Replacement vs. Original stock

[John Galt]

In your opinion, what is more desirable or collectable, an original (beat up, carved up) stock or a replacement (nail hole) stock?  I seem to be unable to decide what I like more.  Clean, fresh look or been there, done that look…

John Galt

[Loose}{Cannon]

Both.   

Seriously, I like the new condition rifles as well as the well used.   

Its a disease. 

[Worm]

I like both, but prefer the been there done that look by a landslide.

[Blicero]

I guess it all depends on which collector you're talking to.

I just had this discussion with one of the Luger Legends. I asked him what has a higher ceiling, mismatched guns in pristine shape or all matching ones with condition issues?
He's of the mindset that originality/matchingness (<-- not a word!)/as issued condition guns will outshine mismatchers in the long run.
I tend to agree.

When it comes to SKS, I think the reverse holds true. I bet if I listed one sexy but mismatching Albanian, and one typical beat up but matching one on Gbroker, the mismatcher would draw more money.
SKS guys are a vain bunch.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Guess some bobbleheads just dont appreciate (real) history.   

[running-man]

Condition has a lot to do with it no doubt, but you've got to remember, we're talking SKSs here, not $1.5k Lugers or $4k G43s.  The condition difference between a rough Sino-Banian at $300 and a pristine 416 M21 at $400 is huge but at only a $100 spread, is price really going to dictate which one the avg. SKS guy buys?! 

I can guarantee you that in 10 or 15 years, the better condition recent import SKSs (i.e. not looking like a truck ran over the stock, with a matching & fully readable S/N) are going to go for as much if not more than that pristine, boring 416 M21 whatever that price turns out to be. 

[Dannyboy53]

I like both also, however I lean toward the "well traveled" old warrior every time matching or not. I'm not a real collector in the true sense of the word, this is a science that is way above my pay grade! But I am critical of the condition as we primarily look for a "shooter".

[Carl in CT]

Condition has a lot to do with it no doubt, but you've got to remember, we're talking SKSs here, not $1.5k Lugers or $4k G43s.  The condition difference between a rough Sino-Banian at $300 and a pristine 416 M21 at $400 is huge but at only a $100 spread, is price really going to dictate which one the avg. SKS guy buys?! 

I can guarantee you that in 10 or 15 years, the better condition recent import SKSs (i.e. not looking like a truck ran over the stock, with a matching & fully readable S/N) are going to go for as much if not more than that pristine, boring 416 M21 whatever that price turns out to be.

+1

[Greasemonkey]

Numbers are subjective. Matching or non-matching, if it goes boom when I hit the bang switch with my booger hook, it's all good. To me the whole number matching thing is just a game, 99.9% of all weapons will function as intended with a mis-matched bolt, top cover or stock. Yes, in some cases it warrants a premium, true rare or very uncommon examples, but, even a true papered bring back can have mis-matched numbers. When the availability of matching rifles is so vast, why really bother paying 5 to a 100 bucks to get matching numbers. If you absolutely gotta have matching numbers, relax, and just sit patently for a matching weapon for less money, 99.9% it will appear at some point.

As for condition, I'll take use and heart and soul over fluff and buff anyday. If I want fluff and buff, I'll get up off my dead azz and go buy a Remchesterby uberslammin death magnum or maybe a ReMarlin .22, that way I have pretty. I got no use for a refinished stock, ceracoat or what ever, because what ever nasty history was there is gone. Think about it, somewhere years ago, some guy carried, slept, pooped and fought for his life with it, why coat it down with poly or paint it or do anything. It is, what it is, a tool that used to hunt the hardest, most unpredictable, unforgiving, ruthless game species on the planet, not go out, sit quietly, and kill fricken Bambi, Dumbo or Rudolf. Leave it be, time and use have been rough enough and war/conflict ain't pretty.

[Dannyboy53]

Greasemonkey you won't get any argument or debate out of me! 

[John Galt]

GreaseMonkey,

You somehow were able to articulate in a concise (and a little off-beat) manner, everything that I have felt about the sks.   Well put.  I like it.

I have fluff and buff, but so does everyone else.  If you don't have that yet, all you have to do is head off to wally-world and buy it.  When you get one of the "veterans" you are not really buying the rifle, you are buying the story, history, and blood.  All you get with the rifles from wally-world is a box…

John Galt

[Loose}{Cannon]

Kinda like an un issued russian.   

[CARBINE]

Kinda like an un issued russian.   

Yeah yeah yeah, at least a un-issued russian isnt soaked in blood of some poor albanian kid.

[CARBINE]

The way I look at it is each have their place, both are cool in their own way, sort of like real tatas or fake tatas.....I guess I kinda like them all

[Greasemonkey]

So unissued, commerical = fake

Au Naturale= all used and nasty, heart and soul, life 

[CARBINE]

No dammit, I'm sayin you gotta like them all, their tata's 

[Loose}{Cannon]

Kinda like an un issued russian.   

Yeah yeah yeah, at least a un-issued russian isnt soaked in blood of some poor albanian kid.

Whoh whoh whoh....      how do you know it wasn't some little old ladies?    Hmmmmmm?

[Phosphorus32]

GreaseMonkey,

You somehow were able to articulate in a concise (and a little off-beat) manner, everything that I have felt about the sks.   Well put.  I like it.

I'm with you on the "off-beat" assessment but you lost me at "concise"   

I like them both.  If I run into a nice milsurp that's in beautiful (original) condition I'm all for it.  I'd much rather have a beat up stock than a "polished" version if it's been done post-arsenal by a civilian buyer.  Just adding my voice to the choir here 

[CARBINE]

GreaseMonkey,

You somehow were able to articulate in a concise (and a little off-beat) manner, everything that I have felt about the sks.   Well put.  I like it.

I'm with you on the "off-beat" assessment but you lost me at "concise"   

I like them both.  If I run into a nice milsurp that's in beautiful (original) condition I'm all for it.  I'd much rather have a beat up stock than a "polished" version if it's been done post-arsenal by a civilian buyer.  Just adding my voice to the choir here 

I know just pokin ya, I like the been there done that guns as well..

[Loose}{Cannon]

Hey...  I like the 'new' guns also.   They look great hanging on the wall or stuffed in a sock in the back of the safe.