Ready to Sell/Trade my 1987-AKS underfolder - worth?

[Nando Aqui]

I bought it November 1987, NITB, with bayonet, oiler, sling, tool, and three magazines. Shot it 10 rounds to see how it worked. Worked fine. Cleaned it up, put it back in the box, and it hasn't seen the light of day (or lamp) since.



Now it is time to sell it and get something else instead. I don't know what 'brand' it is and there are no markings other than numbers and 'Made in China'.

Any idea how much it may be worth?

Thanks!

Alex

 

[Badger Arms]

Shoulda sold it years ago. Should bring $800 to $1000 on the open market, but this market is really dicey in anticipation of the AWB sunset. It could very well be that you'll be able to get twice the quality in exactly the same configuration from Arsenal Inc. or another such company.

 

[son of a gun]

It's very important to know the manufacturer when determining the value. You said it was made in China so it's probably a Polytech or Norinco, since you bought it in 1987 it most likely is a preban witch commands a higher price do to rarity.

here's some examples that will give you a ball park figure.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976318583.htm


http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976414573.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976326271.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976368422.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976399252.htm

 

[Nightcrawler]

If I might ask, why'd you buy it then just stash it for seventeen years?

 

[son of a gun]

If I might ask, why'd you buy it then just stash it for seventeen years?

Since our boy's not around I'm gonna speculate,

1] It was an impulse buy after watching Rambo

2] It's for protection in case of home invasion

3] He saw a gun control advocate spouting propaganda and decided to buy it while you still can.

4] He's disabled and missing both arms and legs


I my self have a Daewoo DR200 that's never been shot or chambered and I have owned it for 6 years now, it's so clean and pure, I just can't bring myself to deflowering it.

 

[Nando Aqui]

Why purchased then?
Back then, I bought one of each AR15 HBAR, Valmet M76, FN FNC, and the AKS. I liked the .223s better to shoot, (all were more accurate as well) so I kept the AKS as a curiosity item since it was so widely used. I have since sold the Valmet (at over triple the original cost) but have kept the rest and used them frequently; though not as frequently as the .308's that I haven't mentioned.

I like SOAG's speculations (and thanks for the links!), though, and number 3, the "ban", did cross my mind - back then the issue definitely was on the horizon.

Why sell now?
I am looking at getting another rifle, perhaps a DPMS Panther in 300 Rem SUMA, and have decided that the AKS is the one to go.

Simple!

Thanks guys!

Alex

 

[Gewehr98]

I kinda agree with Badger Arms.

I doubt pre-ban prices will do much better after this coming September. Although that underfolder really falls under the 1989 import ban, as opposed to the 1994 Crime of Bill. I'd wager domestic-manufacture AK's after this fall will have side or under folding stocks, though.

If original condition's not an object, that gun's a prime candidate to be sent to a Title III gunsmith, and converted into a SBR Krinkov. If it were for sale, that's what I'd buy it for, in a heartbeat.

 

[Wildalaska]

Heres the deal on prebans at this time, coming for some one who sells tons of guns over the net and regularly talks to his compatriots who also do.

Pre ban ARs (other than Colt) arent bringing any more than a post ban.
Most Pre ban Colts carry a premium of about 10%, except for Sporter 1s which are "collectible"
Pre ban AKs of any type arent worth that much more than a post ban
Belgian FALS have dropped precipitously.
FNCs still carry a high tag, as does AUGs...but no0 one is buying them
SIG 550 series are astronomical and are still being moved actively... Some people who are counting on value increasing would really be hurt if all of a sudden a bunch were out there But Ill keep me mouth shut for now.
HKs are dropping and are not selling.

Now is not the time to sell a "pre ban", if ya think you are gonna increase your increase your investment excessively.

WildmarketreportAlaska

 

[son of a gun]

Wasn't his version banned in 89 by the elder Bush after the Stockton school yard incident ? If so this repeal of the AWB SHOULDN'T EFFECT it MUCH.

Why purchased then?

No more can be imported it's get rarer and more valuable every day, an of coarse to sit around and crow over such an unspoiled highly desired object. KINDA LIKE A PLATINUM BLOND TROPHY WIFE WHO'S A LITTLE EMPTY UP STAIRS.

 

[Ian]

I'm no lawyer, so take this with a grian of salt. If the ABW isn't renewed, his particular AK will still be unimportable. But it will be legal to make domestic AKs in the exact same configuration. The reason the prebans are valuable now is for their configuration - if the AWB disappears, prebans will no longer have any special significance beyond being legal/historical curiosities. The bottom will fall out of the preban market.

 

[Gewehr98]

Ian, that was my line of thought, too.

Sure, his underfolder was banned in '89 by Bush the Elder. But when the '94 AWB is relegated to history, then domestically-produced AK variants can have the same configuration, which doesn't help the price of those pre-'89 imported AK's.

WildAK, I know where you're coming from, but I can't see it in the local Florida gun shows as of recently. If the tag on a given non-Colt AR-15 says "pre-ban" you can automatically figure the price will hover between $1200-1500. Now, mind you, I don't know if they're selling those guns at those prices...

I'd love to walk the next local show with my pre-'94 ban Colt Competition HBAR, ostensibly looking for something as benign as a sling or spare magazine, just to hear the table holders yell "What you got there, boy?"


Mind games work both ways.

 

[son of a gun]

Does that mean you could build Daewoos also if Daewoo was willing to sell the parts and you manufactured certain parts your self similar to what they do with American AK's trigger groups and stuff ?

 

[Gewehr98]

Son of a gun, hold that thought...

Until sometime later this September. Things might get interesting.

 

[Wildalaska]

WildAK, I know where you're coming from, but I can't see it in the local Florida gun shows as of recently. If the tag on a given non-Colt AR-15 says "pre-ban" you can automatically figure the price will hover between $1200-1500. Now, mind you, I don't know if they're selling those guns at those prices

Theyre not..or if they are, they are selling them to uniformed consumers..

For example, I still have 2 NIB Colt Blue labels that I have listed at $1199...still have them (albiet they arent on all the web sites yet)..already had one guy tell me "nice, but Ill wait till septemeber"


WildtherearegonnabealotofunhappypeopleoutheresoonAlaska

 

[MAKOwner]

You can 100% bet on someone either making domestically, or importing with US parts (thus technically US made), an underfolder AK when the ban sunsets, I'd sell now while it still has some rarity to it... The bottom is going to fall out of the "pre-ban" market I'd wager. I hope we'll get alot of US-parts imported guns like the Daewoo and similar coming in too, who knows. I'd love a somewhat affordable FNC or Valmet/SAKO or something similar... But I don't know what kind of cracking down on US-parts import guns the ATF has been doing of late/will be doing...

 

[c_yeager]

The parts to make underfolder AKs are already here. They are being built as we speak with pinned stocked that will be easily converted back to their underfoldy status should the ban expire. Check out the polish kits from Global Trades. Real nice guns by all accounts. Ive seen a few Bulgarian kits floating around as well. Arsenal lists one as being in production on their site as well. There will be nothing rare about underfolding AKs come september (fingers crossed).

 

[son of a gun]

I could go for a reasonably priced UZI, if that nightmare known as AWB expires.