I picked this up a couple of years ago from a bundle sale (take all or take none) from an old family friend and this was part of it (who only shot his hunting rifles/shotguns). While it's neat, I'm more into the modernized/zoomer style AKs that I can throw in the dirt and not feel as bad about, so I'm contemplating trading/selling off this polytech to put it towards something more my style.
Can someone help me gather more info on it? Condition wise there's probably been less than 100 rds shot through it and the bakelite pieces seem to have been painted over. Rifle came with 8 or so Chinese mags (flatbacks).
Trying to come up with a fair/accurate sell/trade value for it.
Most polytechs are about 2k to 3k (sadly for me because I'm poor).
The flat back magazines are probably Poly tech as well or Norinco so it's about $30 to $65 a magazine as well. A lot of polytechs I see go for at least 2k have their original box, wrapping, manuals and are either NIB unfired or low low round count pristine.
Yours looks like shooter/field condition which I would have no idea a good number/value.
Shooter grade 56s-2. From the looks of the mag catch wear, I'd say it's been through many more than 100 rds. Definitely a cool piece.. If you can clean the paint off the bakelite without damaging it, should fetch good coin like mentioned above..👍
There is a Hobby paint remover I used to use, when custom painting HO trains. It cost about $18-$20 a bottle. Apply it with a tooth brush and wait about 10-20min. It is designed for plastic.
Scalecoat II Wash Away Paint Remover- S56. Walther's Trains usually sells it. A little goes a long way.
I picked this up a couple of years ago from a bundle sale (take all or take none) from an old family friend and this was part of it (who only shot his hunting rifles/shotguns). While it's neat, I'm more into the modernized/zoomer style AKs that I can throw in the dirt and not feel as bad about, so I'm contemplating trading/selling off this polytech to put it towards something more my style.
Can someone help me gather more info on it? Condition wise there's probably been less than 100 rds shot through it and the bakelite pieces seem to have been painted over. Rifle came with 8 or so Chinese mags (flatbacks).
See now this is a good idea, if it wasn't going to California.
I probably wouldn't mind even doing a 2 for 1 trade on an AK or even rifle plus cash if you are looking for something a little more rugged less collective.
Polytechs are super reliable rifles but they are very collectible as well because of that, what you have is a really good rifle that usually is stored away.
I would own it to shoot it, but wouldn't change or modify anything as it sits.
You can get more for it than that. Ive not seen a S2 go for less than 3K in a long time-shooter grade??? or not!. Removal of the paint IS critical though as bargain hunters will use that against you. Clean it up and you'll get $3K for it in this market all day long especially with 8 flatbacks!!!
I agree also. That bakelite furniture is quite uncommon and desirable. You can always lower the price if it doesn't move. If you list it low, it might get snapped up and flipped right away.
Sadley this one is quite rough. The Fiberglass being painted black is a killer for value. The problem is the removal of the paint would probably mar the fiberglass resin finish. I can buy it but it would be a wholesale price and a proper transfer easy for you the seller. Not your fault
Nice rifle, but you can take it to the next level by cleaning the black paint off like said previously. Give the rifle a good wiping down and you could easily get $2750-$3000 for it. Put it on GB and you could possibly get more, but fees are gonna get you. Used good condition Chinese flatback mags are $35 and Polytech chrome followers are $150 thereabout. Just my opinion, hope this helps.
What makes the chrome follower mags so expensive? I double checked what I have, 4 of the non chrome follower Chinese flat backs (with the made in China sticker) and 3 of the chrome follower magazines (7 total instead of 8 I thought I had)
Now you went and did it! The package just increased with the mags not being plain jane flatbacks. The chrome follower polys are going anywhere from 80-120 eack with some asking more. The "made in china" flats 40 each-people pay extra for the stickes though I dont know why. The blueing looks very good on the weapon too.Its a highly desirable Kengs Import 56S-2!!! If you can clean off the black paint off, you got nothing to lose, it will bring $3K to $3.5K easily . You might try taking the panels/ grip and handguards off off and experimenting with diffrent methods too. Maybe soda blasting or just power washing the paint off. People put AK's, see ROBSKI, on youtube through some brutal torture tests. Thrown in mud puddles, water, sand. I dont think a power wash then a very, very thorough cleaning would hurt it much!!! Id remove the bolt/carrier first.GLWS
What makes chrome follower mags so expensive? I bought them for like $10/ea a couple of years ago as part of the bulk sale with the rifle + other stuff
I'll do a bit more research into how to cleanly remove the paint. The $3k figure does seem enticing, but somehow seems a bit high just by a gut feeling (again I have close to zero knowledge about the chinese AK market, so maybe it really can fetch that number but I'm just used to buying WASRs and other low/mid tier AKs for like $1000 lol)
I bought this Polytech DF many years off GB from a guy who was did private contact work in down in Columbia. While it was cool being painted, my OCD kicked in and I took about a week stripping it down back to its original finish….metal, wood and mags. I was shocked to see the condition of the bluing on the receiver, but it did have about 7 layers of paint, so I guess it was well protected. Overall, it turned out beautiful, but part of me wishes I would have left it like it was. Here’s a few before & after pics. Serial #0577 can be seen on the receiver cover of both.
I bought this Pokytech DF many years off GB from a guy who was did private contact work in down in Columbia. While it was cool being painted, my OCD kicked in and I took about a week stripping it down back to its original finish….metal, wood and mags. I was shocked to see the condition of the bluing on the receiver, but it did have about 7 layers of paint, so I guess it was well protected. Overall, it turned out beautiful, but part of me wishes I would have left it like it was. Here’s a few before & after pics.
Don’t remember seeing this in this thread, but Poly Tech mags have three witness holes in the spine, Norinco had one. Yes, chrome followers bring a premium even though Poly Tech (three hole) mags with black followers were more rare.
Chromed followers have a following no pun intended. Why? Who the hell knows. KFS offered them, the followers, in the catalog way back when 1985. Anyone can have these chromed for a lot less. It’s just not a premium to those knowing. No big deal. I swapped out since they were just laying in a bag for years no make that decades. Never used go figure.
The Poly mags are also missing the cutout at the top to make room for for the full auto sear to sweep by. The Poly mags are non-military and were made for Keng's contract only so much rarer than the millions of Chinese military surplus out there..
The black paint can be forgiven because these rifles were an affordable novelty when they came out so customization was a given. Someone thought the red/orange looked gaudy so they fixed the issue with a rattle can. Who knew the salad days would end so soon and these things would skyrocket in value?
I would remove the stock set and start with the mildest paint remover (70% or 90% rubbing alcohol) and go from there. Use a small section to experiment on to see how the resin reacts so you don't ruin the whole stock. True Bakelite is very chemical resistant but Lord only knows what the "woven cloth reinforced phenolic resin" on your particular rifle really is or what it can tolerate. China is known to cut corners to save money, especially on exports. Don't use sandpaper or abrasives or you will dull the finish.
The Poly mags are also missing the cutout at the top to make room for for the full auto sear to sweep by. The Poly mags are non-military and were made for Keng's contract only so much rarer than the millions of Chinese military surplus out there..
The black paint can be forgiven because these rifles were an affordable novelty when they came out so customization was a given. Someone thought the red/orange looked gaudy so they fixed the issue with a rattle can. Who knew the salad days would end so soon and these things would skyrocket in value?
I would remove the stock set and start with the mildest paint remover (70% or 90% rubbing alcohol) and go from there. Use a small section to experiment on to see how the resin reacts so you don't ruin the whole stock. True Bakelite is very chemical resistant but Lord only knows what the "woven cloth reinforced phenolic resin" on your particular rifle really is or what it can tolerate. China is known to cut corners to save money, especially on exports. Don't use sandpaper or abrasives or you will dull the finish.
I took suggestions from comments and DMs as to how to remove the paint. I used some Mineral Spirits paint thinner and it seemed to work fairly well.
Now I suppose to wrap up the discussion, I've included pics of what it looks like now as well as the mags I have with it (7 total instead of the 8 I thought I had). What's the general consensus on the value of the package as is for the rifle + 3 chrome follower flatbacks + 4 regular Chinese flatbacks (with the made in China stickers)? Also have 2 spam cans of corrosive Chinese ammo if that's even worth a damn (1 open and 1 sealed).
Looks badass, and beautiful. Hope it goes to a great home. And yes the corrosive ammunition is nice, just got to clean your rifle everytime you shoot it.
Does the Chinese spam can ammo hold any collectible value? Or just treat it as slightly worse than bargain bin ammo (wolf, tula, etc) due to its corrosive nature?
Beautiful 56s-2 rifle now that the Krylon is removed. I have the Norinco version with the VZ-58 style pistol grip. Does yours still have the covert tool/cleaning kit in the stock ? If it's gone good luck finding another.
I imagine the ammo would be worth more as a collectable than to shoot up seeing how no more can be imported commercially.
Seems like it, didn't even realize this was a thing
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