Where did all of the Bulgarian Mak's go?

625 · January 6, 2006, 02:44 PM

I recently and purposefully went to a large local gun show here in the Philly area.(Valley Forge gun show) My intent was to purchase a Bulgarian Makarov for less than 200 dollars. I thought it would be simple. I thought wrong.

Admittedly, I went later in the day on the last day of the show, but not one was there. I must have walked up and down every isle three times.

I saw a couple of East German Mak's for around $350 and one or two Soviet Mak's for over $250 IIRC. I also saw a couple of Polish ones for around $160 or so. NO Bulgarian Mak's!! Did something happen that I'm not aware of?

I examined the Polish one, which I was told was not actually a Mak. Not sure what that means, but the one I handled was complete crap. The double action trigger must have been 25#'s!! I thought it was broken or something at first. Made my CZ52 look like a Sig P210 it was so poorly made.

Not to go home empty handed, I saw a nice, barely used Ruger P89 with 2 full cap. mags for $299.
I needed something cheap to shoot that would last virtually forever, so I took it home with me. From what I read, unlike the P90, some are accurate, and some are not. I got lucky. Very accurate, ate everything I fed it including some funky lead rounds I've had sitting around for years. VERY happy with it so far, but I still want my Mak!

nat · January 6, 2006, 03:09 PM

I just bought a bulgy mak in excellent shape from a buddy for $100

KY Imports has some for around $150 or so I think.

http://www.kyimports.com/amt.htm

jonathon · January 6, 2006, 03:13 PM

I was under the impression they were drying up..

Excellent guns by the way, best try to find one while they are still the bargain they are.

EIGHTYDUECE · January 6, 2006, 03:14 PM

There are no more Bulgarian makarovs coming into the country anymore. I don't believe any maks are now being imported so expect them to get rarer and more costly as the years roll by.

The Polish P-64 is not a mak it is a completely different pistol that is chambered in 9x18 Makarov. Many folks confuse it with a mak since it is stamped Makarov after the 9x18 cal. on the side of the slide.

Calling it a mak is like calling a Glock chambered in .40 S&W a S&W clone.

625 · January 6, 2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

The Polish P-64 is not a mak it is a completely different pistol that is chambered in 9x18 Makarov. Many folks confuse it with a mak since it is stamped Makarov after the 9x18 cal. on the side of the slide.

The people that were selling the one that I handled had it labeled as a Polish Makarov, but told me that it was not a Makarov.

Things like this give good guns a bad name.

Quote:

I just bought a bulgy mak in excellent shape from a buddy for $100

I'll give you $125 for it!

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

alamo · January 6, 2006, 03:44 PM

About 4 years ago they all dried up for a year or more and then a big 10,000 Mak shipment came in 10/02. So we've been through this before. Doesn't mean that there are still any to import though but I think some will turn up. I believe exchange rates have been unfavorable for the past year or more for some importers so that may be part of the problem too.

poppy · January 6, 2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

I saw a couple of East German Mak's for around $350 and one or two Soviet Mak's for over $250 IIRC. I also saw a couple of Polish ones for around $160 or so. NO Bulgarian Mak's!! Did something happen that I'm not aware of?

In our area the East G Maks have dried up and dealers tell me their cost is now about $400. We don't see many Russian ones either. I did see 2 Bulgarian Maks at a private seller table at last week end's gun show for about $250 ea. He sold one of them while I was at the show, but that price is high, since several dealers still have them for $170 plus tax.

I haven't checked, but I assume gunbroker.com and other sites still have plenty of Maks. poppy

marano · January 7, 2006, 09:15 AM

two of them found there way to my house. Maks are great guns and the Bulgarians I have are excellent. Icluding the russian commercial one I own I have three Maks. They have been drying up in the last four or five months so if you find a decent one you better get it.

Eghad · January 7, 2006, 07:42 PM

The early bird gets the worm

I got mine

grimjaw · January 8, 2006, 01:28 AM

I just sold one today in a FTF deal. If you keep your eyes open, you can probably find somebody willing to unload one. Most people don't have just one (I had three).

jmm

nat · January 8, 2006, 01:49 AM

I just stopped in a local shop today and noticed a Bulgy Mak in the case for $239. It had "sold" written on the tag. When I asked the owner about it, he said that he had sold several recently at that price.

January 6, 2006, 02:44 PM	#1
625 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2005 Location: PA Posts: 859	Where did all of the Bulgarian Mak's go? I recently and purposefully went to a large local gun show here in the Philly area.(Valley Forge gun show) My intent was to purchase a Bulgarian Makarov for less than 200 dollars. I thought it would be simple. I thought wrong. Admittedly, I went later in the day on the last day of the show, but not one was there. I must have walked up and down every isle three times. I saw a couple of East German Mak's for around $350 and one or two Soviet Mak's for over $250 IIRC. I also saw a couple of Polish ones for around $160 or so. NO Bulgarian Mak's!! Did something happen that I'm not aware of? I examined the Polish one, which I was told was not actually a Mak. Not sure what that means, but the one I handled was complete crap. The double action trigger must have been 25#'s!! I thought it was broken or something at first. Made my CZ52 look like a Sig P210 it was so poorly made. Not to go home empty handed, I saw a nice, barely used Ruger P89 with 2 full cap. mags for $299. I needed something cheap to shoot that would last virtually forever, so I took it home with me. From what I read, unlike the P90, some are accurate, and some are not. I got lucky. Very accurate, ate everything I fed it including some funky lead rounds I've had sitting around for years. VERY happy with it so far, but I still want my Mak! __________________ I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves. Ronald Reagan

January 6, 2006, 03:13 PM	#3
jonathon Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2005 Location: Washougal, Washington. YEHAW! Posts: 1,874	I was under the impression they were drying up.. Excellent guns by the way, best try to find one while they are still the bargain they are. __________________ Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good More CZ M52 info than you can shake a stick at!

January 6, 2006, 03:14 PM	#4
EIGHTYDUECE Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2001 Posts: 387	There are no more Bulgarian makarovs coming into the country anymore. I don't believe any maks are now being imported so expect them to get rarer and more costly as the years roll by. The Polish P-64 is not a mak it is a completely different pistol that is chambered in 9x18 Makarov. Many folks confuse it with a mak since it is stamped Makarov after the 9x18 cal. on the side of the slide. Calling it a mak is like calling a Glock chambered in .40 S&W a S&W clone. __________________ "KNEES IN THE BREEZE"

January 7, 2006, 09:15 AM	#8
marano Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2005 Posts: 199	I know where two went.... two of them found there way to my house. Maks are great guns and the Bulgarians I have are excellent. Icluding the russian commercial one I own I have three Maks. They have been drying up in the last four or five months so if you find a decent one you better get it.

January 7, 2006, 07:42 PM	#9
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,893	The early bird gets the worm I got mine __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

January 6, 2006, 03:09 PM	#2
nat Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2005 Posts: 10	I just bought a bulgy mak in excellent shape from a buddy for $100 KY Imports has some for around $150 or so I think. http://www.kyimports.com/amt.htm

January 6, 2006, 03:44 PM	#6
alamo Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,060	About 4 years ago they all dried up for a year or more and then a big 10,000 Mak shipment came in 10/02. So we've been through this before. Doesn't mean that there are still any to import though but I think some will turn up. I believe exchange rates have been unfavorable for the past year or more for some importers so that may be part of the problem too.

January 8, 2006, 01:28 AM	#10
grimjaw Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 359	I just sold one today in a FTF deal. If you keep your eyes open, you can probably find somebody willing to unload one. Most people don't have just one (I had three). jmm

January 8, 2006, 01:49 AM	#11
nat Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2005 Posts: 10	I just stopped in a local shop today and noticed a Bulgy Mak in the case for $239. It had "sold" written on the tag. When I asked the owner about it, he said that he had sold several recently at that price.