How much does a missing bayonet affect the value?

[sarge912]

How much does a missing bayonet affect the value?

I am picking up a Russian SKS, hopefully tomorrow.
It has Tapco stock on it but they are including the original stock and magazine.
Sadly he cannot find the Bayonet.
I don't have date yet as he has a scope mounted on it and I will have to remove it to see the entire barrel.

So again, how much does a missing bayonet affect the value?
Thanks in advance

[Lafayettegregory]

Not much. Maybe $25-35 Bayonets can be easily found.   If it is a receiver cover scope mount - the missing original cover is more of a price hit than a bayo.

[Pavel_J]

You have to ask yourself what exactly you want the rifle for. Do you want a collector grade rifle with all matching numbers in a specific condition from a specific factory or do you want a reliable shooter? Do you want a sporterized SKS or the classic original look SKS with iron sights?

It sounds like the rifle has been sporterized and may be missing some original parts. If your goal is to return it to original then you have the added expense of having to locate and purchase obsolete parts that are getting more difficult to find. Go out on the internet and try to find the parts that are missing and see the going prices right now. They aren't cheap or plentiful anymore. That might help you to determine how much you are willing to pay for the rifle you are considering to buy.

Maybe someone else here with knowlege of present market conditions can estimate a generic ballpark retail value for the rifle you describe. It kind of sounds like from your post that you might have doubts about the purchase price vs. the actual value of the rifle in its present condition.

[Prince50]

LG, and Pavel are correct.

I'd pass on the rifle if the needed matching parts are not in the package. If the cover is a scope mount cover, beware of the dreaded 4 screw mount marks they often leave on the receiver.

Bayonets are easy to replace, but pricey for a correct Russian and sometimes impossible depending on year of the rifle. 1949 and early 1950 will require a flat bayonet collar, that is almost impossible to locate now.

Darin

[sarge912]

Not much. Maybe $25-35 Bayonets can be easily found.   If it is a receiver cover scope mount - the missing original cover is more of a price hit than a bayo.

Have the original cover.
Pretty sure it is a 1954 izhevsk.
Have the stock and cover but no bayonet yet. He is still looking for it.
It is still in the Tapco stock but hopefully not for long.
Still don't have my hands on it, he is having second thoughts about parting with it.

[Prince50]

That is a Tula rifle. Black, matte silver, or Black shiny bayonet in blade style would be correct

Good find.

Darin

[Adrianople]

I think on a collector grade rifle it matters, for most folks they may not care. And the commercial ones often had a bayonet mount and no bayonet.

[Pavel_J]

I have a 1954 Tula and the bolt cover looks just like the one in the photo. I bought it in 1994 from an importer in Shotgun News and had a friend with a FFL do the transfer. I still have the receipt and total cost was $161.36 (rifle+shipping+tax+FFL). It sounds like a bargain in 2022, but it was quite an expenditure for my budget back then. I still have the rifle and except for normal wear from shooting it, the gun is in original condition. I wish I would have had the cash to buy more of them back then. However, I did buy some other milsurp rifles that were being imported in quantities back then. There was so much stuff I saw back then that I wanted to buy, but had bills to pay and just couldn't do it. 

Anyway, I just wanted to add that my rifle came with a silver blade bayonet.