How Rare is my Russian SKS?

[sheepdog]

I just got a delivery of some Tapco stuff. I think they sent it to my house by mistake. Should have been sent to some Outlaw guy in Blue Grass, Iowa.

[OLD OUTLAW]

I just got a delivery of some Tapco stuff. I think they sent it to my house by mistake. Should have been sent to some Outlaw guy in Blue Grass, Iowa.

Careful there McGruff or I will take your Badge away from you!

[etprescottazusa91]

I only see data for Izhevsk, did Tula produce many SKS rifles?

[OLD OUTLAW]

I only see data for Izhevsk, did Tula produce many SKS rifles?

Nearly all SKS were from Tula. Izhevsk only produced in 1953 and most of 1954. Their factory was the first one Stalin packed up and sent to China. Hence the absolute rarity.

[acl864]

Year/Type................................Quantity............................%/Rarity

53 Izhevsk non-refurb............................0......................0.00% (out of 337 rifles sold)
55/56 Letter "I" non-refurb.................1......................0.30% (out of 337 rifles sold)(Old Outlaw's weapon)
49..............................................4......................1.19% (out of 337 rifles sold)
55/56 Letter "I"..............................4......................1.19% (out of 268 rifles sold)
55/56 Letter "D".............................5......................1.48% (out of 268 rifles sold)
54 Izhevsk refurb................................7......................2.08% (out of 337 rifles sold)
55/56 Letter "K".............................7......................2.08% (out of 268 rifles sold)
54 Izhevsk non-refurb...........................8......................2.37% (out of 337 rifles sold)
55/56 unknown letter.......................9......................2.67% (out of 337 rifles sold)
55.............................................13.....................3.86% (out of 337 rifles sold)
50.............................................43.....................12.76% (out of 337 rifles sold)
52.............................................44.....................13.06% (out of 337 rifles sold)
53.............................................55.....................16.32% (out of 337 rifles sold)
51.............................................59.....................17.51% (out of 337 rifles sold)
54.............................................71.....................21.07% (out of 337 rifles sold)

? Unknown year..............................53.....................15.73% (out of 390 rifles sold)

DDR...........................................17.....................5.04% (out of 337 rifles sold)
Letter Series Total..........................22.....................6.61% (out of 337 rifles sold)
non-refurb...................................57.....................14.62% (out of 390 rifles sold)
refurb........................................333....................85.38% (out of 390 rifles sold)

Great data! This is as useful as Boomer's pricing data just in a different way. The only slight drawback is that the data is for rifles that sold so the data may be skewed high towards more desirable types of rifles. Take for example the non-refurb number. It may be represented as a higher percentage in the population simply because a higher percentage of the non-refurbs that show up for sale get sold. The same skew may be true of Izhevsk's and Ex-DDR's too. That being said, this data does give us our best chance at understanding the break down of the different variations of Russians in the marketplace and is another useful tool to understand Russian SKS collecting.

FWIW- Based on these numbers I have a new appreciation for Letter Series rifles. I also have reinforced my opinion that Ex-DDR's are not only a recognized variety, they are also worth extra $$$. Especially when in unusually good condition or combined with other variations.

[boomer34]

I will try to figure out a way to post the Letter, either D, I or K, with the sales report. The size of the sheet and the amount ouf data that goes on it becomes a problem. For example, with an Izhevsk sale and if it is a refrub, the font has to be reduced to get it all in the space available. Maybe I can just add a column and list the various Letters and their prices like I do nonrefurbs.

No matter how you cut the cake,the Letters and ex DDRs are not that common either in the nonrefurb or refurb form.

One set of Russian collectable Russians a novice collector could have for about a $1200 to $1500 investment would be a set of the three Russian letter series,"D", "I" and "K" in a refurbed form with laminated stocks. Those would make a nice wall display. Nonrefurbs would be another matter and be very difficult to find. Close attention to the GunBroker auction site could turn these individual refurbed rifles up in six months or so. They could appear on other suction sites as well.

[Drago]

Boomer, do it the same as you do now, except just put the corresponding letter in there, instead of just "L". I list mine out as an "L" for "Letter" in the year/type column, then make a note of what letter it actually is in my notes on the rifle section.

[Drago]

Andy (acl864), I actually have some of that data of "combination" rifles. It's nitpicking a hair of a gnats ass as far as info detail, but I do usually note whether a Letter series SKS is ALSO a DDR, for example. I also note if the rifle comes with original packaging, because that will command a bit of a premium.