Question re SKS's

[boltaction]

Hi everyone:
This is a general question about investing in these rifles. When I was in high school, the Swedish Mausers came out, and one could buy the pick of the litter for $49. I used to trade them back and forth, and they seemed plentiful. Now, I wish I had bought about 30 and socked them away, as they are now in the $400 range. Same with the Long Branch Enfields, and although I don't collect them, Garands (even the Franken-Garands) seem to be fetching silly prices now compared with when they came out a few years back. Same is true of the so called "Russian Capture" Kar-98s.

So, as I look at the crates of Russian SKS's sitting in local gunstores, the same thought crosses my mind. Are these going to go up in value in about 10-20 years as well? If one buys a nice selection of them in a crate, with accessories, leaves it in a dark corner for a decade, doesn't reblue, restock, mount scopes, etc, will those also appreciate, or are they in a different category?

I enjoy shooting (when I have time) and definitely enjoy collecting the old military rifles, and hope they are a good investment--I expect that my Rosses and such should be worth more when I sell them or pass on than when I bought them. I haven't bought guns before purely for investment purposes, but really, when I look back at the opportunities I've missed over the years and then look at my RRSP portfolio (for those in the US, that is the Canuck equivalent of the 401K), I think I couldn't POSSIBLY do worse by purchasing a crate of SKS's and sitting on them. Or could I?

Ed

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[browningautorifle]

It depends on whether you have the cash to tie up in something that the government can outlaw in the stroke of a pen. That won't happen with an RRSP.

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

I have an abundance of choices in my gun locker. I sell one or two periodically, and generally make money. I too had wondered if the Russian SKS rifles would be a good deal, but the market is awash with Chinese SKS rifles. They seem to prop up the prices, but unless a future buyer is discriminating wnough to want a 1953 Tula SKS, you might have sunk money for nothing. One more example would be the differences between Italain and USGI Garands. How do you choose which one to put in the locker? The good shooting, well made one, or the clapped out wartime one?

[boltaction]

It depends on whether you have the cash to tie up in something that the government can outlaw in the stroke of a pen. That won't happen with an RRSP.

There is that, of course, but I don't know how likely it is. With the registration system gone, and unlikely to be resurrected (or obeyed if resurrected) it's hard to know how successful a ban like that would be. Of course, it's happened before. On the other hand, my RRSP portfolio was doing well until some a**holes in the US and Europe started playing tiddlywinks with everyone's money, big companies went under, the stock market crashed, and it then took two years for my investments to be worth what they had been before. So, nothing is immune to the stroke of a pen, whether it's on a Order in Council, or some fat cat CEO's bonus cheque while his company goes belly up.

Ed

[nhetzer]

In my opinion, if history has shown us anything, it is that generally speaking anything Russian tends to increase in value. Right now Mosin Nagants are dirt cheap and plentiful but think back to things like SVT-40's, Russian AK parts kits, generally any Cold War era handgun and so on. And of course the Dragunov, which I saw one of a few weeks ago for $10,000 at Narional Gun Day in Louisville.
Russian stuff tends be viewed as well made and even to a novice gun collector tends to be desirable for no other reason than its from Russia. So in the end, you probably should have bought them before the whole Sandy Hook thing along with its proposed legislation because the price is already inflated. If you can get them for a "normal" price then yes, buy them because you can turn a profit right now. SKS's are already being priced (and sold) at shows for $450-$500 and UP. Otherwise, due to all this craziness, you may have missed your chance.

[arado]

I buy SKS because I believe it is the best military long arm issued. It has the advantage of every shot (10) is aimed fire with power and accuracy. mine are not investments in finance but in security. My family is trained and armed with them.

[nhetzer]

Hmmm.... I think we will have to agree to disagree that the SKS is the best military arm issued. It's utilitarian and functional, yes. It's limited by the round it shoots.

[enfield303t]

Pretty obvious the Russians have sold all the refurbs when it comes to SKS rifles as most now are new and in almost perfect original condition. This seems to me to say they still have vast numbers however are into the last ones they wanted to sell.

With the poor return on most investments today getting a case might be a good idea and for sure if the Zombies every appear I am sure you could make a tidy profit...PROVIDING you could sell a case of ammo with each rifle.