Purchasing a Sks rifle for the first time

[Sallad65117]

As I'm new here, I've looked into the forum but I couldn't find some info on where the best place would be to buy a sks. So I decided to post myself. I have looked and called every local gun store and tried to bypass Facebook's dumb rules of no firearm sales as they would delete my post and I have failed on my quest to find one. These pieces of history are finite but I didn't know it would be this hard to find one. I have looked into Classic Firearms for one of their imports but the consensus on Classic seem to be that they're crooks. So, then I browse GunBroker. These rifles are fetching $450 to $500 now and even more! Classic has them for $299 on sale but it seems to be a crap shoot. Should I bite the bullet or should my money be better spent elsewhere for a more expensive one on gunbroker because thats the only places I can seem to find em. Thanks

[Phosphorus32]

Classic Firearms is definitely luck of the draw. If you want a shooter that's a bit rough cosmetically, they're the lowest price retailer at the moment. Don't forget to calculate shipping, your FFL fee and sales tax for your state into the total.

I'd go with GunBroker or online auctions (Proxibid, iCollector, etc.), but it takes patience for the auctions to complete and items to ship. Deals happen at $300 or so from time to time, but $350-400 for a matching numbers Chinese Type 56 is a reasonable price these days.

[MxwllBkr]

A lot of my collection has been purchased from Armslist...... just be careful about scams..... FTF obviously safer.... JGsales has them as well..... I've never had a problem with Classic, always been satisfied.

[running-man]

If you can wait out the current lockdowns & pandemic, a visit to the local pawn shop might be another option for you.  Every pawn shop I've ever visited has an SKS or two.  Some are sad bubba jobs, and others are just total garbage, but diamonds in the rough are also found at amazing prices. 

The plusses are that you would get to handle the firearm before you buy it, check for damage, matching numbers, missing parts, etc.  You could also haggle the price somewhat. I suspect that the pawn shops are going to want to move inventory as quickly as possible when they reopen to get some revenue coming in and make room for the inevitable influx of items that will walk through the door during every economic downturn. 

Good luck! (and welcome to the boards)

[echo1]

Gunboards WTS section usually has more than a few. I culled out some of mine to sell and moved 3 the same day once the word hit the street. I have 4 left, 2 C&R eligible, and 2 Paratroopers. $400-$700, PM if interested, but you should be able to find some local to you for cheaper if patient. PAX

[echo83]

I'm not over the moon about Classic Firearms (especially after they sold through their batch I bought from, then promptly lowered their price on the next batch...sour grapes, I guess) but I understand that they're a business, not the Mother Mercy's Home for Wayward SKS's. They're...fine.

To your earlier point...these pieces of history are finite, and are probably not going to drop significantly in price. I will say that Classic shipped fast, and I got a decent (for it's age) specimen...very little bluing, but no corrosion or damage. Also, it was built in 1957 and had all parts matching.

Would I have loved to hold a rifle in my hand, do a detailed inspection, and ask some questions? Of course! There were none in my area, though. I had the money, they had the inventory, so I rolled the dice.

Do you have your heart set on anything specific?

[Justin Hell]

Classic Firearms is definitely luck of the draw. If you want a shooter that's a bit rough cosmetically, they're the lowest price retailer at the moment. Don't forget to calculate shipping, your FFL fee and sales tax for your state into the total.

Also figure in the cost of a gallon of mineral spirits, a couple rolls of paper towels, and a fistful of q-tips

[Direct Connection]

If you have a ffl dealer that accepts guns from mail orders and doesn't goug you for them doing your paperwork then I would buy a classic 299.00 gun. if your wanting a shooter and anything beyond that is a bonus id pull the trigger with Classic. All mail order rules basically applies to the above ie GB AL ect.  accept maybe taxes if you buy from a individual. But then your putting your trust in a individual instead of a well known business to save 20 bucks in most cases. Everyone has been price gouging lately since this pandemic. Its not only Classic anymore with the bad rep. if you can get a Chi Com SkS with all fees, taxes, shipping, to your door for 400ish you did good.   

[Ghost51xxx]

Gunbroker is my first choice. Classic when I'm feeling lucky or have a few extra hundred to blow.

[Tbone13]

The problem for me was how there were so many cream puffs on Gunbroker it made the low budget guns look bad.
I ended up getting skinned alive but the wood on my gun looks real good, the bluing nice (a few scars), it'll do nicely.
But still, $$OUCH!

[running-man]

Money is fleeting, it comes and goes. 

In five years will you remember that you paid too much for a nice rifle, or will you simply look at your nice rifle and think "Man, I'm glad I bought that one!!"

[Bacarnal]

T-Bone, the pain goes away .

[High Noon]

I bought one from the 90s locally and two from Classic. The Classic guns turned out fine - they show age and use of course, but they appear to be good shooters.

[Tbone13]

T-Bone, the pain goes away .

Heck, I already forget how much it was.
Soon I'll have a new toy to fondle, which is all that matters.

[Ghost51xxx]

I found a website called DK Firearms out of Virginia. I like the way they list their rifles into specific groups to give the customer more options to choose from. They cost a little more than Classic but at least you know what you're getting. If I'm going to pay for ALL MATCHING then I want the stock to match as well. DK's low grade guns a even lower than Classic.

[Bubbazinetti]

I've seen them.They are also sold out of those SinoBanian in every grade.

[Ghost51xxx]

I've seen them.They are also sold out of those SinoBanian in every grade.

I didn't see the "sold out" at first glance. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Matchka]

Another factor (at least in CA) for higher prices, the non-detachable 10rd magazine.
(SO FAR!)

[Larry D.]

Don't forget to put the word out among your friends and coworkers (if you trust them)

You never know who might have one stuck in the back of a closet somewhere.

[ffjoey]

Good luck in your search. So far, Classic has been ok for me.