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Posted: 4/24/2011 5:41:23 PM EDT
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Im considering purchasing an SAR-1. I'm a little scared after the debacle I went through with the WASR. I think CAI makes the SAR-1, or made them in the past. What should I expect to pay? I'm waiting on pics and a price. Anything to look out for? Maybe someone can give me a little background on it. I am waiting for someone with a 1982 Romanian to PM me back but it's been a couple weeks now. Maybe I should wait if this doesn't work out.
I have a very nice SAR1. Straight sights, less than 50 rounds fired. Its been sitting in my safe for years.
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Century did not "make" SARs.
Century does not"make" WASRs. Both rifles are from Romania. Century imported SARs and imports WASRs. Century installed enough US made parts in the SAR rifles to comply with 922(r). Century did not open the magazine well as it does on WASRs. The rifle was imported as a double stack. |
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"I am waiting for someone with a 1982 Romanian to PM me"
That would likely be a parts kit gun. If the SAR is in nice shape, it's probably worth $500 in these days of perverted prices. Especially considering it would run about four and a half to get a Wasr these days. |
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I asked if he would consider $400-$450. Hopefully I don't scare him off.
Pic: 
I'll try to find the box it came in (I normally keep them) and see what's in it to include. Probably a sling, magazine and maybe an oil bottle. I don't remember the SAR's coming with a bunch of stuff. Anyway the gun is just like it came out of the box. I only took it to the range once for test firing. It worked perfectly. I shot less than 50 rounds, cleaned it and its been in my safe ever since.
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Got a reply from him. What do you think:
No, I really didn't plan on selling it and if I had I would have asked over $500 for it. I have four other AK's (2 Polytech's & 2 VEPR's) so I figured I'd let this one go. But, with all the mix-master junk AK's that have been available the last few years, this is definitely worth over $500 to me.
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Sure - he paid $3-350 back then. I bought my FEG for $200, but wouldn't part with it now. I DO think $500 is a bit much for a SAR-1, but its on the edge. If the sights are straight, and it has a decent no-slap trigger, and a sling, it would be worth near that. At a show today you will pay $425 + Tax for a WASR - yes, it has a muzzle device and bayonet stud, but no dimples and really no better.
Check GB and what they actually sell for. Heck, you might score. If you really want it, make an offer for $470 and walk away. If he really wants OVER $500, let him go get it. Then... you can put on a G2 trigger and have no more than $500. +++++++++++ Update+++++++++++++++ I found this: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=220442205 went for $355 + Shipping. Maybe it was out the door for just over $400 - but that is about the best deal I have seen on a SAR-1 lately. But... if your patient, you may snag one. |
| The SAR's are outstanding Romanian AK's. That said, they were imported so fast to make it in that the sights were installed half-assed at best so that many were canted. That went away by the 2002 and later ones. The trigger slap can be fixed with the inatall of a Tapco G2 or RSA kit. Go with the RSA, it's fantastic. The ban forced them to come in with a de-threaded muzzle and milled down bayonet lugs. These can be repaired for a small cost. With all these negatives, why would you even want one? Well, they were manufactured as Romanian military AK's that were pulled from the line to be modified for import to the US. With the exception of the FCG and a hole in the receiver, these were regular military weapons. They aren't as pretty as some of the AK's put out today, but you'll be hard pressed to find someone that says they suck. |
| I ended up purchasing it. With WASR's close to $500 I had to as nothing else was showing up. No trigger slap and the sights are ever so slightly canted. Nothing too crazy. Overall I am happy. Building a kit was going to cost me $600 or more. I was already quoted $60 to thread the barrel and install a G2 trigger. |
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$60 to thread a barrel AND put a G2 trigger in is a SMOKIN deal! In Northern VA there is literally NO gunsmith who will do this - NONE. I'd love to get my SAR-1 threaded. Many folks tell you you must dismount the barrel and do it on a lathe, then restore all the hardware and headspace again - SHEEESH. I hear of guys here who do it themselves also. If I had someone I trust local, I'd do it!
The G2 trigger is worth it AND its easy - especially if you reinstall a retaining plate instead of the idiotic shepherds crook. I guess if someone would thread and refinish, I might want to send it off. Give us a range report when you can. I figured the same thing about price. WASRs will puch $500 after fees, unless you get it at a show. |
| Both threading the barrel and swapping the FCG are fairly easy to do. For a little over $60 you could buy all the tools and parts to do both. However $60 to do the work for you is a good deal as well, especially if that includes all of the parts, (spring, detent plunger, muzzle device, and FCG). If it doesnt include parts I'd buy(or rent) the tools/parts and do it myself. I did my SAR 1 not long ago and it was easy. The only problem I had was that the FSB pin had to be drilled out but this seems to be the exception, not the rule. |
Yeah I bought a slightly used SAR-1 back some years ago...then I bought the G2 FCG including the piston...and went to Kvar for the laminated grip a new gas block, muzzle brake and the spring and detent to hold it in place...found a romanian side folder form CTD I think...Sent the whole thing off to Jason at IGF to convert it back to "pre-ban" and the envirotech finish...this is my 1,200 dollar SAR-1:
I have posted this pic before...and I could never sell it...the reason for which is obvious...and it is my go to weapon for events of national security 
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| Replace the Gas block in order to get the bayonet lugs back and thread the muzzle to install the slant brake. Thats all thats needed to restore it to Pre/Post ban. That stupid ass ban did nothing but screw up the looks of good rifles. Clinton should have to blow a goat for each weapon that had to be aborted in order to enter the country. Dumb ass polititions. |
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RE: threading an AK barrel
This site, http://home.midsouth.rr.com/ak47ak74/Threading.htm, if still active may be of help. |
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Quoted:
Replace the Gas block in order to get the bayonet lugs back and thread the muzzle to install the slant brake. Thats all thats needed to restore it to Pre/Post ban. That stupid ass ban did nothing but screw up the looks of good rifles. Clinton should have to blow a goat for each weapon that had to be aborted in order to enter the country. Dumb ass polititions. Another thing you can do instead of replacing the gas block is to weld some metal in the area of the bayonet lug and grind the metal into one. There is a thread somewhere here where a guy did this and it came out awesome, you'd never be able to tell. I am planning on doing it to my SAR-1 in the near future when I have some time to kill. |
| You know guys................I've seen piles of these AK's waiting to be burned up. The majority 80%+ do not have any muzzel devices at all. The Romo SAR-1 is the same as the issue Romo AK issued to the military. The AK74's have the new break but the AKM's in 7.62X39 do not have breaks. I prefer my SAR-1 to look like the military issue gun, but that's just me. I've never seen a reason for putting the break on a semi-auto. It just costs $ and isn't correct as far as Romanian. |
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