Not long ago, a Mosin-Nagant cost under $100. Today, a plain Soviet M91/30 sells for about $300 to $500.
SKS rifles and M1 Garands have climbed too. If you’re thinking of selling or trading in one of these, old price assumptions can cost you.
Here’s how to tell what you’ve got and what it’s worth, so you don’t do that blind. We’ll also cover what else to know about these rifles before you sell.
Why Mosin, SKS, and Garand Prices Keep Climbing
One big reason is import restrictions. Chinese rifle imports stopped in 1994. The State Department also blocked new imports of Russian-made guns and ammo in 2021.
Surplus Garands have a different problem. The U.S. stopped making them for the military in the 1950s, leaving them frozen in time.
Today, the government sells its surplus Garands to civilians through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, or CMP. In late 2025, the CMP said its stock of original receivers was nearly exhausted. It’s now restoring old drill rifles to stretch supply a few more years.
So the supply of all three rifles is either fixed or running down. If you own any of them, though, that’s good news for you.
What Milsurp Rifles Are Worth Now
The prices below are as of November 2026. They’re based on completed sales.
Prices move, so check recent sales before you put a number on anything. If you’d rather skip the legwork, a gun collection buyer like Cash for Arms can quote you directly. That works for one rifle or several.
Mosin-Nagant Value
The M91/30 is the standard Soviet infantry Mosin. In decent shape, it sells for about $300 to $500. Expect a trade-in offer to come in lower.
Two Mosin variants are worth noticeably more than others. Finnish-built M39s usually sell for about $700 and up, while genuine Soviet sniper rifles with their original PU scopes can top $1,000. Get these checked by a knowledgeable appraiser or expert before you price.
SKS Value
Where an SKS was made matters most for its price. Russian rifles generally get the highest values.
To tell them apart from others, check the top of the receiver cover. On most Russian rifles, it shows a star or a triangle with an arrow inside. Chinese rifles carry Chinese characters instead.
Chinese Norinco SKS rifles are the most common kind in the U.S., with over a million imported commercially. They usually sell for about $350 to $600.
A 22mm rifle grenade launcher on the muzzle means a Yugoslav M59/66. Those usually sell in the mid-$500s. Note that the earlier Yugoslav M59 has no launcher.
Circa 1950s Russian SKS rifles often bring around $600 and up. Matching numbers push them higher still. That means the receiver’s serial also appears (stamped at the factory) on the cover, bolt, carrier, trigger guard, magazine, and stock. Numbers scratched on with an electric pencil came from a later rebuild, and collectors pay less for those.
M1 Garand Value
Look at the rear of the receiver, called the heel. It shows the maker and the serial number. The maker in particular can make a big difference in the rifle’s value.
Most Garands were built by Springfield Armory. Those sell for around $1,475.
Winchester-made rifles sell for around $1,625 these days, and International Harvester rifles for around $1,850. H&R rifles sell for around $1,300.
The CMP itself sells rebuilt Garands for $1,150. Most Garands on the open market sell for more.
Note that a World War II date by itself doesn’t add much. Collectors are often more focused on the original, era-correct parts: rifles with those, in superb condition, can go over $3,000.
What Raises a Milsurp Rifle’s Value
Many surplus rifles were rebuilt at an arsenal, often more than once. The CMP says most M1s were rebuilt at least once.
So, mixed parts are normal, and the prices above already reflect them. Here’s what pushes a rifle higher.
- Original matching numbers. Factory-stamped serials on every numbered part bring a premium.
- Correct accessories. A period-correct bayonet, sling, or magazine adds value. Sell them with the rifle, not separately.
- A good bore. A bright bore with sharp rifling matters to shooters and collectors alike.
What Cuts a Milsurp Rifle’s Value
On the other hand, the things below can bring down your rifle’s value.
- Conversion to a hunting rifle. Cut-down stocks and shortened barrels take away much of the collector value.
- Holes for a scope mount. Drilling the receiver to mount a scope cuts collector value sharply.
- Refinishing. New bluing or a sanded stock usually lowers value.
- Renumbered parts. Parts renumbered later to match the receiver are worth less than original matching ones.
What to Know Before You Sell a Milsurp Rifle
Every price in this article depends on details. Markings, matching numbers, and originality are what buyers pay for. When you sell, your job is to make sure they see them.
This means whoever buys or prices your rifle should know milsurp. To a buyer who doesn’t, an M39 is just another Mosin. You’ll never get what it’s really worth.
Then show them the proof. Photograph every marking, plus the serial on each numbered part. Buyers price milsurp from those details, so a vague “all matching” isn’t enough.
How you sell depends on what matters more: price, speed, or effort. Trading in at a shop is the quickest option, and it’s credit toward your next gun… but expect a lower number than the prices above.
Selling privately can bring more, but it’s the most work. You’ll photograph, list, vet buyers, and arrange the transfer yourself. An auction house can do it for you, for fees. Either way, you usually have a long wait ahead.
Nearly all these rifles qualify as curios and relics or C&R, by the way. A buyer with a C&R license can receive one straight from another state. Get a copy of that license first, and check your state’s rules.
Or skip all of that. A buyer who knows milsurp, like Cash for Arms, can price your rifle from the photos you’ve taken. They’ll handle the transfer paperwork too.
