Hey guys, just got my PAL and I’m looking to pick up my first SKS.
I recently shot a Chinese SKS with an ATI stock and really enjoyed it, but I’m looking for an old school SKS.
I’ve been looking around online, but it seems like most of the wood-stock SKSs are either sold out or have gotten pretty expensive. From what I’ve seen, Chinese and Russian seem to be around $900–$1,200 depending on condition.
For those who have bought one recently, what should I actually be looking for in a good wood-stock SKS? Chinese vs Russian, particular variants/years, matching numbers, condition, etc.?
Also, are these prices just normal now, or is it worth waiting and watching the Canadian market for a better deal?
New PAL holder, so any advice on what to inspect or watch out for with a surplus SKS would be appreciated.
Hi! It looks like your post mentions buying, selling, or linking to retailers/private marketplaces.
Just a reminder to everyone that no offers to buy, purchase, sell are allowed on this sub due to Reddit's community restrictions on firearms transactions. Limit discussion to the items themselves and do not post any direct links to sales or promotions. Referring to legal vendors is allowed as long as links to do not go to retail listings for items. THIS INCLUDES GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND GUN ACCESSORIES: Reddit Admins have banned users for this!
If your post doesn't violate these rules, no action is needed and you can safely disregard this comment.
Chinese are generally in better condition but have more fragile stocks. Russians are generally more beat up but have tougher stocks. The actual rifles are identical beyond collector value. Numbers matching means absolutely nothing unless you are a collector.
Prices never go down, only plateau.
Buy the cheapest rifle you can find that isn’t in a plastic stock. Usually they throw the old beat up ones in plastic because the stocks are beat up too badly.
Agree on if you can find a French Tickler SKS. Got one myself recently shoots very well. These are the last batch made in China from 1978 onwards and basically never issued/used. Price I would say anywhere from 900-1300 depending on availability.
Go to gun shows! Got a mint chinese SKS with a spam can of ammo for 600 just this month at the Red deer show. If you go early enough they usually have stuff actually priced to sell
Damn did you time travel? Last gun show I went to had Chinese all beat up for 1300. But then again most of those greasy fucks don’t care about selling guns it’s more of a social thing
Prolly because I bought them all lol.. got the chinese surplus, czech surplus, russian surplus, dominion arms Ukraine surplus, German surplus, etc. Start going to gun shows early to score good deals on rarer ammo
•
u/AutoModerator 10d ago
Hi! It looks like your post mentions buying, selling, or linking to retailers/private marketplaces.
Just a reminder to everyone that no offers to buy, purchase, sell are allowed on this sub due to Reddit's community restrictions on firearms transactions. Limit discussion to the items themselves and do not post any direct links to sales or promotions. Referring to legal vendors is allowed as long as links to do not go to retail listings for items. THIS INCLUDES GUN SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND GUN ACCESSORIES: Reddit Admins have banned users for this!
If your post doesn't violate these rules, no action is needed and you can safely disregard this comment.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.