WTK value paratrooper sks

[beefjerkly]

I'm looking at buying a paratrooper sks. The one I have my eye on is a norinco, spike folding bayo, regular (non-thumbhole) stock, imported from KSI Pomona CA. Overall condition seems good. What is the going rate and what is would a steal of deal be? Thanks!!!

[77patriots]

Hard to say Sir... I knw it is no more then a real Russian full sized SKS

[bayoushooter]

I don't know if its like this everywhere, but the para models run about $400-$450 on a local Louisiana forum. The para models seem to be more desirable, at least around here.

[nitrous_bob]

is this one that takes AK mags ?

technically those are "sporters" but some call them paratroopers...both have shorter barrels

if yes ak mags....i see them sell for $500 which is crazy cuz you can get a MAK90 for that. but id pay $300

but if no...sks mags....i wouldnt pay anymore than regular sks...about $250-300

[Tigr]

If it takes AK magazines, then I think its an SKS-M. One reason those cost a lot more is because people buy them for that bullpup conversion. Granted the one in the picture is a Yugoslavian...

[norinco671]

the one you speak of, w/16" barrel and spike bayo, probably w/fixed magazine. any norinco nowadays w/16" barrel usually fetches from $350 and up, for simple fact there is no other country that imported them this way from the factory=unique. and we will never see them imported again from china. i have recently picked up a sks-m that will take ak47 mags, very lucky to have purchased from a friend who is the original owner at original price

[norinco671]

Originally Posted by Tigr

If it takes AK magazines, then I think its an SKS-M. One reason those cost a lot more is because people buy them for that bullpup conversion. Granted the one in the picture is a Yugoslavian...

i have an sks-m and would not even think of doing such a thing to a sks-m.
dont know where you get that idea, the reason people buy the sks-m is to convert it to a bullpup
i like the sks-m just the way it should be

[Adriana]

Originally Posted by norinco671

the one you speak of, w/16" barrel and spike bayo, probably w/fixed magazine. any norinco nowadays w/16" barrel usually fetches from $350 and up, for simple fact there is no other country that imported them this way from the factory=unique. and we will never see them imported again from china. i have recently picked up a sks-m that will take ak47 mags, very lucky to have purchased from a friend who is the original owner at original price

In reality they were only cut down as an afterthought for the American market, usually by (for) the exporter/importer, many believe they were designed & manufactured this way but that is not the case.

As for value, whatever the market sets really. As I general rule I will not pay more than $250 for a 56 simply because you can find new/unfired ones for that (and less) if your patient.

[norinco671]

yes i know, actually back in the day i forget the company, the actually flew in some engineers from china who manufactures their sks and asked if its possible to cut down the sks then walla a $250 sks now goin for as high as $500 bucks. its amazing how an after thought on a cheap sks can demand a higher price nowadays.

[Tigr]

Originally Posted by norinco671

i have an sks-m and would not even think of doing such a thing to a sks-m.
dont know where you get that idea, the reason people buy the sks-m is to convert it to a bullpup
i like the sks-m just the way it should be

Reason being is that the SKS-M works reliably with AK magazines. Most high capacity magazine attachments for other SKS's are pure crap that jam or can't feed a single reliably.

The bullpup kit isn't even a permanent modification, it's just a shell. You can still have your original wooden stock stashed away.

[norinco671]

Originally Posted by Tigr

Reason being is that the SKS-M works reliably with AK magazines. Most high capacity magazine attachments for other SKS's are pure crap that jam or can't feed a single reliably.

The bullpup kit isn't even a permanent modification, it's just a shell. You can still have your original wooden stock stashed away.

we all know its not a permanent mod. its up to who ever wants to put that bullpup on, more power to ya.

[ThunderGod]

Originally Posted by Adriana

In reality they were only cut down as an afterthought for the American market, usually by (for) the exporter/importer, many believe they were designed & manufactured this way but that is not the case.

As for value, whatever the market sets really. As I general rule I will not pay more than $250 for a 56 simply because you can find new/unfired ones for that (and less) if your patient.

Not true. Some of the later imports were cut-down rifles, but the factory Paras were just that; factory made short rifles. They way to know which is factory or not, is the cut-down rifles have a full-length gas system. The true Paras have a shorter gas tube and piston that were made that way, from the start.

[Adriana]

Originally Posted by ThunderGod

Not true. Some of the later imports were cut-down rifles, but the factory Paras were just that; factory made short rifles. They way to know which is factory or not, is the cut-down rifles have a full-length gas system. The true Paras have a shorter gas tube and piston that were made that way, from the start.

All 'Paratroopers' were cut down rifles, period.
(I would welcome any info that shows otherwise)

The shortened gas system your referring to is usually seen on the so-called M model AK-mag variant, which was also never an actual 'production rifle' so to speak but cobbled together specifically for U.S. import. I say usually because they have popped up on other AK-mag variants most likely due to trying to get rid of stock on hand as the shortened system was never needed in the first place.

[Adriana]

Originally Posted by norinco671

yes i know, actually back in the day i forget the company, the actually flew in some engineers from china who manufactures their sks and asked if its possible to cut down the sks then walla a $250 sks now goin for as high as $500 bucks. its amazing how an after thought on a cheap sks can demand a higher price nowadays.

Not quite, your (very) loosely referring to Midwest Ordnance who actually designed the AK-mag variant (not the 'Paratrooper'). They wanted them imported this way to save $$ so the Chinese fellers came over then went back and started importing them as the 84, then the D, etc. But the Paratroopers were all cut down 56's.

[c0mbatphil]

Para norincos like mine go for $500 around here. My tapco 20Rd mags have 1200rds on em. Work great for me after cleaning up the insides of em a touch.

[ThunderGod]

Navy Arms. One of their versions of the "Para" was called the "Cowboy Companion," or some-such.

Adriana, I've seen thousands of Norinco, factory "Paras" with short-gas systems and spike folders. In fact, the factory shortened the gas systems for that exact reason; to accommodate the front sight/bayo mounting point. Just because they were made for the American market, does not obviate the fact that they were made to be "Paras" from the start, and were not just "cut-down" rifles. Do you understand that?

China dumped so many surplus SKSs on the American market, that they actually had to make new ones, too.

[ThunderGod]

BTW, you also know that the Chinese made stamped-receiver SKSs, right?

[AKBLUE]

The short rifle (16 inch barrel) SKS carbines were made in several variations for the US market. Whether cut down or with shortened gas systems they were for export/import to USA purposes vs military.
There was also a cross over of short SKS rifles that also accepted AK style magazines as well.

This is a fairly detailed list of the SKS rifles that accept AK type magazines.

Detachable AK Magazine - SKS Models
SKS-D - 20" standard stock, normal markings on receiver, detachable bayonet
SKS-M - 16" monte carlo stock, stamped sks-M on receiver, neutered bayonet lug.
MC-5D - 16" monte carlo stock, stamped MC-5D on receiver, no bayonet lug, SKS style mag release. Similar to SKS-M
SKS Sporter - 16" D-handle stock (thumbhole), stamped sporter on receiver, neutered bayonet lug. Similar to SKS-M
Type 84 - 16" standard stock, normal markings on receiver, folding bayonet, bolt hold open button located on bolt carrier, AK mag tangs must be modified to fit
SKS -NR - 16" D-handle stock, stamped NR on receiver, neutered bayonet lug
SKS-63 - 20" D-handle stock, stamped 63 on receiver, neutered bayonet lug, front site open on top
Midwest Conversion - 16" or 20" standard stock with filler plate, normal markings on receiver, neutered bayonet lug

[mike44]

I had a Norinco SKS Para, that had the bayonet removed, but the slot where it would have folded into had a wood piece in the spot and finished beautifully with the rest of the stock. I sold it for $250 to a dealer at a gun show, not really the price I wanted but It went towards what I was trying to get at the time so all is well.
Mike

[Ak-sharpshooter]

Originally Posted by Adriana

In reality they were only cut down as an afterthought for the American market, usually by (for) the exporter/importer, many believe they were designed & manufactured this way but that is not the case.

As for value, whatever the market sets really. As I general rule I will not pay more than $250 for a 56 simply because you can find new/unfired ones for that (and less) if your patient.

Paratroopers are not just "cut down" they are different barrels altogether. The paratroopers have a different ratio of twist in the barrel (much tighter) to accommodate for the shorter barrel.

[Adriana]

Originally Posted by ThunderGod

Adriana, I've seen thousands of Norinco, factory "Paras" with short-gas systems and spike folders. In fact, the factory shortened the gas systems for that exact reason; to accommodate the front sight/bayo mounting point. Just because they were made for the American market, does not obviate the fact that they were made to be "Paras" from the start, and were not just "cut-down" rifles. Do you understand that?

China dumped so many surplus SKSs on the American market, that they actually had to make new ones, too.

Okay I'll try one last time, there NEVER was such a rifle as a 'Paratrooper' made by the Chinese, only cut down rifles supplied to the U.S. market by importer request. These were unofficially branded as a 'Paratrooper' because that was the purpose for most short versions of full length rifles. They are generally identical in every way to the standard Chinese SKS because that's exactly what they are standard SKS's that have been cut down.

The only 'short gas tube' SKS produced that was not an AK-Mag conversion (which were never considered 'Paratroopers' as they had actual names and never made for the military) is the 'Sporter' variant, which is actually labeled Sporter, SKSS, or SKS-S. These were exclusively built for U.S. import and never 'fielded' or intended for military use, they are commercial exports as I stated from the beginning. And the vast majority of the ones I have seen also use cut-down barrels, the way you can spot them is that the crown is not chromed.

I would by all means LOVE to see even a fraction of all the "thousands" of short-tube, non-commercial 'Paratroopers' you claim to have seen as they would fetch a pretty price. In fact I would love for you to produce even two or three....

[Adriana]

Originally Posted by AKBLUE

The short rifle (16 inch barrel) SKS carbines were made in several variations for the US market. Whether cut down or with shortened gas systems they were for export/import to USA purposes vs military.
There was also a cross over of short SKS rifles that also accepted AK style magazines as well.

This is a fairly detailed list of the SKS rifles that accept AK type magazines.

Detachable AK Magazine - SKS Models
SKS-D - 20" standard stock, normal markings on receiver, detachable bayonet
SKS-M - 16" monte carlo stock, stamped sks-M on receiver, neutered bayonet lug.
MC-5D - 16" monte carlo stock, stamped MC-5D on receiver, no bayonet lug, SKS style mag release. Similar to SKS-M
SKS Sporter - 16" D-handle stock (thumbhole), stamped sporter on receiver, neutered bayonet lug. Similar to SKS-M
Type 84 - 16" standard stock, normal markings on receiver, folding bayonet, bolt hold open button located on bolt carrier, AK mag tangs must be modified to fit
SKS -NR - 16" D-handle stock, stamped NR on receiver, neutered bayonet lug
SKS-63 - 20" D-handle stock, stamped 63 on receiver, neutered bayonet lug, front site open on top
Midwest Conversion - 16" or 20" standard stock with filler plate, normal markings on receiver, neutered bayonet lug

None of the above are 'Paratroopers', you are correct in that they are ALL for commercial export into the U.S.

[Adriana]

Originally Posted by Ak-sharpshooter

Paratroopers are not just "cut down" they are different barrels altogether. The paratroopers have a different ratio of twist in the barrel (much tighter) to accommodate for the shorter barrel.

Wow! Just wow!
I would love for you to cite or produce some of these....

[Disburse-Now]

One doesn't see SKS for sale in the quantity they once were some 15 years or more ago. Pres Klinton authorized the importation of over 12 million Chinese SKS rifles alone into the US, as well as some 400,000 Russian Mavarov Pistols. (That alone must have caused epileptic fits among the anti-fireram crowd) I came across an SKS thumb hole stock SKS variant at the Lakeland Gun Show this last weekend (21 April 2012) -it ws available for $450.
I had a Paratrooper with the thumb hole stock that took AK Mags. It resides in an undisclosed secure remote location at the present time. Out in the greater world of firearms are a lot of SKS rifles here in Amerika- I would say considerably more than 12 million at present, with all the Russian, and Romanian, Yugo etc models being imported over the years.

[thomas27]

yesterday at a locall ffl i seen a chicon paratrooper busted up condition, bayonet lug hacket off crudely and on serial #s that were visible the trigger guard was differant numbered.... it had a sold sticker on it $480!! no lie
and i just was given one from a friend and was about to sell it for $200 in better condition but with no originol rear housing. otherwise great condition.
i guess some people do there homework through their dealers when it comes to purchasing rifles. i believe part of why sks get such a premium is alot of times first time gun buyers or at least first time buyers into the military type rifles get talked into thinking they are something more special than what they are by dealers who are ruthless.

[uncledoodoo]

I was looking at one on Texasguntrader for $500. It talked me into this for $429 and free shipping at Centerfire (it will take AK mags too for less than $500).

[Stoned_Oli]

Originally Posted by uncledoodoo

I was looking at one on Texasguntrader for $500. It talked me into this for $429 and free shipping at Centerfire (it will take AK mags too for less than $500).

Ooh, bi-pod and AK-74 brake. Sexy.

[Archivist Dick]

Where does one tack a bayonet on that sporter AK?