r/canadaguns • u/ExtremeCommercial821 • Jul 09 '26
Buy recommendations Yet Another SKS I Want
Local guy wanting $900.
I've found a few for the $600-ish range, but not matching, or a tickler, or just abused.
I decided to stick with the OG and get a tactical stock one day if I'm inclined. Anyway, that advice helped on a previous post, but many in it also aren't SKS fans.
So for the fans, this is the cleanest example I've found around here. Fair deal?
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u/pewpewlepew Jul 09 '26
I recognize this dude's deck from Gunpost. His prices are too $$$. $900 and you can get a surplus Russian.
Prices are leveling out a bit since the recent event in Quebec.
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Jul 09 '26
Yeah I think he has posts about wanting to buy them too; flipper for sure and his prices reflect that, but I can't for the life of me find one locally for under $700-$800.
Are the Russian ones objectively better? This is a 78' and everyone seems to standby the ticklers.
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u/pewpewlepew Jul 09 '26
No not objectively better. More historic value to some degree. Both function very well. Keep your eyes open. More deals to be had.
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Jul 09 '26
I'm being told reliably this is actually a late 50's model as well, but he claims 1978. I'm seeing the same era Russian Tula's for this price so may reconsider.
Really I just want an SKS to slam 7.62 until my shoulder pops, 🤣.
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u/pewpewlepew Jul 09 '26
Likely a refurb or reissue by Norinco, so likely parts are from the 50s but released in the 70s.
There's a dude I've bought from who is selling a Russian for 875, almost all matching, look up chinbb. He is a good seller.
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Jul 09 '26
Good insight and thanks for the recommendation, I'll check him out!
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u/NocturnalOS Jul 09 '26
Crazy… I remember getting a completely mint French tickler 6 months before the semi auto bans for like $520 plus tax at Tenda. I remember asking the guy how many they had and he laughed in my face and said they will never run out. Now they’re going for $900.
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u/Whispersfine Jul 09 '26
Ain’t coming back, maybe if they import another million Sks from China.
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u/NocturnalOS Jul 10 '26
I’ve got a Russian and two Chinese so I’m not not really worried lol. I bought all for less than $600.
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u/CAFirearmSociety Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
$900 way too much for these, but if you really want one now is always a good time to buy with milsurp
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u/Otherwise_Rub_9515 Jul 09 '26
What other reliable 7.62x39 mag fed semi is on the market?
Valmets sell for $5000-$10000.
Supply and demandÂ
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u/Memorywipe Jul 09 '26
You really can't find anything cheaper, very rare
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u/CAFirearmSociety Jul 09 '26
If these are very rare my collection is museum grade.
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u/Memorywipe Jul 09 '26
You misread what I wrote, it is very rare to find anything cheaper than $900 for an SKS. Not that your SKS itself is rare. Most "fair condition" start at $900, doubt that is museum grade...
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u/Wilsonjet2017 Jul 09 '26
I bought an unissued French tickler for about 800$ after shipping. Bought it just to hold onto and look at once in a while. Will never shoot it. That's what the others are for. And the more miles I put on them, the more I admire the fresh factory finish. Just having an unissued milsurp in today's age feels like a privilege.
If you want it, get it. It's only a couple bills more. If it makes you happy. At the rate things are going they'll be many more bills soon and you might kick yourself!
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u/SessionPowerful Jul 09 '26
I was extremely lucky to get in on Cabella's sale and got a pristine tickler, still in cosmoline, for $400. I knew I'd never see that price again so even though I don't shoot rifles much I had to jump on it.
Prices being one they are, someone mentioned that if you look for a new production semi-auto rifle thats as robust and reliable as an SKS, you'll be paying a lot more that what SKS's are going for even now. I'd say if you have the dough and you like the rifle, send it!
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Jul 09 '26
Yeah, I virtually gave up on functionally similar semi-autos due to the price and it just feels like a right of passage to get an SKS; even at these inflated prices, (which aren't going down).
$400 is insane though. It's comical seeing retail shops stay true to their pricing history, stories like that make me want to hold out, 🤣.
Alas, I think I'll end up spending the dough on this. I was budgeting slightly more for a new bolt action, but something tells me new bolt actions will be readily available down the road...the SKS, I'm not so sure.
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u/CNo4MK1 Jul 09 '26
Only addition I’ll make to an sks
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u/Awkward_Cheetah7519 Jul 10 '26
Now is the time to get em. People are scared they'll get banned so theyre getting rid of em
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u/No_Armadillo2253 Jul 10 '26
Man, I want a Chinese SKS in this good of condition. Either a model similar to yours or a spike bayonet example from factory 26. I just have a majorly hard time paying the asking price of some folks these days. I bought 2 Russian refurbs in 2014 for 450$ total shipped across the country to my house. Gave the nicer one to my best friend and kept the one that's more of a beater. Still have it. But I can't wrap my head around paying the better part of a grand for one these days. They're nice, sure, and i love them for what they are. But for that kind of money, I'd look at a decent bolt action, even in the same caliber if you'd like, before considering an SKS. Prices have just gotten out of hand.
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u/Whispersfine Jul 09 '26
I have only one question. Why is the rear sight looking like a Russian part? The rear sights of ticklers have a Roman number 3 on it.
Yours has a Russian L on it. Interesting.
Is this from 296?
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u/ExtremeCommercial821 Jul 09 '26
It's not the Russian letter, it's just an "n". Sometimes they put a "D" on these later model rifles.
Earlier ones has 3 lines as in the Chinese character, but the later models (this is a 1978), use the more common Russian style ladder sight and bolt carrier.
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u/TheSpagheeter Jul 11 '26
My first gun! Got it for like $500 a few years ago and love it. Was not prepared for how greasy it was with the cosmoline but cleaning it was half the fun
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u/Dartmouth-Hermit Jul 09 '26
That is very clean. Looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.