r/canadaguns 15d ago

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?

154 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

16

u/Dartmouth-Hermit 15d ago

That is very clean. Looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.

10

u/ExtremeCommercial821 15d ago

That's what I thought right away; if people are flipping unmatched, beat up examples for $700, I'd pay the extra bit just to have the shine.

7

u/Dartmouth-Hermit 15d ago

If it is worth it to you and you can afford it then send it I say!

12

u/pewpewlepew 15d ago

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.

3

u/Flashy_Inspector115 15d ago

The Chinese ones are just as good as the russians

2

u/ExtremeCommercial821 15d ago

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.

3

u/pewpewlepew 15d ago

No not objectively better. More historic value to some degree. Both function very well. Keep your eyes open. More deals to be had.

1

u/ExtremeCommercial821 15d ago

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, 🤣.

2

u/pewpewlepew 15d ago

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.

1

u/ExtremeCommercial821 15d ago

Good insight and thanks for the recommendation, I'll check him out!

7

u/NocturnalOS 15d ago

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.

2

u/Whispersfine 15d ago

Ain’t coming back, maybe if they import another million Sks from China.

1

u/NocturnalOS 14d ago

I’ve got a Russian and two Chinese so I’m not not really worried lol. I bought all for less than $600.

5

u/AssMilkerTv 15d ago

Don't get those ATI stock ones. Tickler is the way to go for a cheaper one

10

u/CAFirearmSociety 15d ago edited 15d ago

$900 way too much for these, but if you really want one now is always a good time to buy with milsurp

1

u/Otherwise_Rub_9515 15d ago

What other reliable 7.62x39 mag fed semi is on the market?

Valmets sell for $5000-$10000.

Supply and demand 

-1

u/Memorywipe 15d ago

You really can't find anything cheaper, very rare

1

u/CAFirearmSociety 15d ago

If these are very rare my collection is museum grade.

1

u/Memorywipe 15d ago

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...

3

u/Wilsonjet2017 15d ago

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!

4

u/SessionPowerful 15d ago

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!

2

u/ExtremeCommercial821 15d ago

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.

5

u/CNo4MK1 15d ago

Only addition I’ll make to an sks

1

u/yummybunnybear 15d ago

How is that mounted?

2

u/CNo4MK1 14d ago

Bad ace mount with a delta point

2

u/Awkward_Cheetah7519 15d ago

Now is the time to get em. People are scared they'll get banned so theyre getting rid of em

2

u/No_Armadillo2253 14d ago

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.

1

u/Jurple-shirt 15d ago

At that price I'm waiting for a m21 model French tickler.

1

u/catchinNkeepinf1sh 15d ago

Never seen checkering/stamping on the gas block before.

1

u/Whispersfine 15d ago

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?

1

u/ExtremeCommercial821 15d ago

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.

1

u/Strong_Independent21 14d ago

Sadly I think next on the banned list.

1

u/TheSpagheeter 13d ago

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