The Great Sportsman's Guide AK Magazine Lottery of 2006

Published on August 10, 2021
Duration: 6:53

The 2006-2007 Sportsman's Guide AK Magazine Lottery involved importing a large, unsorted batch of AK magazines from Sarajevo. These magazines, often coated in cosmoline, offered collectors a chance to find rare variants like Russian slab-sides, waffle mags, and various Balkan and Chinese patterns mixed with common surplus. This event significantly impacted the US collector market by introducing these previously scarce items at low prices, making them highly sought after today.

Quick Summary

The 2006-2007 Sportsman's Guide AK Magazine Lottery involved importing a large, unsorted batch of AK magazines from Sarajevo, Bosnia. Collectors could find rare Russian, Balkan, and Chinese variants mixed with common surplus, often coated in cosmoline, significantly impacting the collector market.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: The AK Magazine Lottery
  2. 00:53The Sarajevo Import Batch Explained
  3. 02:05The Collector's Lottery Experience
  4. 03:26Rare Russian & Bakelite Finds
  5. 04:31Balkan & Chinese Variants Discovered
  6. 05:34Market Impact & Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Great Sportsman's Guide AK Magazine Lottery of 2006?

It refers to a period around 2006-2007 when Sportsman's Guide imported a large, unsorted batch of AK magazines from Sarajevo, Bosnia. These were sold randomly, creating a 'lottery' for collectors hoping to find rare variants.

What types of rare AK magazines were found in the Sportsman's Guide lottery?

Collectors found rare Russian slab-side and aluminum waffle magazines, Izhevsk and Tula Bakelites, Polish Tantal mags, and unique Balkan variants like Croatian two-rib and Bosnian single-rib magazines, plus Chinese stamped models.

How did the 2006 AK magazine import affect the collector market?

This import significantly impacted the US collector market by introducing many rare AK magazine variants at low prices, typically $2.50 to $6.00 each. These items are now highly sought after by collectors.

What condition were the AK magazines from the 2006 lottery typically in?

The magazines were generally heavily coated in cosmoline, a protective wax-like substance used for long-term storage and shipping. They required thorough cleaning to be made ready for use or display.

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