r/canadaguns • u/cheddarkittyy • Mar 24 '26
Buy recommendations Why are Chinese sks so expensive now?
I spent $450 in December 2024 for my Chinese sks. My dad just got his pal and I was looking to get one for him and it’s $850 now? What? Why did the price almost double in just over a year?
48
u/Azules023 Mar 24 '26
Supply and demand. It’s still the cheapest, most reliable, and safest semi auto to purchase even after the price increase.
Alternatives are Turkish crap, M1 Garands at $3k, or likely to be banned Henry homesteader at $1.2k.
-6
u/greekdude1821 on Mar 25 '26
chinese sks are just as bad as many of the turkish stuff out there
2
1
u/harryfrogman Mar 26 '26
Absolutely unfounded claim here, Chinese sks are very good quality. Unless you're trying to say the Turkish stuff has gotten immensely better?
1
u/greekdude1821 on Mar 28 '26
Turkish and Chinese armaments available to all of us are on an equal level and that's not a high level whatsoeve.
Only reason it's popular as a farm gun because of the low price point.
1
u/SwordJabbingAction Mar 25 '26
How do you figure? I had a triangle 26 that was a very well built machine.
-2
u/Itsivanthebearable Mar 24 '26
Homesteader is likely to be banned???
12
u/Azules023 Mar 24 '26
You see any other PCCs survive the last OICs? It was pure luck and timing that it didn’t make the 2024 OIC.
1
u/Itsivanthebearable Mar 24 '26
I think the big problem is when Canadian gun owners make these guns “tacticool” and scary looking to irrational politicians.
Would’ve been different if Pierre won, but he didn’t. Now it’s best to keep a low profile then try to ban more semis
5
u/NerfVice Mar 25 '26
If that's the case then why did they ban traditional wood stock semi auto's
1
u/Illustrious-Nail-360 Mar 25 '26
They said because they were military firearms. If you are looking for logic with the bans, it's hard to find lol
1
u/Itsivanthebearable Mar 25 '26
Bingo. They’ll ban whatever, but making it tacticool is a justification to them
0
u/Itsivanthebearable Mar 25 '26
Such as? You mean the M14 variants, which have wooden stocks but are semi auto? Or the Ruger Mini 14, which is really a smaller variant of the M14? Or the M1 Carbine, which was a military issued gun?
Those are easy because of that lineage alone. We see places in South America ban “military calibers.” At least the Turks are importing their guns as purely hunting rifles. Problem comes when people stick tactical furniture on them, because that gives the government an excuse to say it’s no longer a hunting gun “as designed.”
You’re dealing with people who would ultimately ban all semi auto rifles if they could justify it. Thankfully the SKS is so prevalent for hunting use that it gives them pause to use any of the above “logic”
1
u/Illustrious-Nail-360 Mar 24 '26
Well, it's also marketed a bit different than all the banned ones. The ones that are banned were marketed as sports shooting guns, and the henry is marketed for farm use. Again, I'm not saying this makes it immune to being banned, but it definitely is giving it some good cover from the bans.
1
u/outline8668 Mar 25 '26
And that henry doesn't offer a factory "tactical" version of the gun. So far the bans and legislation only applies to factory configuration and making a ban stick on end-user modified examples must be dicey because the Liberals would otherwise love to see modified SKS get the hammer.
-3
u/Automatic-Height4246 Mar 24 '26
Henry has originally said its default capacity is 5 shots therefore its basically un bannable with the argument even if there is a loophole in the law where it can legally hold 10 with glock or smithandWesson mags
5
u/Azules023 Mar 24 '26
You must be new. No such thing as unbannable nor any logic that can be applied. 22s got banned the last round of bans and the new laws only referred to centre fires.
1
33
u/TopReach1866 Mar 24 '26
The fact that the SKS has been resilient against all gun bans really adds a deeper meaning to it as a rifle in my opinion. It's the last line of defense and is what's keeping the gun community strong and enthusiastic. I don't have one but I really want one just for the simple fact that it's an icon of Canadian liberty at this point.
4
u/SierraRomeoJuliet Mar 24 '26
Get one while you can...
1
u/TopReach1866 Mar 24 '26
I don't believe in buying things out of scarcity, lots of good things can happen within a span of 6 months
6
Mar 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/TopReach1866 Mar 24 '26
That's a pretty fair point, truth is I would've bought one by now if I wasn't saving up for my pilot's lisence but that also brings up that phenomenon in the States where something gets put on a ban list and they can't ban it because the sales go sky high right after
3
u/SirKickBan Mar 25 '26
You don't want one.
You want two.
2
u/TopReach1866 Mar 25 '26
facts 😂 I want a Chinese SKS with a modified stock and a vanilla Russian SKS
88
u/Response-Cheap Mar 24 '26
Because they banned 99% of all other semis, and there is way more demand than supply now. Also probably gouging.
3
u/mwmwmwmwmmdw Mar 24 '26
there was a time on here when people asked about buying an sks they would say to just save their money and buy an 858
7
u/Response-Cheap Mar 24 '26
Yep. And there was a time when people would ask if $400 was too much to spend on an SKS. And the response was usually "Hold out for the next sale, you can get them for $300 with a can of ammo."
2
u/Boattailfmj Mar 26 '26
I remember seeing an svt40 6 or so years ago being sold locally for $700 and I was like "pfft, that's way too much, fuck that"
That was a mistake lol
15
u/Eisenbahn-de-order Mar 24 '26
Sks in general are more expensive now
2
20
u/MourningWood1942 Mar 24 '26
To be honest I’d buy it at $850 even if it’s ridiculously high. It’s the only reliable non Turkish/non shitty made larger caliber semi auto on the market. $850 for an unissued French tickler is still a great deal considering.
Prices will only go up and eventually there will be no more unless buying from a private seller.
I paid $500 for mine around Covid, wanted a French tickler and price was at $650 few months ago. I waited for the price to come down and it went up to $750. Only regret was waiting.
5
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
One alternative, they sell used European Bars in 3006 for 800 too!
But yeah, sks is a good rifle even at these prices. They were a steal at 450
3
u/MourningWood1942 Mar 24 '26
Wow didn’t know about that website. Thanks now I have to spend more money 🥲
Great suggestion for the Bar!
2
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
I have one of the double barrel shotguns from them.... lots of over unders or side by side shotguns and plenty of decent bolt actions
2
1
u/throwaway1010202020 Mar 24 '26
Is there anyone that has bars in stock for $800?
1
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
Intersurplus has a bunch. Just 3006. Not any 308 sadly
2
u/matthew_py Mar 24 '26
Intersurplus has a bunch.
Welp.... this comment is responsible for me buying one in the next month lol.
1
u/throwaway1010202020 Mar 24 '26
Damn don't know how I never saw those on there before I'd likely have 2 by now lol.
1
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
Right???? I think about it all the time. The only issue I have is getting a Bar for 800, or instead pick up a cheap 3006 bolt action for even less.... the Bar might be winning out
7
10
u/Patsboy101 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
One thing I’m jealous of as an American gun-owner is the access Canadians have to surplus Chinese 7.62x39 ammo. That stuff is more expensive than buying 7.62x39 brass here. Best bet down south is to find an old guy who bought a shit ton of Norinco 7.62x39 ammo before the US Norinco Ban. Those Norinco crates go for a lot of money.
Historical Context on the US Norinco Import Ban: Norinco tried to sell guns and ammo to gangbangers in Los Angeles and they got busted by the FBI so Norinco was banned from importing firearms and ammo into the US in the mid 90’s.
17
u/davejeep Mar 24 '26
If it makes you feel better the surplus has dried up lately.
4
u/Patsboy101 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
That sucks. In any case, my Mini-30 prefers to eat boxer-primed brass over berdan-primed steel. Ruger for some reason made the firing pin just a little too short on the Mini-30 to reliably fire a caliber which typically in the past has been loaded with recessed berdan primers.
Down in the States, there is still some surplus ammo being sold, but the best bet generally is GunBroker. I recently bought a crate of 90’s Yugo M67, and let me tell you, that stuff is freaking hot! You can both feel and hear the difference between a typical 7.62x39 loading and the M67.
1
u/davejeep Mar 24 '26
I bought mine a couple weeks ago, unfortunately I missed the boat on the super cheap surplus I think. I can get mfs (sp?) for 18 a box, or the Norinco non corrosive for a little less.
3
u/Altruistic-West-802 Mar 24 '26
I thought they banned Chinese weapons importation due to Tiananmen Square Massacre.
3
u/Patsboy101 Mar 24 '26
I know in the late 80’s, there was a horrible mass shooting in California where a guy used a Chinese semi-auto AK.
On the federal side, the law that resulted was Sec 922(r), where imported guns have to have a certain percentage of American parts in them.
This didn’t necessarily ban Chinese gun imports as a company could easily comply with the restriction. It wasn’t until the incident of Norinco trying to sell to L.A. gangbangers in the 90’s that imports of Chinese firearms and ammo into the US were banned.
1
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
To be fair, you guys got the cheap 300 blackout down there!!! Here it's the same price as cheap 308
1
u/-rifle-is-fine- Mar 24 '26
A couple of years ago Cabela's accidentally sold us crates of Chinese surplus armor piercing incendiary SKS food too. I bought ammo then but wasn't one of the lucky ones who got the spicy ammo.
1
u/SolemnSpider Mar 24 '26
on the flip side, i think I'd go catatonic if I walked into a US gun store and saw all the stuff you guys have on the shelves
1
u/Patsboy101 Mar 24 '26
Really depends on the state regarding how cool a gun store is. If you’re talking about states like Idaho and Arizona, the gun stores are awesome!
States like my home state of Washington has gotten quite a hard-on for gun control in the last few years. It’s quite depressing to go into a gun store in Washington. We have stuff like so called “Assault Weapon” and “Large Capacity Magazine” Bans. The Democrat majority in my state are probably drooling at what your Liberal government is doing right now regarding guns.
1
u/Jak_Aurora Mar 25 '26
I heard that Norinco was banned because the american gun companies lobbied the government to ban cheap Chinese guns and ammo to stop any competition with american brands
2
u/Patsboy101 Mar 25 '26
I heard that Norinco was banned because the american gun companies lobbied the government to ban cheap Chinese guns and ammo to stop any competition with american brands
Wouldn’t surprise me if the truth behind the Norinco ban had multiple factors behind it, and the FBI bust simply sped up what was ultimately going to happen.
5
u/bcw_83 Mar 24 '26
Because almost every other semi automatic rifle that isn't a .22 is banned except the SKS and there's a major demand and no supply.
2
u/Automatic-Height4246 Mar 24 '26
Theres alot of turkish semi autos, and some new guns that came in after the bans
5
u/Cope180-Enjoyer Mar 24 '26
Is stock drying up is the more important question? Imports could slowly keep trickling in to manipulate the price (keep it as high as a cheap AR15 FFS)
3
u/burntlandboi Mar 24 '26
Because they understand the climate, glad I got mine before this madness. Feels like a steal at $600 now. My homesteader was double.
4
5
3
3
3
3
u/Mysterious_Sleep7443 Mar 24 '26
Just wait till the ammo becomes scare
All the surplus has dried up
1.00 $ per round incoming
Stack it deep when you find some
3
4
Mar 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/Fuck_you_all22 Mar 24 '26
More gouging by indivdual owners "i know what i have" asking $1300 or even $2400 @ gunpost.
2
Mar 24 '26
That's the real fuckery. I saw a guy list a russian arsenal refurb, all mismatched, asking $1200 because somehow that made it more rare.
1
u/-rifle-is-fine- Mar 24 '26
The problem isn't the person asking, it is the person buying it. Things are only worth what people will pay.
5
u/GabRB26DETT Mar 24 '26
Contrary to what the Liberal Party claims. They unfortunately don't make new 1950's SKS'.
Not many other semi-auto center fire options left, at least that aren't coming from Turkey
2
u/Sufficient-Host-4212 Mar 24 '26
lol, what? They don’t have a Time Machine? Well, they can’t use mine.
2
2
u/Any-Can-6776 Mar 24 '26
That’s nothing. It’s worse in USA. They go for $700 there
0
Mar 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/BookkeeperFew2671 Mar 24 '26
700 us thats almost 1200 in canadian money
0
Mar 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/BookkeeperFew2671 Mar 24 '26
In this economy with the cast of living in just dont have that kind of money
2
2
2
1
1
u/Nivray Mar 24 '26
Man I think I got my sks for like $80 on Boxing Day at bass pro in 2013 lol. I Should have bought ten of them
1
1
u/Allthingsmatthew Mar 24 '26
It’s one of the last semi auto center fires in the country, supply and demand
1
1
1
1
u/Automatic-Height4246 Mar 24 '26
They dont make woodstock sks anymore, theres pre much aftermarket stocks, conversion kits, and parts or probably so on, but the old ones, are linited. Also, they are the cheapest and most proofed sekiauto centrefires that are not frozen or banned, compared to other turkish semi autos or occasionally some new semis.
1
1
Mar 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/canadaguns-ModTeam Mar 24 '26
In accordance with the subreddit rules, your post/comment has been removed for the following reason:
[1] Disrespectful/Insulting or Hateful Comments Civility, courtesy, and politeness, is expected within this subreddit. A post or comment may be removed if it's considered in violation of Reddit's RULES, Reddiquette, and User Agreement.
Using negative generalizations on persons based upon their backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, or appearance is subject to comment removal and a possible ban from the subreddit. Keep comments directed at actions, not at individuals.
Racism, bigotry, intolerance, or otherwise extremist posts/comments/behaviour WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in this subreddit. Users doing so will be permanently banned from the subreddit.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Theodore-Trilby Mar 24 '26
What site are they 449 on?
2
u/EmperorSlim Mar 25 '26
pretty sure its a screenshot of his purchase from 2024 as he says he bought one for 450 in that year
1
1
1
1
-4
u/prosper_0 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
'tis the way of the milsurp market, it ebbs and flows. Same as the m1 carbine years ago - they were basically 'free' in the US for a while due to oversupply. There was a huge SKS market surplus for a while there when most SKS's were banned from the US market, leading to a massive overabundance here. Then add in the fact that people see them as a way to 'stick it to the Liberals' (not quite sure how that actually works, but whatever).
In short, market economics plus futile symbolism, and a good bit of FOMO anxiety.
Despite the rhetoric otherwise, there are plenty of measurable 'better' options out there. You just have to look, and not drink the kool-aid
3
Mar 24 '26
[deleted]
-2
u/prosper_0 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
It absolutely does. These are global products, available to global markets. If you have a fixed amount of product and you can sell it to both Canadian and American markets, then you have many more folks to sell to and can charge higher prices. But if you have the same amount of product but one of your markets is closed to you, then you have a lot fewer potential customers and a giant surplus of product.
1
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
Just curious, is there anything right now that's available for really cheap with a massive supply?? Because I'm interested in picking up some guns before their price goes way up.
1
u/prosper_0 Mar 24 '26
just gotta shop around. Intersurplus and marstar are two fairly large milsurp dealers.
1
u/Iokua_CDN Mar 24 '26
Intersurplus and such might be what I'm after. Seeing European shotguns and bolt actions for 300 bucks seems to be the best price foe a quality firearm now a days.
-2
144
u/iloveblackmetal Mar 24 '26
supply and demand