Updated 1/20/02 - DS

OVERVIEW:  Many mails have found their way into my inbox from people inquiring as to the approximate value of various SKS's.  It's undeniably important to possess a point of reference to know whether or not a potential deal is worthwhile.  Experience is what most of us rely on, but what if you are new to this and don't have that luxury?  "Blue Books" are another resource, but I know of none which exist that contain the value of a Simonov.  Unfortunately, there is no set price for anything, but I can offer some basic guidelines.

Prices will vary for a variety of factors.  These factors are:

1. The condition of the rifle

2. Rarity of the particular weapon

3. The country or factory of origin (which influences rarity, quality, and sometimes condition)

4. Geographic location of the transaction (an AK-47 costs US $500 in the States, but one can buy a similar rifle for $5 in South Africa).  In the US, prices vary from state to state.

5. Modifications, enhancements, and possibly any add-on's to the piece.  

6. The salesman will also factor heavily into the equation.  A rifle from a gun shop with high overhead will inherently cost more than one from an individual wandering the floor of your local gun show selling theirs.   

7. The current social/political climate is also a consideration.  Let's squeeze new legislation under this category as well.  

Let us take a closer look into the influence of politics on firearm prices through the eyes of a SKS enthusiast (that would be me).  In the mid 1990's, if someone were to try to sell me a unfired Chinese SKS for $180, I'd think that person was high on crack.  These carbines were selling for around $65.00, paratroopers for $75.00.  Then the government goes and bans them from import, driving the price up past $300.00 in some parts of the country.  The gun dealers were lamenting and crying about government oppression, the whole while lining their pockets selling rifles at a 300-400% mark-up.  (No sympathy here...)  

I've demonstrated how legislation directly affected market value, but how do social climates sway prices?  Point in case:  Y2K.  The uncertainty of the coming millennium drove up demand on affordable, dependable firearms, so SKS prices doubled.  I distinctly remember cruising pawn shops earlier that year pricing Chinese SKS's at approx $150 and by year's end the prices crested at around $300.  I sold my only SKS at this time for $280 knowing full well there would be a glut of Simonovs after the mass paranoia bled off.  I know of a gun shop in Houston where SKS prices are still grossly inflated because the owner has so much invested in them.  

Politically, things are settling down a bit and market forces are slowly returning these firearms to their true value.  Now, five years later, if someone offers me that same unfired Chinese SKS for $180, I'd have made a new friend.  What a difference a few years makes.

GENERAL VALUE AS OF 12/1/01

Most importantly, you need to assess what any given rifle is worth to you.  I'm not saying you should pay any more or less than what's on the above chart, but sometimes paying a little more is worthwhile.  For example, if you're dying to own a stamped receiver Chinese SKS, it's not entirely unreasonable to pay $300+ to own it.  If you are educated about what you are buying, and you are willing and able to pay what is asked for the rifle, the deal should end there.  Complaining about a costly purchase after the sale is bad form.

A few notes about making the deal:

• ONLINE or CATALOG BUYING:  Buying sight unseen is risky.  If at all possible, try to do business with large companies as they have reputations to protect and there is some recourse for misdeeds.  Don't be too overly attracted or influenced by online prices, either.  Remember, insured, high end shipping can cost upward $50.00.  Add that to the F.F.L. fee from the dealer receiving the firearm at the destination point which can range $30-50.  Or more.  To clarify, one sees an ad for a $130 Romanian SKS.  It seems like a screaming deal since dealers at shops and shows may sell them for $170.  However, after all the sundry expenses in transferring the carbine into your hands, you'll most likely be paying $170 anyway.  If you don't have a FFL, you may be better off buying from the dealer because you don't have to wait, you can inspect the firearm before buying it, you may have a selection to choose from, you can trade, you can haggle, you have recourse, and , you may wind up paying less in the long run.

• If the rifle is missing the bayonet lug, missing the original magazine, stamped with mismatched serial numbers, or in a form altered from the way it came out of the factory, the collector's value is significantly lessened if not entirely lost.

• Because a rifle's collector's value is ruined doesn't mean it's practical value is ruined.  I'll happily pay full market value for a cherry commercial Chinese variant or used SKS with all the aftermarket parts or modifications I wanted to add to it anyway.

• Adding a $30 synthetic stock or detachable magazine doesn't necessarily mean the rifle is worth more.  You have to lose original parts on a pristine rifle to get there, so the loss in value is offset by the addition of the new part.  Furthermore, a used rifle is worth less than an unfired one, so again, the value may be restored but definitely not raised by adding swap out goodies.

• Adding a $80 synthetic stock, $100 scope and mount, and $60 worth of magazines will absolutely raise the value of any rifle in good shape.

• Some people try passing off Romanians as Chinese.  Every time they do it, they line their pockets with an ill-gotten $50-$100 of customer ignorance.  Verify what you are buying to the best of your ability.  It's amazing how fast a talkative, fountain of knowledge gun dealer, who will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about any topic you can stand to listen to, will dummy up and get all quiet when caught selling a Romanian as a Chinese.  I love busting crooked dealers on this point and every single time they shoot me an evil look as if I've somehow slighted them.  Go figure. 

• Pre-ban means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to you today.  Don't let someone rob $50-$100 from you because the added a little tag with the word "PRE-BAN" scribbled on it.  If it is truly pre-ban, they will be able to provide concrete proof such as old sales receipts with the serial number and date recorded on it, the notarized import record, the Department of Defense bring back paperwork, or show you the import date stamped into the barrel.  Otherwise, how the hell would they even know?  There are no public import records (that anyone will confess to) for pre-ban Simonovs, so how could they possibly know?  Are they psychic?  Do they have a magic wand they wave over a pile of firearms to make the pre-ban ones levitate out of the pile?  Try this.  Enjoy the stammering and "deer in the headlights" look you'll get if you ask them, "Suppose the BATF arrests me for owning this firearm and I need to prove to a judge this rifle is indeed pre-ban.  How would I do it?"   I challenge someone to come up with one benefit of owning a original condition pre-ban SKS, anyhow.  The word "pre-ban" is meaningless.  (Can you tell I feel strongly about this?)

...more to come as I think of it...