SL> JS> I went to a local gun store and looked at the SKS.
SL> JS> It was unused as far as I could tell.   I liked the feel and all.  The
SL> JS> asking price was $169.00. Is this a good price?

SL>That is TOO MUCH MONEY!!  In California the prices have been as low as $69
SL>with a low grade quality stock.  The avg here is apx 99-109 depending on the
SL>stock quality.  They have different grades of stocks so watch out that you
SL>don't get the bad stock at the best stock price.  Most people that I know
SL>though take off the wood stock and put on a man made stock in it's place.

The stocks are a random thing. I've gone through shipments and found
good stocks and really awful ones in the same lot. It seems to just be
the piece of wood they grab at the plant more than anything. If anyone
is basing prices on the stocks it shouldn't make a really big price
difference.

OTOH, there IS a quality item that WILL affect price.

Most of the SKS's out there are partly assembled from sheet
metal stampings (check the trigger guard for a quick confirmation) but
SOME are machined from blocks of metal (milled) and these will also have
thread-in barrels instead of the pin-held type on the cheaper gun.
Again, look at the guard. If it's a solid piece it's one of the
milled guns. These WILL cost more, all other things being equal. Stocks
are also luck-of-the-draw on these.

I suspect that what is really happening here is simply good old supply
and demand. Of course, shop prices are almost always higher than show
prices. The shop owner probably isn't trying to gouge anybody but he
does have higher costs than some guy who rents a table at a show.

Also, prices have been rising the last several weeks. People are
snapping them up because they think they won't be able to get them in
the very near future. Simple supply and demand. It's getting to be a
seller's market. Prices have doubled in some places in the last month or
so. The price he was quoted may not be all that bad.

SL> JS> And the big question, what happens to me if I
SL> JS> buy this gun and then it's banned a few months later. Will I legally be
SL> JS> able to shoot it?

SL>Again, your local laws may differ.  In Calif. we are waiting to see what \
SL>happens with all laws coming soon.  Possible that you may be only able to
SL>shoot at a range.

I think he may be worrying about a federal ban, in which case he'd be up
the creek.