In this weeks Shotgun News is an ad for a Chinese SKS for five hundred dollars. Give me a friggin break. I remember when a case of Russian rifles still packed in their coat of cosmoline had a grand 'ole price of seventy-five bucks, and I turned down the offer.
Silly me.
Bet you in twenty years we'll regret we passed on these five hundred dollar beauties.
Stephen
Classic Firearms has a bunch of Chi-com Type 56 SKS beaters available for $299:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.classicfirearms.com/chicomsks
Still....that too is far to rich for my blood. I'd give 'em a hundred. Thanks, Bob.
ReplyDeleteBut they're pretty...
ReplyDeleteTrue. I have one in my safe...its pretty too, and I paid less than a hundred for it. Nice and cheap.
DeleteI remember them good ol days. I had "several" SK's over the cheap years. When a friend saw 1 and remarked on the fun, I often sold it on the spot for what I had in it. Plenty more, plenty cheap right? Ive got a permanant bruise on my backside where I still kick it every so often.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, many of us have bruised backsides. Thanks.
DeleteI picked up my Russian SKS for 70 bucks back in the late 80's that was the wholesale price as my Step Dad had his gun shop going then. He bought a case of five and sold em at cost to a group of us. We will never see those deals again but the current price markup does beat market gains as a matter of fact so who says you cannot turn a percentage on buying and storing firearms. At the very least if you take care of them you don't lose value.
ReplyDeleteValue is the key. I've three, I believe. The Russians models are sweet. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteMine was brought back from Cambodia, still in the cosomoline as my uncle's war trophy. They were only supposed to be brought back in a non functional condition. The action came back as part of my uncle's shaving kit. Worth more to me for the memories.
ReplyDeleteI remember when the gun store up the road was selling them for$99, seems about right to me, even now.
I still remember packages marked 'rattan furniture.' Thanks, my friend.
DeleteThose little SKS rifles are reliable, easy to field strip and clean, almost never break, and handy home defense guns if an AK47 is outside the budget. I remember when they were under a hundred dollars, but Clinton put an end to that. Now they're hard to find in good condition.
ReplyDeleteI was offered a Yugo a few days back...the magazine was missing and I passed. Guess I should have taken it home. But, I own several and haven't a need for another. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteDang mine was 200 only 2 years ago
ReplyDeleteSupply and demand. Funny business, isn't it. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteBought mine back in '91 or '92 for $95. The regular ones were going for $75, and the short barrel "Paratrooper" models were $20 more.
ReplyDeleteAhh, the good old days.
Indeed. I remember when Winchester '97 shotguns were often sold for less than a hundred dollars....price one now. Thanks, my friend.
DeleteWell, no use crying over the "bargains" we've all missed.
ReplyDeleteWhen the second gas crisis hit, you could buy Corvettes for $2k that are worth 5 or 10 times that now.
Hemi anything? You almost couldn't GIVE them away! Now they're $100k cars.
And I've seen the same thing with old Ham Radio gear. Stuff that went for $10~$20 "in the day" is $300 or more now.....
Very true. Thanks, Bro.
DeleteSK's/ AK's were great because the ammo was so cheap. Arguably if the ammo stays cheap enough it is worth spending more for the weapon.
ReplyDeleteThis too shall pass....
DeleteI remember the time I could buy them at 12 dollar a piece in bulk. I now regret not buying cases of them.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Bubba.
Delete