Why cant I find an AK-47 for sale ?

M

mhannah1

New member
I saw the "Tales of the Gun" episode on the History Channel, featuring Victor Kalishnikov
and his weapons, and if what I saw is true, the AK-47 is one of the most reliable full auto guns made. According to the TV show, they made millions of them.
SO WHY CANT I FIND HARDLY ANY OF THEM FOR SALE?

I found one, and they wanted $6,995.00 for it.
That seems very high priced, considering how many were made.
 
The law of supply and demand. In the USA, no more full autos may be imported (with exceptions for LE on letterhead and gov't agencies) so that means there is a specific number that can be transferred. As these wear out they cannot be replaced. So people are holding on to their full autos and I believe that they aren't shooting them quite as much anymore. When they do sell a full auto, they command a premium price.
 
The full auto ban began in 1986, and the AK series was not well known in this country until the 1970s during and after Vietnam.
 
In addition to supply and demand (little supply, much demand) there is a $200 transfer tax for every sale between private parties, between a private party and a dealer and between a dealer and a private party. This adds up after a few sales.

Actually, there are not a lot of full auto AK47s in the country, and almost all of them were converted legally here prior to 1986. Trade regulations with China and Russia plus a general ban on importing ex-military arms and full auto arms for private sale prevented importation of the selective fire AKs. Of course, there are thousands of semi-auto AKs, but that is not the subject here.

Jim
 
Well, Pete, I assume that anyone posting on a public web site is not looking for an illegal weapon. Anyone who is will probably find other channels for information.

Jim
 
I believe fal308 and others posting answers had the right idea.
And yes, I am considering buying one in full compliance with fedaral law.

And yes, if I wanted to get one black market,
I probably could. (but I would never consider it even an option)

So, if I cant find a full auto AK, then what other reliable full autos should I consider, and what might I have to pay ?
 
Uzi makes a good FA gun.
If your wanting a rifle caliber - I have seen FA L1A1s in a few places.

That 200 dollar tax really does add up after awhile. More than doubling the actual price of the gun - because when you sell it - your going to add that 200 dollars to cover the 2 you dropped on it - plus a little extra for your own profit.

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"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." - Sigmund Freud
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
 
This is really a $ vs $ situation. MAC 11s can still be picked up for under a grand. Reisings run around a grand also. The MAC is strictly a "room broom". High rate of fire and not overly accurate (stock weapon). There are several aftermarket kits that slow down the rof, add a forestock and buttstock, etc. Overall make them more controllable. These kits are basically full-auto racegun kits. The weapons are used in full-auto competition, much as in IPSC. Or you could go and get something such as a Port Said (S&W 76, 760), Uzi conversion etc. You'll be paying more but you'll get something a little more reliable. Either way you will end up paying out well over a grand.
From here you basically jump up another $1000 or more. But you are still mostly in pistol caliber (subgun) weaponry.
Full-auto assault rifles (true assault) and battle rifles generally start around $3500 and go up.
Remember the price is always rising on these weapons and its a sellers market. If you see something you want, you better pick it up now and next month the price may have gone up more.
Too bad Post May weapons are hard to acquire as these are the least expensive class three to buy. Again the law of supply and demand (with NFA and '86 machinegun ban)
A few examples would be MP5 pre runs around $9K vs post around $1400. M16 pre $3600 vs post $750.
Also at the Creek I saw the following for post weapons (Here are just a few of the cool "toys" I would have bought if money and legality wasn't an issue). FAL - $500, Skorpion - $1495, Berettas - $1000, HK33 - $1100.



[This message has been edited by fal308 (edited October 20, 1999).]
 
Not that it does anybody here in the US any good, but I've heard that on the blackmarket in South Africa (and other African nations), you can get an AK47 for less than $50.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
The Soviets dumped hundreds of thousands of AKs into Africa to help Communist revolutionaries. I guess it is too late to get some parachuted in here if we promise to go Communist.

Jim
 
4V50,
You're right about that. My last duty station before I got out of the Marine Corps was at the American Embassy Conakry, Guinea (west Africa). Anyway at the local marche' a couple friends of mine (not Marines) got (2) Ak47's w/ (6) magazines for 50 Guinea frances. That's equivalent to about $45 US. I'm not sure what the actual nomenclature for them was but they were Chinese copies of the AK47 and were at about 50% condition but still fuctional. They didn't get them to bring back to the US but rather for insurance (since there's no police force in Guinea you're on your own)

[This message has been edited by MSGBN (edited October 21, 1999).]
 
I would love to have a short barreled AK, with a folding stock...

*sigh*

But that would be too evil...

------------------
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." - Sigmund Freud
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
 
I'd declare myself communist too if Fidel would deliver a couple tons of AK, RPKs, Dragunovs, RPG-7s, Mig 21s and 17s (for show of course), anything belt fed, anything based on the Gatling gun, T34/85s, T55s, BTR60s, BMPs, and ammunition to me.

Just spoke with a lady who visited Cuba last week. While she messed up in not smuggling cubanos (cigars) into this country, she visited some museums and reported there's a great Army museum with lotsa guns. Apparently, the Cubans are big on guns (but probably like the Japanese, can't own one). Visit now before it's liberated and prices increase! Visit now while the commies and the secret police are there to ensure your safety! Spend your American Dollars on Cuban Cigars and bring them back for your fellow Americans!
Looney tune mode off.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
I dont get the whole Cuba thing -Its gone on long enough... We dont (still) embargo Vietnam - and they got like 50,000 US troopers dead... Cuba only threatend us. Cuba was like - almost a state back in the 50's. It was THE place to go.
I mean - COME ON! We have a HUGE military BASE there!

Sigh... And just what is wrong with being communist anyways? Kidding...
Cigars? You could make a lot of money with those couldn't you? Pay for the trip? Turn out to be a very affordable vacation.
I wonder if you can rent an AK at a shooting range there...

:)

------------------
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." - Sigmund Freud
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
 
I read once that the going rate of a full auto AK in Liberia was one goat or two lambs.

Now you can send a goat to Liberia rthrough the Hiefer Project International for about $120.... (really strange catalog my girlfriend received to send livestock to the third world).. so maybe we can trade livestock for these "weapons of war" and bring peace and prosperity to the third world?? (said with tounge firmly in cheek)

But seriously, in the arms markets of the third world, like in ghana, somalia, pakistan, etc. an AK is one of the cheapest most effective weapons available for around $100 american dollars. The arms markets of pakistan, somalia, liberia, gahna, etc. do heavy trade in all kinds of lend/lease weapons provided by us and the soviets. In places where there are no police, or other such protection afforded a traveler, buying local weapons may make sense. Journalists however are told time and time again to NEVER carry weapons. (hard to convince a shining path guerilla you aren't a combatant when you are packing a machine pistol.)

I'm a fan of kalishnikov's rifle.. but when you factor in the transfer tax to make a lawful purchase there are a lot of nifty FA toys out there which might make more sense to buy.

Stay safe, stay legal,

Dr.Rob
 
Concerning the rental of guns, if anyone ever visits Beijing (that wonderful capital of the Far Eastern Workers' Paradise), Norinco has a range with firearms rental. You can rent an AK47, SKS, smgs (including the Norinco version of the Uzi), their unauthorized copy of the M16, belt fed machineguns, bolt action rifles, shotguns and various types of handguns. It's not cheap, but it may be one of the few times you get to shoot something exotic.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
George,

There is a possibility that the continued embargo on Cuba may have something to do with the possible involvement of a certain bearded gentleman in the events in Dallas in November, 1963. When the gentleman in question is no longer with us, I think things will change rapidly.

Jim
 
On the rental part of it, I hear there is a place on international drive in Orlando that alows you to rent and shoot a FA.They also have hand guns.If im not mistaking I thought I seen it in a brochur the last time I was down there.Does anyone know of this?
 
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