Machodoc
Old Guy
I guess I'm not that into SKSs. In my mind, $320 should include shipping and guaranteed matching numbers. The condition of some of them is pretty bad. I do wish I'd have snagged a couple more of the $200 ones from Royal Tiger though. The one I got is really nice, although the stock is badly cracked (as advertised).
As with everything else, the prices of these shot up during "the madness" of last year. They're coming back down from their zenith of last summer, but I doubt we'll ever see Fall of 2013 prices again.
I personally would just about as soon pay $320 for one that doesn't have a cracked or broken stock, vs. $200 for one that does, but I agree about thinking you ought to also be able to get matching numbers for that price. Once you've tacked on $20 for matching numbers, and about another $20 for shipping, it starts to be a pricey rifle ... but one that I think is still worth that kind of money. I just *really* like the Sino-Soviet SKSs, and when the Albanian caves are empty (and they may be getting close to that), the prices will keep going up.