Many have tried to formulate all different kinds lists of SKS45s from desirability to rarity to $$ value. When you boil it down however,
all lists are subjective to the biases of the list-maker.
From my point of view, the terminology in the CGN list is extremely problematic. How anyone can determine an 'unissued' or 'non-refurb' carbine is beyond me. I take great pains to never label any SKS 'unissued', 'non-refurbished', or 'unfired'. Those are three things that simply cannot be known with any degree of certainty based on the information available today.
Here is the key I used for the
gunbroker tracking threads back when I used to do them. Even this terminology is subject to individual interpretation:
Arsenal Condition:As-Issued: All matching guns with original stocks and no hint of refurbishment. No [/], <>, or other refurbishment marks. Current condition may be varying, but gun must be all matching. This is basically the configuration the gun would have been in when it was issued to the military the first time. Perhaps it was never given out to troops to use in the field and simply sat unused until it was decommissioned. Perhaps it was only lightly used and was still in great shape, escaping the need for major refurbishment when the time came. There is considerable debate in the collecting community as to what constitutes an "As-Issued" gun. Some will say that an import stamp that is required by US law invalidates the 'As-Issued' designator and this category should instead be 'unrefurbished' or 'non-refurbished'. This is nit picking in my opinion. No the import stamp was not there during issue, but the addition of a stamp that is required by law does not fundamentally change the arsenal condition of the gun. I will say however, that non/unrefurbished is a 100% misnomer as it is impossible to prove. To think that we as a collecting community are good enough to
know the provenance of any particular gun is ridiculous hubris when there is so much we don't know about the Russian refurbishment process. We simply don't know the refurbishment status of many of these firearms and to pretend that we do is not something I want this site to promote.
Light Refurbished: Guns with a light refurbishment. It could be a single lined out S/N magazine on an otherwise as-issued gun, a simple replacement XX'd stock, or an otherwise all matching gun with an unfortunate refurb mark on the receiver cover. Current condition may be varying but note that light refurbished guns often match but do not have to be all matching.
Heavy Refurbished: These are the BBQ refurbs. Guns with black paint on a receiver cover, bolt, bolt carrier or receiver. Collectors tend to turn their noses up at these ones, thus they tend to be priced less than other guns. Current condition may be varying but note that BBQ Refurbs don't have to be all matching.
Bubba: Plastic anything, Tech sights, swapped out handguards, anything drilled and tapped, duracoated/non arsenal painted anything, banana mag w/o the original shown, anything Chinese on the gun, chopped "Paratrooper" modifications, FSB modifications, etc. It doesn't matter if the gun can be put back close to 'original' condition easily, if it's a bubba gun when it sells, it's a bubba gun.
Uncertain: This is the designator I give when the auction is horsetrashy (not a word) enough for me to not want to guess at condition. Photos were blurry, taken from 1000 miles away, or were of parts of the gun that nobody cares about (like 10 shots of the bayonet...hint hint). Could be a gem or a lump of coal. Anyone who bought it w/o seeing better photos took a gamble.
Current Condition:Perfect: In New condition in every aspect. (Many collectors & dealers use "As New" to describe this condition). Unfired since import. Something in this category likely has the box with all accessories and maybe even the original receipt with it.
Excellent: New condition, used but little, no noticeable marring of wood or metal, bluing perfect, (except at muzzle or sharp edges). Fired very little if at all. Again, these guns typically have the original packaging and all components.
Very Good: In perfect working condition, no appreciable wear on working surfaces, no corrosion or pitting, only minor surface dents or scratches even though the gun has certainly been fired. May or may not have the box and all accessories.
Good: In safe working condition, minor wear on working surfaces, no broken parts, no corrosion or pitting that will interfere with proper functioning. Fired often, likely doesn't have the box, manual or any accessories.
Fair: In safe working condition but well worn, perhaps requiring replacement of minor parts or adjustments which should be indicated in advertisement, no active rust, but may have corrosion pits which do not render article unsafe or inoperable. Heavily fired to the point where wear may begin to be an issue. No box or original accessories.
Poor: Extensive repair needed; metal deeply pitted with active rust; may have principal lettering, numerals and design obliterated, wood badly scratched, bruised, cracked, or even broken; could be mechanically inoperative; generally undesirable. Fired to the point of needing barrel replacement. These type of guns should be checked by a competent gunsmith before usage.
Uncertain: This is the designator I give when the auction is horsetrashy (not a word) enough for me to not want to guess at condition. Photos were blurry, taken from 1000 miles away, or were of parts of the gun that nobody cares about (like 10 shots of the bayonet...hint hint). Could be a gem or a lump of coal. Anyone who bought it w/o seeing better photos took a gamble.
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