{"id":1094,"date":"2023-05-23T16:45:41","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2023-05-23T16:45:41","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:45:41","slug":"collectible-firearms-for-serious-gun-collectors-84","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1094","title":{"rendered":"Collectible Firearms for Serious Gun Collectors"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A battle-proven gun design and a Cold War classic, the 7.62\u00d739mm chambered SKS rifle<\/a> is familiar to many shooters<\/a>, hunters<\/a>, and gun collectors<\/a> around the globe. Invented in the Soviet Union as a replacement for the Mosin Nagant<\/a>, the Chinese would adopt the SKS in the mid-1950s and begin producing millions of their own SKS models for the next two decades. With their low-cost entry price point compared to other vintage surplus military arms, the SKS continues to find favor at Rock Island Auction Company. Below, we’ve assembled eight years\u2019 worth of auction data to help collectors and gun consigners better gauge recent SKS price trends and values.<\/p>\n

SKS Surplus and Variants<\/h3>\n

SKS stands for \u201cSelf-Loading Carbine of the Simonov System,\u201d referencing its Russian inventor<\/a> Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. Manufactured by the Soviet Union in 1945, the short-stroke gas piston, tilting bolt semiautomatic<\/a> rifle has a 10-round internal capacity and is chambered in the widely adopted 7.62\u00d739mm cartridge. Though the full-auto AK-47 ultimately won out over the SKS as Russia\u2019s preferred military arm, the Soviets provided their Cold War allies with manufacturing plans for the SKS rifle, resulting in numerous variations.<\/p>\n

Ranging from elusive rarities like the North Vietnam and East German SKS models to the more abundant rifles produced by China, the SKS genre spans a wide range of styles that feature different barrel lengths, stocks, and bayonet variations. The SKS platform\u2019s immense production numbers bred surplus for decades, but import bans and increased interest in the genre as a military collectible<\/a> have resulted in some intriguing SKS price trends in recent years. Below, we\u2019ll examine the Rock Island Auction Company SKS sales data from several angles to provide consigners and buyers with an overall snapshot of how the SKS market has changed over time.<\/p>\n

SKS Prices by Year: An Overall Average<\/h3>\n

When considering the average SKS price by year at Rock Island Auction Company, we\u2019ve gathered data from every Premier Auction<\/a>, Sporting & Collector Auction<\/a>, and Arms and Accessories Day Auction<\/a> dating back to 2015.<\/p>\n

In an effort to maintain consistency and accuracy, all the graphs presented in this article have excluded rare SKS prototypes, documented war trophies, presentation pieces, and other extremely scarce and atypical examples. The buyer\u2019s premium (15% through June of 2022 and 17.5% thereafter) is included in the sales price, as this properly reflects what a collector paid to own their SKS.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve also excluded any lots that feature guns other than an SKS since those prices cannot be easily attributed to a single gun within their respective lot. Since SKS rifles tend to be bundled into lots of two or more guns, the price of each SKS-only lot has been divided by the total number of guns in that lot to give a more accurate representation of the average SKS price by year at Rock Island Auction Company. The graph below is a compilation of several thousand examples sold over eight year period, providing a broad overview of the SKS platform as a whole in the current collecting environment.<\/p>\n

While SKS prices going up isn\u2019t a surprising result to most firearm fans, the extent of the increase might turn heads. In only an eight year span, the average SKS price at Rock Island Auction Company rose nearly $250, or 49%, an impressive surge in value. In 2015, an SKS averaged $449<\/strong> in price, inching up to $478 <\/strong>in 2016 before rocketing to $573<\/strong> in 2017. The following year saw a slight correction, with the average SKS still selling for an average price of $552, <\/strong>then breaching the $600<\/strong> barrier in 2019 and working its way to the $697 <\/strong>mark by 2022.<\/p>\n

Our first graph demonstrates that rising SKS values have been an ongoing trend<\/a>, and gone are the days of finding an SKS for sale under $200. Still, the platform remains within reach of almost any gun enthusiast and makes a strong case for itself as a collectible firearm with investment potential.<\/p>\n

Tula Arsenal SKS Price Trends<\/h3>\n

Speaking of investment<\/a> opportunities, Russian SKS values have traditionally been higher as a consequence of their status as the original SKS model and their comparatively more limited production run. The most famous Russian SKS variant was produced at Tula Arsenal from 1945 to 1958. At Rock Island Auction Company, Russian SKS examples tend to be offered in single lots more frequently than other SKS variants and often achieve higher prices. The graph below examines the average Tula Arsenal SKS price by year at RIAC.<\/p>\n

Being out of production for 65 years, it\u2019s no surprise that Russian Tula Arsenal SKS prices averaged an impressive $920<\/strong> in 2018 at Rock Island Auction Company. After a decline in 2019, the robust Russian SKS mounted a comeback, reaching $932<\/strong> in 2019 and exceeding the $1,000<\/strong> price barrier in 2021 before continuing its momentum and achieving a notable $1,131<\/strong> in 2022.<\/p>\n

How Much is a Norinco SKS?<\/h3>\n

Unlike its Russian SKS counterpart, the Chinese SKS rifle continued production throughout the Cold War. The Chinese Type 56 SKS was sold to numerous countries in Asia, including Korea and Vietnam. China\u2019s Norinco group (North Industries Corporation), a state-owned import-export authority, was established in 1980 to manufacture arms for both the commercial and military markets. Norinco imported several million SKS rifles into the United States until the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, with their SKS models produced using a combination of Type 56 surplus parts and new componentry.<\/p>\n

The Norinco SKS followed a similar pattern to the overall SKS prices average at Rock Island Auction Company. From its $489<\/strong> starting point in 2016, the Norinco SKS increased in value over the next 4 years, averaging $517<\/strong> in 2017, $585<\/strong> in 2018, $633<\/strong> in 2019, and $667<\/strong> in 2020. After a slight fall to $645<\/strong> in 2021, the average Norinco SKS price rebounded in 2022 with $679<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Yugoslavian m59\/66 SKS Price Trends<\/h3>\n

Nicknamed<\/a> \u201cPapovka,\u201d the Yugoslavian Zastava m59\/66 PAP SKS saw military service with the Yugoslav People\u2019s Army from 1959 to 1961. Though similar in most respects to the Russian SKS design, the Yugo SKS rifle came with the addition of a 22 mm grenade launcher. Yugo SKS rifles are noted for their quality and milled steel parts, and these factors are evident in their average price by year at Rock Island Auction Company.<\/p>\n

Though not quite rivaling their Russian SKS siblings in price, the Yugo SKS has still managed to capture the attention of the collecting public and mount a strong auction showing over the last five years. From a $536<\/strong> average starting point in 2018, the Yugoslavian SKS has seen its values steadily rise, achieving a notable $683<\/strong> average price in 2021 before rocketing to $838 <\/strong>in 2022.<\/p>\n

Beyond the SKS Crate<\/h3>\n

In the 1980s and early 1990s, SKS rifles were often sold by the crate in American gun stores. While the days of bountiful SKS crates have long passed, the gun can still be purchased in quantity at Rock Island Auction Company. Our final dataset compares the average price for a bundled lot of four SKS rifles over the last six years.<\/p>\n

The average SKS price for lots with four guns grouped together followed a slightly less dramatic path during its upward climb, maintaining an $1,840<\/strong> average price in 2017 and 2018. After edging upward to $2,084<\/strong> in 2019, $2,222<\/strong> in 2020, and $2,400<\/strong> in 2021, the average price for a four gun SKS grouping rocketed to $3,019<\/strong>, demonstrating that the genre is thriving at Rock Island Auction Company.<\/p>\n

SKS Prices 2023<\/h3>\n

The average SKS price in 2022 broke new boundaries, and all data indicates that the trend shows no sign of slowing in 2023<\/a>. This upswing particularly holds true for highly desirable examples that can be determined through scarce models, exceptional condition, and war trophy documentation. Even when taking into account import bans and record inflation, SKS values are steadily on the rise and continue to impress at auction.<\/p>\n

SKS Prices 2023<\/h3>\n

The SKS remains popular due to its durability, reliability, and reasonable accuracy. Despite its lack of scope compatibility, the SKS has long been a popular <\/strong>deer hunting rifle<\/a>. <\/strong>Though the 2022 U.S. import sanctions on Russian ammo have impacted 7.62\u00d739mm prices, the SKS platform remains a fun range option<\/a> due to its ease of use and low maintenance design.<\/p>\n

Garand Thumb demonstrates the accuracy of a Russian SKS rifle.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The SKS rifle has found a new fanbase with the next generation thanks to appearances in popular films, television shows, and video games like Far Cry 6 and Escape from Tarkov. Though the likelihood of finding an SKS for sale under $200 grows more doubtful by the year, any well-kept example looks set to retain its value and more as prices continue to uptrend, presenting gun sellers<\/a> with a chance to make a handsome profit and buyers with a firearm that has real investment potential<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gun Values at Rock Island Auction Company<\/h3>\n

Most vintage military rifles are viewed as a great store of value in the firearms community, and when it comes to estimating true gun value<\/a> and predicting forthcoming sales trends, Rock Island Auction\u2019s digital gun catalogs<\/a> are one of the finest tools around. Price trends on other Russian military rifles like the Mosin Nagant<\/a> or the SVT-40<\/a> rifle can be monitored using past auction data, like the example presented below.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an exciting time for the world of fine arms collecting, so subscribe to the weekly Rock Island Auction newsletter<\/a> to receive new gun blogs on the latest prices and trends. Using the extensive data from our past auction catalogs, we look at the values of popular guns like the 1911 pistol<\/a>, the Browning Hi Power<\/a>, the M1 Garand<\/a>, the Colt Python<\/a>, the SPAS 12<\/a>, and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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A battle-proven gun design and a Cold War classic, the 7.62\u00d739mm chambered SKS rifle is familiar to many shooters, hunters, and gun collectors around the globe. Invented in the Soviet Union as a replacement for the Mosin Nagant, the Chinese would adopt the SKS in the mid-1950s and begin producing millions of their own SKS […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}