Please help. Mini 14 preban worth??

jordansvt

Please help, I had a mini 14 passed down in the family and was purchased back in 1987 I think.. It has the collapsible stock that looks like aluminum tubing and folds at the end to lock to frame.. The main part of the gun has a beautiful finish compared to the new mini 14's I have seen now days.. this also has a pistol grip and a wooded casing.. I dont know alot about guns as you can probably tell, I was just curiouse if it was worth anything.. I also have pictures, Please help and I really appreciate it..

boeboe

This question comes up frequently. The following was cut from a similar question response a few weeks ago. It was responding to a guy who had a letter confirming the pre-ban status of his Mini-14. If the one you have did not come from the factory with the factory folding stock, this would apply___________________________________________I don't know if I want to start this again or not...Prices on them vary quite a bit. It depends on how much someone values the after market folding stock and accessories. I assume the letter is from someone confirming it was in assault weapon configuration before the ban. Unless it's a Ruger GB, it could only classify as a legal assault rifle if the folder and flash hider were put on before the ban (Sept. '94). That's the real rub in a lot of people's minds. It's hard to confirm one is legit. On the other hand, if it should ever be questioned it would be hard to prove it wasn't "accessorized" before the ban. The letter you have might help.If the magazines are genuine Ruger they would bring around $50 to $80 each. If they are not genuine Ruger, more like $5 to $10 each. That's used, of course. If you could prove they were PMI brand mags, probably would fetch closer to $20 each, but some PMI mags are not marked.Back to the gun, I've seen them sell for anywhere between about $400 and $700. I know that's quite a spread. But that's what I've seen both on gunbroker auctions and gunshows. A lot of the variation in price has to do with pre-ban mania on the part of inexperienced buyers. They want themselves a Ruger Mini-14 with a folding stock, and run out and buy the first one they see. If a person is patient, they can find them for a lot less money. I bought one about a year ago, it was walking around a gunshow with a Choate folding stock on it and a Tasco scope, no flash hider. It had been used very little, for sure, and I confirmed the serial numbers dated it to 1985. I bought it for $400. I like BC stocks myself. Sold the Choate stock for $90 and bought a used BC folder for $60. So I figure I have a good bit less than $400 in it.On the other hand, I have a friend who sold one on auction here, ended up bringing around $750. I thought he did very well. Too well for my taste. It did have a flash hider, bipod, BC folder, and decent scope. It even had the flashlight mount. As I said, if you get a couple of bidders (or one buyer) who is new to guns and really wants a Mini folder, they do pay it at times.Those are just examples. Not too uncommon. Sorry I couldn't be more specific, but the market for those is kinda strange.

cbxjeff

Once you deceide on a price, if you want to sell, please e-mail me at jeffrysmith@prodigy.net. Thanks,

---

cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.

JudgeColt

I cannot tell from the description whether this is a factory folder or not. If it is a factory folder, it is already an "assault weapon" because it has two qualifying features: "protruding pistol grip" and "folding stock."A legitimate factory folder (it should letter from Ruger if legitimate) is worth at least $600 if blue, more if stainless. If the stock is an aftermarket, it is worth what someone who does not care about the risk involved or originality will pay. From the examples given, there may be more such fools than I thought.

boeboe

Is it similar to this? http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=3355601 You don't mention whether or not it has the bayonet lug and flash hider, as the one shown above. If it has this type of stock with the flash hider and bayonet lug, it's a factory GB (Government Barrel) folder.I've seen Mini-14s with the factory folding stock but without the Government Barrel. I've also seen factory Ruger folding stocks available, and such stocks could be added to an otherwise standard Mini-14, or for that matter, a Mini-14 with an after market flash hider and bayonet lug. While the factory Ruger folding stock is more valuable than the other folding stocks available, a gun with an added on stock of any type wouldn't be worth GB prices.I've also seen wood folding stocks that closely resemble factory stocks. But the photos in the link should be pretty clear, to help you determin what kind of stock it is.

jordansvt

I appreciate all the help guys.. It gives me a good idea of the worth.. Especially the last reply. My gun is exactly like that but brand new cond. just lacks the flash thing on the end of the barrel and the other thing also.. But mine is flawless and has only had probably 100 rds shot through it total and the rest of the time it is kept covered in a safe.. Do you think mine is worth close to a 1000 like the other on auction there? Thanks again for all the help.. Paul

jordansvt

If you want send me your email adress and I will send you the two pics I have.. Mine came with a five round factory clip, but pics show a 40 rnd clip inserted.. You can tell how flawless it really is

boeboe

Without the government barrel it won't bring as much as a GB folder, but from what I've seen, the factory Ruger folding stocks are worth over a couple hundred by themselves. I believe Ruger sold some Mini-14s without the government barrel, but with the factory folding stock. I say that because I've seen them around frequently enough. They sell for a couple hundred less than the "government barrel" firearms, but substantially more than the ordinary Mini-14 with an after market folding stock added on. The best thing you could do is contact Ruger and see if the serial number you have was sold from the factory with the folding stock. They should be able to tell you.If you get confirmation from Ruger that it was sold with the folding stock and you want to get rid of it, I'd recommend putting it in the gunbroker auction and use the featured auction option in semi-auto rifles. Depending on how bad you need the money, start it out at somewhere between $600 and $800 and see where it goes. It should bring a fair price if you do that.The other thought is, if you do confirm it was sold with the factory folder, hang onto it. It won't go down in value. It might be a pretty darn good investment.

jordansvt

Thanks Boeboe,Dano,Judgecolt, and cbxjeff.. I really appreciate the info on this.. It helped alot.. I think im going to keep it in the family a while.. Im not hurting for money at all and would love to hand it down to the next generation.. Thanks alot for all the help and If I can return the favor, let me know, Paul I feel alot better about it now than I did. Better than expected