SAR-48-match. What’s it worth?

[50rod]

I acquired a really nice
1005-SAR-48-MATCH
It has a SN that seams low to me, 4 digit 14XX. It’s in 98 percent condition, I knocked off 2% because of the marks the safety switch leaves on the receiver after a few times. I have no clue what it’s worth. I took it to a local gun show (big mistake) and an old gun smith said he would pay me double what I payed for it. I didn’t even tell him what I paid for it! He had a disturbing grin!
Anyway, anyone have an idea what it’s worth? Thanks!

 

[flyer]

Post pics, especially pics of the upper receiver.

I don't know how to price a FAL but I might be able to figure out what it is. There are lots of flavors out there, some more rare and desirable than others.

In the early days of FAL imports, you couldn't always tell what you were going to get just from the receiver markings.

 

[50rod]

 

[50rod]

 

[50rod]

I put the pic rail on from Badger I think?!?
I have the original top cover.

 

[flyer]

She looks nice but that's just a type 3 Imbel FAL.

I think it was brought in before the import ban so a real Imbel made FAL with new parts, not a mix master built with a used parts kit.

That creates some value but it's not like a sear cut Steyr import or one of the other rare and desireable variants.

Don't worry about the selector mark unless it starts rusting.

Put the plain top cover back on if you want to complete the untouched time capsule look. Your railed cover is an Arms I think.

I'm not sure if now is a good time to sell. In the early 2000's, lots of parts kits came in and lots of those were Imbel kits (I have 5). Imbel type 3 receivers were one of the few types imported and probably the most common (I have 2). Believe it or not, there was a long time when you could build a FAL cheaper than an AR, the cheapest used Imbel and South African parts kits. Prices have gone up a lot since then because the kits have dried up a lot and I'm not sure if it is possible to import an Imbel receiver any more.

What you have will never be available again and it is a FAL so it comes with all of the "right arm of the Free world" back story. It's not going to become a pristine example of a forgotten weapon, I'm just not sure how values are going to hold up after the baby boomers die off. Younger people tend to get ARs and shoot them.

There will always be collectors who want the best of the best to put in a safe and fondle occasionally but I'm not sure if a FAL like that is desireable enough to bank on a lot of future appreciation.

If you need the money and the offer is reasonable for the market, I wouldn't feel too bad about selling. You'll probably never have the chance to own a gun like that again but if you can live without it, it's not a huge deal.

If you don't need the money, it's probably worth hanging on to but I would keep an eye on the market and try to sell at a peak.

 

[50rod]

That’s great advice, thanks! I’m trying to remember the back story on this rifle. I purchased it from the 2nd owner, he got it from a Freind who was LE. “Supposedly” it was a LE purchase back in the 80’s. Hasn’t been shot much. It looks like it may have been function checked then put in a safe. 2nd owner said he had never fired it and I have never fired it (shame I know!).

 

[50rod]

Can anyone else chime in on value? I am thinking about listing it here on the hide.

 

[FLIGHT762]

I have the same rifle with a 2500 serial number. It's a nice FAL. I bought it in the late 80's new.

 

[LibertyOptics]

Can anyone else chime in on value? I am thinking about listing it here on the hide.

Hope you got at least $1800 for it....maybe more....?

 

[Strykervet]

IMO/E you should just keep it. It is one of the better FAL's you can get to shoot IIRC. And I remember those having a quality build. FAL's just don't have the value for whatever reason and it's likely you'll never get what it's worth. 4800 is the post ban, 48's were 89 and prior. They all said "match" which is funny, the most "match" one ever made was the Steyr barreled STG58.

The fucking thing was literally designed to fight WW3, so it's got that going for it. Rock Island is auctioning one just like it and asking $1600-$2500. But one just sold for $1200 after being priced in that range. It's worth $1200 all day long --but getting the higher end it deserves just requires more buyers into FAL's and everyone is busy over paying for AR's and SCAR's at the moment.

Here's mine, it used to be a plain STG58, or SA58 (DSA rifle but with new Steyr barrel!) and I tricked it out trying to make an SDM rifle out of one. That didn't pan out too well but it is a good battle rifle and it's a little more up to date and uses a can and works well with CNVD night vision now:

And I had a similar experience: I tried selling it from time to time, not pictured is a ton of mags and extra parts, 2 stage trigger, second fixed lower w/Magpul PRS, etc. Everything and 7 of the mags were Cerakoted by a pro. Couldn't even get most of what I had in it, so I decided to keep it. It really is a badass rifle and you don't see too many updated like that. DSA is the place to go for FAL parts, I think they bought out the plans, so they're THE go-to place, period. They make good parts, I use their extended controls in this rifle as well as the scope mount and rail, which line up.

They're a lot of fun. And good strong semi auto rifles. But if you really wanna sell it, I recommend you get an account at FALfiles or whatever it's called and sell it there. Those are the FAL fans. And they collect 'em based on the history of the weapon, etc., so since that's an imported T48 pre ban, you may be able to get closer to higher end on there if someone is looking for one of those. Worth a try? But again, I'd just keep it. May find you wanna trick it out some and make it more user friendly. Jard sells the 2 stage trigger I have in mine, definitely a worthy FAL upgrade because all FAL triggers suck, it's really their biggest drawback.

Shit, I'd like to have the one you have. I remember drooling over one of those back in the late 80's, FAL was my dream rifle when I was younger! And that was like the only new one you could buy advertised in catalogs. The rest were beat the fuck up junk builds, mostly inch pattern at that time. Have you shot it yet? I bet after you shoot it you won't wanna sell it. It's got some recoil but it's a badass rifle and worthy of a space in the vault IMO. Keep it as it is, modify it, whatever. If you mod it, do keep your original parts though.

Good luck either way you go! And if you insist on giving it away, PM me first please. I at least appreciate FAL's.

 

[AMGtuned]

A good friend of mine (read gunsmiths son) has a 4800 match, he would not let it go for less than $3k

 

[AMGtuned]

IMO/E you should just keep it. It is one of the better FAL's you can get to shoot IIRC. And I remember those having a quality build. FAL's just don't have the value for whatever reason and it's likely you'll never get what it's worth. 4800 is the post ban, 48's were 89 and prior. They all said "match" which is funny, the most "match" one ever made was the Steyr barreled STG58.

The fucking thing was literally designed to fight WW3, so it's got that going for it. Rock Island is auctioning one just like it and asking $1600-$2500. But one just sold for $1200 after being priced in that range. It's worth $1200 all day long --but getting the higher end it deserves just requires more buyers into FAL's and everyone is busy over paying for AR's and SCAR's at the moment.

Here's mine, it used to be a plain STG58, or SA58 (DSA rifle but with new Steyr barrel!) and I tricked it out trying to make an SDM rifle out of one. That didn't pan out too well but it is a good battle rifle and it's a little more up to date and uses a can and works well with CNVD night vision now:
View attachment 6962381
And I had a similar experience: I tried selling it from time to time, not pictured is a ton of mags and extra parts, 2 stage trigger, second fixed lower w/Magpul PRS, etc. Everything and 7 of the mags were Cerakoted by a pro. Couldn't even get most of what I had in it, so I decided to keep it. It really is a badass rifle and you don't see too many updated like that. DSA is the place to go for FAL parts, I think they bought out the plans, so they're THE go-to place, period. They make good parts, I use their extended controls in this rifle as well as the scope mount and rail, which line up.

They're a lot of fun. And good strong semi auto rifles. But if you really wanna sell it, I recommend you get an account at FALfiles or whatever it's called and sell it there. Those are the FAL fans. And they collect 'em based on the history of the weapon, etc., so since that's an imported T48 pre ban, you may be able to get closer to higher end on there if someone is looking for one of those. Worth a try? But again, I'd just keep it. May find you wanna trick it out some and make it more user friendly. Jard sells the 2 stage trigger I have in mine, definitely a worthy FAL upgrade because all FAL triggers suck, it's really their biggest drawback.

Shit, I'd like to have the one you have. I remember drooling over one of those back in the late 80's, FAL was my dream rifle when I was younger! And that was like the only new one you could buy advertised in catalogs. The rest were beat the fuck up junk builds, mostly inch pattern at that time. Have you shot it yet? I bet after you shoot it you won't wanna sell it. It's got some recoil but it's a badass rifle and worthy of a space in the vault IMO. Keep it as it is, modify it, whatever. If you mod it, do keep your original parts though.

Good luck either way you go! And if you insist on giving it away, PM me first please. I at least appreciate FAL's.

That's a beautiful weapon

 

[LibertyOptics]

My recent experience shows that you can't sniff one on Gunbroker for $1200, I've seen them go for about $2200 mint or NIB....$3000? only for the Belgian imports....FalFiles are good peeps but GB is where to sell, and if you do sell do not modify it at all (I would remove that rail and find the original top cover if you can). Modding guns is like modding motorcycles, it may make the item perfect for YOU...but you would have to find just the right buyer who appreciates what you did....otherwise does not help value at all IME.....I do concur to keep it if you can, they are excellent rifles by far...

 

[LibertyOptics]

Just saw one advertised as NIB go for $2450.....the value of these is seemingly skyrocketing....DSA and other builds routinely going for $1500+ now

 

[Dolomite_Supafly]

Any time you sell a gun remove everything you have put on or in it. People rarely pay for the upgrades and people often use that as a bargaining tactic to try to get the price down.

As far as price I have no clue. I have always wanted a FAL though.

 

[308pirate]

I took it to a local gun show (big mistake) and an old gun smith said he would pay me double what I payed for it. I didn’t even tell him what I paid for it! He had a disturbing grin!

I have no idea what it's worth, but something tells me you should have quadrupled what you paid for it and then told him.

 

[308pirate]

BTW, now is not the time to be selling anything semi-auto...…...

 

[John Varnell]

 

[John Varnell]

View attachment 7961461

I got this one in 1989. Hasn’t had but 20 rounds shot through it.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I would say 2-3k. They are going insane.

I have a SAR4800 match. Just saw one of those priced at $4500. But no takers.

FAL variants are awesome.

Sirhr

 

[junkyjunk]

Hi, long time lurker here and never made an account until now.

These used to go for a pretty penny ($2500+) in my state (CT) because the pre ban "SAR-48" is banned by name but the pre ban "SAR-48 match" is not so this was one of the few FAL's we could get in the state. However, its usually the one that has the wood furniture which is called the 19-inch Heavy Barrel “Israeli” Match model.

The only problem is we can now get "other firearm" (pistol brace and foregrip required) versions of new FAL's made from new DSA's for less than $2000 so the prices and desirability for the SAR-48 Match has fallen significantly in my state. Some purists like me would rather buy your rifle over an "other" but can't justify paying more than what our price gouged "others" go for.

Best time to sell this was last year in CT. If you want to sell it I can ask a few people in CT what they'd give you but it won't be as good as prices were last year.

Edit: didn't realize this post was from 4 years ago lol

 

[buffalowinter]

Don't check just the Gunbroker active auctions, click "sold" on the search to see what people are actually paying as opposed to what people are asking.