbers and blued steel. Then there are rifles with more involved refurbishment, which can include force-matched numbers and "BBQ" paint over the bluing. Naturally, the closer to "as-issued" or "non-refurb" you get, the higher the price. And add in the more rare/unusual examples I listed above, the more valuable. The average refurbed Russian in good shape will likely run anywhere from $400-$500 these days, with some higher and some lower, especially if they've been "bubba'd" or are missing original parts. Chinese rifles that can bring money are any of the 16" "paratrooper" models, with the highest priced rifles being the "SKS-D" and "M" or "Sporter" models that were modified to take AK mags. The "D" is worth the most, as it was an early import, and is typically a full-length rifle that retained the bayonet. One I'm looking out for is the "Chinese Security Forces" rifle, which is very rare, and the majority of people know nothing of it. That's good for me, if I run onto one! The Chinese also seem to rapidly loose value when someone swaps stocks, changes/loses the factory mag, removes the bayonet, swaps the top cover for a "tacticool" one with a scope mount, or worse - drills the receiver for a scope mount. The upside is you can find lots of Chinese rifles, usually at pretty good prices once you weed out the Tapco bubbas who think their gussied-up Chicom is worth a fortune. Edit to mention: there are threaded barrels and pinned, and some prefer one or the other, and some don't care. And then there are the different arsenals some prefer, but most don't care. Depending on condition, I see "standard" Chinese anywhere from $250 to $400 on the used market, paras run usually from $350-$500. As for Yugos, I don't have much experience with them, other than to know that they are a nice, desirable variant. The most valuable of any SKS you will likely never see, and that's the North Vietnamese, the East German Karabiner-S. Only a handful of those ever made it state-side, and they are stupid expensive in the rare event that they do come up. Sorry for the novel, but as you can see - I like the SKS! It gets an undeserved bad rap for legions of cheap rifles years ago. The Russian guns are well built, quality rifles. [/QUOTE]
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