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Posted: 12/7/2011 8:06:11 AM EDT
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If you could buy a NIB Lancaster arms, AK 7.62x39, red furn, for $749 would you?
I don't know about them. Tell me what is the scoop? |
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at your own risk..........
Can you do some archive searching here? They are NOT a good supplier and had some real quality issues with some bad 5.45 guns they sold. (I got one, but they did make it right) Never heard anything bad about the 7.62 AK's that I can remember. If you can inspect it and everything looks good, its up to you. Price seems a bit high for right now IMO. Do not count on them fixing it if you have problems. YMMV |
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I will say that I own one of their "Russian Reds" and have had no problems with it except for the furniture that it came with. The finish started peeling after the first time I shot it. When I contacted Lancaster Arms refrence warranty work, they said it wouldn't be an issue! Alas...please see my thread here CLICK ME
So, since Lancaster Arms had a horrible track record with customer service (which I did not know at the time of purchase) and I assumed (correctly) that I would never see my gas tube, butt stock, upper or lower handguard ever again. I had to order new stock pieces, screws, and a new gas tube and then take the time to refinish them and fit them to my rifle. Please see video series that I made here CLICK ME So, the only thing I can say, is think long and hard about it...there would not be any warranty work covered, I guess it could be considered a "collector" item since Lancaster no longer exists and DID make great rifles, but it may be a gamble. I can tell you that the price of under 800 is a good price. That is the same price that I paid for mine over a year ago. Good luck! Please contact me if you have any questions nsz |
| There are usually Lancaster's on Gunbroker for $699, which is the case right now. Prices on Gunbroker are notoriously high, so by default $749 is way too much for a rifle that has no warranty. Offer far less money, or look at another rifle would be my suggestion to you. I have a WASR that I refinished and a Lancaster with Russian Red furniture. From an accuracy and operational perspective, they are identical. Keep in mind that many of the Lancaster's utilized Green Mountain barrels made here in the U.S. The difference between a COMBLOC CHF chrome-lined barrel and one made here is simple. . . . . . . they don't have the EPA breathing down their neck. The COMBLOC chrome-lined barrels will last longer. If you want to have matching parts from a Romanian AK the Lancaster will fit the bill . . . . . . . . . . just like my WASR does. The Lancaster looks very nice, just not worth the extra $300 that's being asked for on the rifle you're looking at. |
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All I can say was my rifle was shiped 12-16-10 for warrenty work(Rough Rider typical barrel blew up), and still no rifle. That was $500 I will never see again. If you don't/haven't gotten your rifle back report it as stolen and contact the ATF. Seems like there's a couple of people missing rifles. I know if mine was gone I'd at least report it as stolen so that if it ends up on the evening news my name is no longer connected to it. Just a thought. |
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All I can say was my rifle was shiped 12-16-10 for warrenty work(Rough Rider typical barrel blew up), and still no rifle. That was $500 I will never see again. If you don't/haven't gotten your rifle back report it as stolen and contact the ATF. Seems like there's a couple of people missing rifles. I know if mine was gone I'd at least report it as stolen so that if it ends up on the evening news my name is no longer connected to it. Just a thought. Thats some good advice |
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If it's a very early build, it could be a great rifle? However, under the current circumstances - I wouldn't chance it. I purchased and subsequently sold a Lancaster AKM in early 2007. Nothing was wrong the rifle...I was selling it to help my daughter w/college tuition, books, etc. In fact, it was an awesome straight shooter, reliable, fit & finish were excellent. But, as stated above, it was one of the very early models built by Lancaster (prior to the nationwide spike in firearm sales). Since then though, I've read multiple threads on multiple gun forums that their customer service sucks, quality has deteriorated significantly, and numerous issues w/warranty repairs.
my $0.02 
Pic of my old Lancaster... 
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All I can say was my rifle was shiped 12-16-10 for warrenty work(Rough Rider typical barrel blew up), and still no rifle. That was $500 I will never see again. If you don't/haven't gotten your rifle back report it as stolen and contact the ATF. Seems like there's a couple of people missing rifles. I know if mine was gone I'd at least report it as stolen so that if it ends up on the evening news my name is no longer connected to it. Just a thought. Thats some good advice Yes, that's excellent advice. Especially since Lancaster claims they were burglarized earlier this year. (No, I don't believe it.) If you want to be nicer than I would be, you could even give Chet a heads-up that you plan on doing so. That way when the police or ATF investigate, he can't say "I had no idea this gentleman was so concerned about his gun that we've been holding hostage for a year." Something along the lines of this would be appropriate: "Mr Durda, It has been a year since I sent my rifle to you for a warranty repair. Since my rifle has not been returned, since I have not heard from you regarding its status, and since I heard about an unfortunate burglary at Lancaster earlier this year, at this point it appears I will need to report my rifle as having been stolen. If this rifle is sent to me (adequately repaired) within 72 hours, I will not need to file such a report. Otherwise, to protect my own interests, you will leave me with little choice but to proceed with a theft report." I certainly would not want a gun "out there" somewhere, with my name still attached to it. Nothing good can come of that. ETA: To the OP, while it's true that most of Lancaster's pre-2008 guns are fine, anything made after that may be hit-or-miss. In any regard, they aren't worth $750. Not when you can get any of a number of other AK's for around that price, or less. |
| I have called and tried to report the gun stolen, Goodyear Police will not take a police report on Lancaster. They left shop in Goodyear, AZ and are no where to be found. I have contacted the attorney general of AZ and that has been 6 months ago, no progress. Also, USPS mail fraud and that leads to no where. Very odd that the local police will not do anything about it, many have sued civally and Lancaster wont pay a dime on the claims, and poor Chet is no where to be found. |
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I have called and tried to report the gun stolen, Goodyear Police will not take a police report on Lancaster. They left shop in Goodyear, AZ and are no where to be found. I have contacted the attorney general of AZ and that has been 6 months ago, no progress. Also, USPS mail fraud and that leads to no where. Very odd that the local police will not do anything about it, many have sued civally and Lancaster wont pay a dime on the claims, and poor Chet is no where to be found. File a report with your local PD that your firearm is stolen, and I'd contact the ATF as well. |
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I have called and tried to report the gun stolen, Goodyear Police will not take a police report on Lancaster. They left shop in Goodyear, AZ and are no where to be found. I have contacted the attorney general of AZ and that has been 6 months ago, no progress. Also, USPS mail fraud and that leads to no where. Very odd that the local police will not do anything about it, many have sued civally and Lancaster wont pay a dime on the claims, and poor Chet is no where to be found. they tried to rip me off some time ago and Chet finally paid me back my 3k after the AG stepped in. Glad to hear they are out business to bad for the people that got screwed by him perhaps he is at the bottom of some lake - not that I would advocate violence and death to people but he sure is one scumbag |
I can't think of how to finish that statement without sounding tasteless.
| Call Rifle Dynamics. Ask them how much they would charge to re-rivet, headspace, and check the gas port on a Lancaster AK (If Lancaster rifles weren't over-gassed they had poorly done rivets that would come loose after a few mags). Then offer $700-Estimate to fix. |
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